Group Shots?

I am just wondering if people could show samples of group shots they have done with 10 or more people (family type photos). I have a group of 14 to do and a group of 80 (for a wedding). I am just looking for ideas and setups.

Thanks for the help!
Max

80?? good luck haha thats a tall order. only tip i can give is get high up, like upstairs shooting down or bring a ladder. Only way you will see all their faces. Tuff part sometimes is getting everyone in same lighting. anyone in shadows will , with my luck, come out black.

10 people way easier if they stand on the stairs so u can get different heights for them. for come family i do her family, her side, his family, his side (boring), then i have all guys one side and girls other (boring too).

wow, id get nightmares thinking of shooting 80 guest at a wedding. almost none of them would even be looking at my camera unless i yell. good luck!!

For a group that size youve got to get up high yourself, think 1st floor window from a room at the venue or some ladders, or a high vantage point somewhere. The alternative if is theres somewhere at the venue where you can stagger the groups heigh like a banking or some steps etc, just be careful putting short people behind tall people. Tell people to make sure they can see the lens of the camera so they are in shot and be prepapred to watch out for the hiders that duck behind people, theres always some that dont want to be photographed.

p.s Safety first, dont do what I nearly did. I was trying to capture a large group in a barn at a wedding last month and I was on a balcony with my 10-22 but it still wasnt wide enough to get everyone in, so I was stood on a chair on the balcony leaning over when the chair moved .... for one horrible moment I had visions of me landing on a guest below which would not have been good for business I dont think, thankfully I amnaged to grab an upright and then had my wife holding my belt for the rest of the time I was taking that shot!

Use a monopod for a huge group, stand on something and hold the 'pod up as high as you can. Use a remote release.

who cares about "posing" when there is 80 people. Get 'em in a group, stand on a chair and shoot. There really isn't much you can do with 80 people that will look better than just a group of huddled people If you have access too stairs......stack em

Thanks for all the feedback! The 80 people will be at an old heritage village, I might be able to get a ladder, but there will be no stairs or banks for me to use. This is something the bride suggested and I said I could probably make it work. I guess we'll see!

thanks, M

I'd second Matt's suggestion - top of a step ladder, with camera (and cable release) held up on top of a monopod ...you'll probably need a couple of stabs at it to get everyone in shot - and you need to watch out for people who insist on looking at you rather than the lens.

Rob

I used a step ladder on my first wedding a couple of weeks ago. I had 80-90 people on level ground, blob formation. It was the only way to do it.strangely enough everyone is looking straight at the camera(probably waiting to see the fool on the step ladder come to some gruesome end) i just got them all to count to three. I managed to clip the feet off the grooms father but other than that it worked well. Just place the bride and groom in pride of place and get the other important people at or near the front there is not much else you can do with so many people.

Good luck Stewart....

A good way also, that I just remembered is to get the group to form a rough circle around the B&G, get them all to cheer. Cheesy, but people seem to love it!!

Use make shift markers or people with which you want the crowds to stand between. Announce that anyone who steps outside of this boundaries will be SHOT! ... nah.

It certainly does help with framing. Also tell them if they can't see you - you can't see them

A good tip I use is to get everyone to close their eyes and on the count of three open them. It usually eliminates the group shot where half have their eyes shut or worse partly shut.