very large group portrait...tips? (I have a G3)

I'm a G3 user...

I'm going to be taking family pictures this weekend. There are 4 siblings plus their spouses and children. There will be a minimum of 21 people in the pictures. I've never done such a large group before and I'm quite intimidated!

We're going to be outdoors, so I don't really have to be too concerned about light. We'll either be in the shade if it's really bright (doubtful...it's been pretty cloudy here in Wisconsin!) or else we'll wait until the sun is beginning to go down.

What would you have them all wear? I was thinking maybe: men wear blue shirts and khakis, women wear white shirts and jeans, kids wearing anything with those colors. Or do you have a better idea?

My main question...How would you set your camera if you were in this situation? I'm very concerned that some people will be in focus and others won't be. Help!

~Kim

I don't think DoF will be a problem, but you'll want a fairly tight bunching so the prints have maximum people and minimum surrounding space. Try to get them on a slope facing some place where you can get up above them. Makes it much easier to see all of everyone's faces when they're in multiple rows. Too gentle a slope and the back row won't clear the front row(s). And use a tripod so you can carefully study the group on the LCD to make sure nobody's hiding behind someone else.

Good luck with trying to get this shot. I have found from personal experience this is a hateful endeavour. Make sure you take a LOT of images of the same set-up as you have 42 eyes that could be blinking at any one time..............

If it was me , I'd have the wide angle lens by now along with the lens adapter. B&H sells the wide angle for $149.95, and the adapter is $19.95. That would solve your tight shot problem.

The problem with that is the wide-angle setting of around 24mm may create distortion near the edges of the frame if it is not carefully composed; if you have plenty of space, the best choice of focal length is actually normal or even slight telephoto.

What happens if it's raining? Can you get out of this drudgery?

Personally, I dislike the idea of having everyone wear the same thing. Part of what makes a shot memorable is that a group consists of many individuals. Assuming you want their individuality to show as much as their membership in the group, I say let 'em wear what they want. Or let the person/people organizing the event set the clothing standards.

I am totally a novice but I believe that you should just ask that they all wear solid colors ... I think with a group that size having everyone in the same thing is a little over the top ... but ... I would insist on the solid colors. If you really desire a steady color pallette ... suggest folks wear something in the same color scheme.

Good luck !!

Main thing is the distortion if you are looking to use the 35mm end of your G3's lens. The people on the end will be fatter and wider than the ones in the middle.

Step back and zoom in on the group - you can stand about 25-35 feet from them, put your camera between f/4.0 - f/5.6, and then zoom in about half way to get the entire group in your frame. Consider using a flash (420EX) if you have it to add some light to your photo and remove shadows.

Have the group pose in filtered light. Don't catch them in direct 12:00 noon light. Best time - closer to sunset when you have enough light but also pleasing color and shadows.

Have them stand together and use a bleacher or stair, or something to bring them in compactly so that you can capture them without to resorting to the extremities of your lens.

Good luck and post some pictures for us.

Also consider shooting in the high speed mode. Shoot one shot to determine
your exposure settings, then fire off a bunch of pics of each pose. Holding
shutter release this way will keep your hand steadier if you are not using a
tripod. And this will help you miss the blinking eyes.

Also consider shooting candid shots before and after the "real" shots. Just a
few seconds before everyone is ready is a good time for candids sometimes.

Love to see the results. Post 'em when you get 'em.

Makes no difference about the 'uniform'...as long as the girls are in mini-skirts! 8)

I recently 'covered' a family reunion and had a couple of monster group shots. Love that 'Stitch' program! Not the Camera's Stich Assist....but the ability to select a slew of jpgs in ZB and THEN open the Stitch. I use the Vertical Stitch....and take all my pictures with the camera vertical. I take around six, per group shot. Then ANOTHER sweep of six or so. With the twelve available later on, I have found I can mix and match to get ONE decent Stitched Group shot. If you can get 'em to hang in there, go for a THIRD series... The Vertical Stitch direction allows for a 'taller' final image than the horizontal one...

Of course you to have ONE ...way out there....single image, taken with the little remote clicker, to have YOU in the picture !!