Photographing Groups

I have a question on how to photograph groups. My daughter takes dance classes and my cousin plays sports. They get pictures done every year. The photographer may photograph 40 groups back to back in a day long even. I am wondering how he or she keeps up with what package each child gets and then matches the package with the right child and right images. This seems like it would be hard. When they get home the camera card full of images matches nothing.

One way is to use the camera to take a picture of something identifying (registration form, etc.) between each group.
That way there is a marker on the memory card between groups of photos that has some info about who is in the next group of pictures

Either you take the images as yellowt2 mentioned, or you note on the order forms the frame numbers/image names.

We did little league team photos last month, and that's how it was done- assistant is holding the order forms, and after each individual had their picture taken, there is a spot on the order form, and they simply write in the start/end image number, and the same for the team photos.

Ive church group photos for directories with families and individuals. Frankly, I found it easier to do like they to when making a movie before they yell ACTION!

I had a cheap small board that I can write on and erase using a marker with the family or individual name as the first shot held up in front of them as a type of ID or Registration shot. This works better to me than just taking a shot of something to identify them because it doesnt require that shot to stay in order. If you take a shot of just a form or something, you have to depend on your ID shot staying in the right order with the shots that follows. Of course you can check the image numbers, but thats an added step.

It is a matter of having help and being organized. I have done this earlier this past year on my own for football VERY small scale ( three teams) and I was hired to shoot this past weekend by another photographer.

For this past weekend, there were about 20 flag football teams. One person was helping customers with questions and directing teams to photographers stations. There were three photographers shooting individuals and one shooting the teams.

Each child had their form completed and it was handed to me. I shot two images of each kid and after I was done, I recorded the camera frame number on the order form.

This is the best way to keep track of what customer wants and the package information.

I used Millers and I am glad I did There is a definite learning curve to the software.

Hope this helps

Where would you get a clapperboard from in the UK? Sounds a fun prop.

Ebay have them from £3