What group shots

[BOUNCINGNRG]

Hey All,

I'm trying to work out some details on doing some group shots at a wedding, i haven't been allocated much time, about 30-45mins, there is only going to be 40 people at this wedding.
I'm going down to the venue next week to check if there would be a place where i could get one big shot of all 40 people, but i need to have a back up option as it is winter/london and most likly will rain;)

I'm thinking with the time i've got do you think i could squeeze 5 group shots in? and what groups would you suguest?

Cheers
Mark

[SuzyView]

There is a thread already here for that, I think.

But here goes:

1. Whole party - everyone
2. B&G with both families - then with each of the 2 families
3. B&G with only parents - then with B's parents, with G's parents
4. B&G with wedding party
5. B&G with grandparents

Those would be my 5 choices. Matching umbrellas are a good investment. Tell the B&G to spend the $100 and get them if rain is a given.

[BOUNCINGNRG]

There is a thread already here for that, I think.

But here goes:

1. Whole party - everyone
2. B&G with both families - then with each of the 2 families
3. B&G with only parents - then with B's parents, with G's parents
4. B&G with wedding party
5. B&G with grandparents

Those would be my 5 choices. Matching umbrellas are a good investment. Tell the B&G to spend the $100 and get them if rain is a given.

Wicked Suzy, Thanks.

[SuzyView]

Oh, I forgot. Always do the whole group first, and take people out. That way you get the hard part done first.

[form]

You can cover most groups with one umbrella, but I also recommend hiding a bare flash behind the group to give them an edge light.

[BOUNCINGNRG]

You can cover most groups with one umbrella, but I also recommend hiding a bare flash behind the group to give them an edge light.
Thanks Form, is egde light the same as a rim light?

[tim]

There is a thread already here for that, I think.

But here goes:

1. Whole party - everyone
2. B&G with both families - then with each of the 2 families
3. B&G with only parents - then with B's parents, with G's parents
4. B&G with wedding party
5. B&G with grandparents

Those would be my 5 choices. Matching umbrellas are a good investment. Tell the B&G to spend the $100 and get them if rain is a given.

Yep me too. I add in a photo with both sets of parents, and I photograph grandparents as early as possible so they don't have to stand up the whole time. Also you might consider bride/mum/grandmother.

[tim]

Oh, lighting, and time. I can do these photos in 20 minutes, max. Lighting, do it outside if you can. If you have to light it and the group is deep you'll have a problem if the light is much closer to the people in the front than people in the rear - the front people will be bright, the rear people dark. Also umbrellas on each side will cause shadows on some peoples faces, which means you could need to spend LOTS of time doing post processing.

The the big group shot try and get above them. Some of the people who do this regularly will be more help than me, i've never had to take a group photo in a church. If I did i'd experiment in advance, I might try bouncing a couple of studio strobes off the ceiling, even if it is dark. It can work, i've done it with small flashes.

[SuzyView]

I always find out beforehand the extended family needing to be in the pictures with the B&G. This is very important to know if the B&G was very close to someone other than their immediate family, like a God parent or best friends or aunt and uncle. At my son's wedding, we had some very close friends come and we wanted formals with them. So, this is when you need to communicate with the clients to get their top lists, too.

[tim]

Yeah I have all my customers give me a list too.

[collierportraits]

Large question here but here's a short answer. (Of course this also depends on your style of photography - how much of a 'journalistic' style you have)

1. Whole party
2. His family
3. Her family
4. B&G w/minister/pastor, whatever they call 'em
5. Couple alone

Now, that is what I try to boil it down to, primarily because I think these are your most boring images the entire day. But necessary. So I do it, but keep it to a minimum. Especially timewise. It's a disservice to your couple and to the guests to spend a lot of time on this if the guests are waiting. I've been a guest at a wedding where the photog spent over an hour and the B&G hardly had a reception because guests were sick of waiting. But every wedding's different, and in some events that wouldn't be a big deal... Just consider it as it applies to the wedding.

As to lighting large groups inside, I've done it 8 ways from Friday (Including large softboxes) and finally resorted to a simple flash on a bracket above camera. If it's a really large group, I would add one light to one side or the other (in a small softbox) but keep the flash above camera as well. ;)

[BOUNCINGNRG]

Thanks all for your comments. I managed to have some nice winter light coming through so i did the groups outside in natuaral light.

I still feel groups shots are my weak point, i don't get to creative with them. I think i might have to round up my friends and get some practice done.

[g-money]

I absolutely hate the posed group family shots and like Ken said while necessary they are boring for the most part. Do a search for toggy or toggy style here and look at his work with group shots. Very unique.

Greg

[form]

I actually prefer doing group shots indoors, because I like controllable light. edge/rim, similar or the same.

[Mike]

Do a search for toggy or toggy style here and look at his work with group shots. Very unique.

Greg

Shouldn't that be "Toogy"?

Here's the link: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=361101

[g-money]

Shouldn't that be "Toogy"?

Here's the link: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=361101

LOL, Yep, Sorry about the misspelling :oops:

Greg

[howzitboy]

my weddings i do:

bride/groom with wedding party
bride/groom with entire family
bride/groom with brides family
bride/groom with grooms family
bride/groom with everyone! try do this first cuz alot people leave after ceremony.

groom with groomsmen
bride with maids

groom with parents
bride with parents

and i try do these inside chapel and outside lol.

i always end up shooting way to many group shots but thats what couples like and it seems to get the family happy to be included.