Need Help with Group Portrait

[divotmaker]

I did a search on my topic, but couldn't come up with anything, so I apologize if it's already been covered. Anyway, I'm getting into using backdrops on a 10x12 stand and really having a great time taking pictures of my family. The problem I'm now running into is that I tried to add a couple more family members into the pictures (about 7 total) and when I try to get a picture of all of us standing up, there's just not enough room (width wise) to make it work without shooting outside of the backdrop area. I'm sure this is something you're all probably laughing at since it's probably very easy to overcome, but I just can't figure it out. I'm using a 28-80 lens right now, and when I back up/zoom out to get everyone in, I'm suddenly outside of the backdrop area. I'm probably doing a horrible job of explaining this, but I hope someone can provide some information to get me back on track. Thanks for any help.

Jason

[ssim]

I think that you explained it pretty well. I had this problem with my backdrops until I got my more recent larger ones. You have to keep trying different posing arrangements with perhaps people standing, sitting and then some on the floor or similar arrangements. On some of my previous backdrops I knew that if I had some of the areas outside of the backdrop showing that I could clone the backdrop into that space, providing that there wasn't a person in front of it.

There is no magical solution to this and at some point in time you get larger groups than your backdrops can handle and you then are forced to shooting location settings.

[divotmaker]

Thank you for your response. Late last night I took some pictures of the kids and was able to PhotoShop the parts of the background so it looked right. I appreciate your other tips as well. Always something new to learn ;)

[In2Photos]

Make your first shot the background only so you have more background to play with when you need to.

[divotmaker]

In2Photos--Excellent idea. Thank you!

[Mark_Cohran]

Instead of posting the group linearly put them in two lines, or set the shot up with more depth to it and use a smaller aperture to ensure you have sufficient depth of field:

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But the easiest thing to do is get a bigger backdrop :)

Mark