entire wedding group shot

[tampaphotogal]

I have a bride requesting that I get a shot of the entire bridal pary and all of the guests. I have the 10-22mm on the 20d. How do I shoot to get the least amount of distortion? She has to get back to me with the exact head count. I can only hope that it is not too many people. Do I want to be on a ladder above the crowd? Thanks in advance for your help. Yes, this is a favor wedding with no expectations. As I warn the brides..".you get what you pay for...."

[mackb]

I like the ladder idea, Here on POTN I've read that the ladder (even a small step ladder) will force them to look slightly up at you. Without the ladder heads could block the chins of thoses behind!
Good luck

[JaertX]

take quite a few snaps of it. And get a few of them waving and being silly. If it's a large group (50+ people?) then you're going to have to work very hard to get them all arranged well. Doing a fun, silly shot will help loosen everyone up and allow some forgiveness if you can't see every person.

[coreypolis]

sigma 8mm (1.3x body)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/_G3Q7561-1.jpg





16mm (16-35L on 1.3x body)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/viperx27/_G3Q7563-1.jpg

[entrefoto]

The last wedding I shot, I had the same request. The head count was 26 and I used a full sized ladder and stood at the top. Everyones face was visible except half of one was covered due to bad placement on my part, i didn't catch it til i was editing the pics or i could have fixed it without a problem just by moving her a little bit. but the shots that all of the guests took with their p&s cameras blocked out about half of the faces in the large group.

[tim]

I do this as standard for every wedding. Get up high, often I use a balcony, or a ladder, and i've shot from the 2nd floor balcony before. Try to use the longer end of your lens.

[PIXI_666]

I have done this but theres always been a higher spot, and i just use my 17mm as the distortion is barely there

[samnz]

You set the parameters. Assign two guests to stand and act as outer markers. Explain that their role is to make sure noone goes past them. That's the framing done! Composition: OTY...B/G front/centre eveyone else mingle - but please YELL and explain "if you can't see me, I can't see you!" I try not to get to high above the crowd. Alot of Brides (women in general) don't particularly like a crisp sharp focus pic of their cleavage!
(PS: not a good resize sorry)
106786

[tim]

Try to put the group square on to you, and not behind trees.

[song4themoon]

Getting up high will definitely help to have nobodys face covered by the person in front of them.

Also choose a narrow aperture to keep everyone in focus

[tampaphotogal]

Thank you for all your help. I will show you the finished product next weekend. It is at a country club so hopefully there will be some kind of balcony I can use.

[lippy113]

hi all i took this at my wedding shoot on Saturday 1st sept 2006 from the second floor fire escape they were all excited about it, what more could i want somewhere between 70-80 people in all i think. C&C welcome.

Canon 30D
Canon 17-55 2.8 IS USM

Shooting mode AV
TV 1/160
AV 8.0
ISO 400
Focal Length 24.0mm
f8 gets everyone crisp
whole group
107449
cropped and zoomed
107436

[tampaphotogal]

that is a really good shot. how do you get them to all have their eyes open at the same time? I hope that I can convince some tall forceful helpers to herd the crowd for me.

[tim]

lippy, try and put them in a nicer, more regular shape. I once made the people into a heart shape which looked pretty good. I probably posted it around here somewhere.