56 people in one pic

A friend is asking me to take a family picture of 56. Now first thing that comes in to my mind is it will be like a class picture of 56 (what else) lol. I haven't done this kind of thing so I need everyones 2 cent on this until it becomes a dollar. I have a tokina 11-16 so thats covered. I believe its preferrable to do an outdoor shoot to save time on setting up lighting. I need help on this one.

you will need a ladder....tall one...... F11 for depth of field.....get up high and have everyone looking up at you..or from a second floor window....or rent a sky lift lol

The 11-16 is going to give you killer distortion with any attempt. Best case, you'll avoid clown feet or big-head-syndrome, but everybody at the edges will look like they're a mile away from the centre of the group.

Best option will be a longer lens and get further away.

Fun alternatives:
1. super wide angle lens laying on ground pointing up, or in air pointing straight down and get the group to form a ring, maybe a few layers deep. (everyone's pretty much equal distance then).
2. artistic/unusual photomontage of smaller groups (inspiration:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/rob_birze/52533​11238/

litratista ...ladder is a good idea!

56 people is awfully wide. I'd suggest 3-4 rows, but shoot a little wide for cropping.

Shooting in daylight...watch for dappled shadows on faces...very distracting and not very flattering. Same with squinting.

Make sure you can see all the faces. If they can't see you, the lens can't see them. Take your time arranging them.


Shoot many frames!!! You may need to composite a face or two in the end...someone always has their eyes closed, but not in every frame...better 3 individual pops than 1 burst. Also, vary your exposure just in case.

Be aware of awkward foreground or background elements...telephone pole wires running thru heads are really distracting as is anything immediately in front like a cluttered table.

I'd also suggest taking subgroups...like all the aunts/uncles...all the kids...individual family groups etc.

Good luck, Paul

litratista, how did this go and what sort of setup did you use?

Well I actually did not do it because I have little time to prepare and limited resources

chicken...

^^ Maybe, but I think most of us can relate with some past experience. Anyway, smart to post here asking for tips. In the future, should you have a similar photographic opportunity, you will be more ready.

Get up high, shoot them at an angle to the sun, hopefully you will be blessed with a cloudy day.
You can't effectively light a group that big.
Or shoot them with their back to the sun and expose for the faces, blow out the back.
Or just go the shade route.
Put the important people in the front and short people down in front of them, then gaggle the rest into the back.

Oh sorry, I just saw where you didn't have to do it....good call .