first job

[mommymartin]

ok i have just recently really got into this as a job and not just a hobbyt in a couple days i am shooting some 5 generation pics and quite frankly group portrait posing is my weakest point any tips or pointers would be helpful. thanks....... wendy

[Ronald S. Jr.]

have plenty of light, and practice beforehand. Use a small aperture to get everyone in sharp focus, but not too small! You'll probably be around f/11-16, if your lighting permits. What lens would you be using? If it's wide angle, don't get too close, or you'll get plenty of distortion. 35mm or so is nice for groups, even on a crop cam, assuming you can back up a few steps. If you're using a background, be sure to keep them a good distance away (generally 6' or more). If you're not using a backdrop, be sure of everything that's in your background so that you're not disappointed in the dog that's lifting his leg on the hedges in the left of the shot.

[liza]

Shoot with an aperture of around f/11 so you can get everyone in focus. And position the people so their bodies are at an angle from the camera rather than facing it head on.

[liza]

You beat me to the punch, Ronald! :)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

;-) I've got nothing on Tim. He'll have an essay filled out by the time you've got your thoughts together.