Group Photo - please help

[Lisard]

I will be shooting the group corporate photo outside the building. There wil be about 15 people. I will use digital rebel. What lens would be ideal for this group shot and what should I know to make this photo good enough? I am amature photographer and my boss wants me to shoot the corporate event. I really want to do it right. Maybe someone will suggest the good link to read about group photo.

Thanks!!!

[robertwgross]

There are many ways to shoot this.

One way is to form the 15 heads into a tight group, maybe three rows of five heads each. If you stand the group 20 feet from the camera and another 20 feet from the background, then you should be able to blur the background by careful depth of field.

Another is to form 14 bodies across, with the CEO standing slightly in front of the rest. That takes a slightly wider lens.

Another is when they want part or all of the headquarters building in the shot. That gets tricky, because if you get much of a large building in the frame, then you will have lost the detail of 15 faces. In general, this will take the wide angle lens, and you do not want to have the camera tilted up or down, or else the building lines will look odd.

---Bob Gross---

[billfranklin]

What lens you use will depend on how far back you can get from the group. I just shot a school board with 11 members and used the Canon 24-70 Lens. You can see the picture here: http://www.picturecd.com/system/login.cgi?username=bfphoto
Click on the groups folder. I was back about 15 feet and used two umbrella lights. My camera was set at 1/10 at f 11. I used a slow shutter to pick up ambient light in the background and f 11 to try and get decent depth of field in the group. Final output will be a 30x40 print.

If you are outside, you should try to have the group in the shade or else have a cloudy day. Also, you should use some type of fill flash. I believe the camera you are using has a fill flash setting.

Previous advice was good. Find out from your boss how the photo is to be used. With that many people, it will be hard to get a decent head size unless you go to a big print, 16x20 or larger. Personally, I would try to fill the frame with the people and not show a lot of background. Good luck.

Bill F.

[westfalcon1]

Number one rule in my opinion is to stayout of bright sunlight. Do it in a shady area or the shadow of a building, tree etc. Use steps if available and 3 rows would be preferable to two. Try to get second row heads between the first row heads so all are visible. Have everyone turn towards the center person in each row. You can't do 3 rows without steps. Keep the short ones in front and tall in the back. Get a 10ft step ladder and shoot from the top of the ladder...you'll have to climb up about half way. This will help you to see everyone better. I'd shoot this with my 20-35 mm lens at the 20 mm setting to get the most out of my built in flash( if thats the only flash you have). I'd use a studio light on a tall lightstand but I'm assuming that you don't have that equipment. Shoot at f8 or smaller and 60th of a second if possible. I've done this large of a group with the built in flash with success( on a 10d). Keep the backgroud simple and free from specular highlights or windows. I would shoot on manual, asa 400. good luck Brian

[WyzMan]

If this is worth anything .... put the camera in drive mode. Take lots of shots - avoiding spurious blinking and stuff. Just a thought.

[Lisard]

Thank you very much everyone!
billfranklin - great group shot! I have decided to take photo outside in the shadow of the building. I will check on fill flash on rebel.
Thanks again!

[Bruce Hamilton]

Do it in a shady area or the shadow of a building, tree etc.
Just make sure the shady area is completely shaded. Nothing spoils a picture quite like hatchet lighting.