Group Portrait Photography Tips

Tap to Read ➤ Know how to photograph people in a group. Take memorable pictures that last forever with less technical things to worry about... Sheetal Mandora

Not everyone is familiar with the latest photography techniques, and when you add high-end digital cameras in the mix, you can expect issues to arise. And who says that you need to be an expert like Martin Klimas, Nigel Barker, Jill Greenberg, etc to take beautiful pictures.

You can just as well be an amateur and still get the best pictures possible. How, you ask? The first step to taking workable pictures is by understanding your camera. Whether your camera is the latest model with innumerable features or is an older model from few years, you have to familiarize yourself with it.

Taking group photographs isn't different than taking portrait, still, or landscape photographs. Regardless of the number of people, capture images that are natural, pleasant, and elegant. Here are some tips for indoor and outdoor photography that will enhance the images tenfold.

Tips for Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Imagine that you and your family (or friends) are gathered for a special occasion and you wish to capture this moment forever. You grab the camera and start clicking pictures. But somewhere down the line, the light is too bright or dull, you can't capture the angles correctly, and/or you are confused with all the different features on the camera.

The point to remember is that everything lies in the facial expressions. Whether you click pictures inside the house or somewhere outside, the secret to liven up the images is in everyone's faces. When you focus on them, rather than the background, you end up clicking the best pictures.

Now,this does not mean that a background doesn't count. But, you don't always have to focus on the background. For an amateur photographer, concentrating on the subjects' faces is very crucial. Once you have mastered this art, move on to other details of pictures and features your camera has to offer.

Indoor Photography

Using natural light is the best way to capture vibrant images. It does sound ironic but it's the truth. Using the flash has its own benefits and it is quite tempting to use them indoors as well. So, try taking pictures with the light coming from the windows and doors. Have everyone stand in such a way so that the light falls directly on their faces.

Secondly , pick backgrounds that are easy to work with. A plain wall, a couch, a table, or even a computer desk with as little clutter as possible will work in your favor. When there are less things to get distracted by, the focus stays on the people in the images. You want to accentuate the people in the images and not the background.

With large groups, use a tripod to avoid shaky images. This is very important tip for beginners; whether the images are being taken indoors or outdoors. With a tripod, you will spend less time deleting shaky images and more time clicking pictures.

Always take 2 to 3 shots of the same poses so while editing, you can select the best one. With large groups, you are bound to get certain shots with someone's eyes closed, a person looking away from the camera, people yawning, making weird faces, etc. So instead of wasting the images, delete the ones that aren't perfect and select the ones that are.

Always read the instructions that come with the camera. The different features like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, light sensitivity, and camera modes are provided for a reason. Experiment with the features and see what results you get.

Outdoor Photography

The light is your best friend here. While clicking outdoor pictures, you have enough light to capture the images without using the flash. Be aware of the direction of the light, where the group is standing, and is there any light falling directly over the camera lens. With practice, you will understand the difference and how you need to position yourself.

Many times, the faces in the images are coming a bit dark, even after you've used the natural light effect. Here, use the reflecting light technique. Using sunlight or the reflection from a white wall works wonders. This way, even with an open sky and the possibility of darker faces, the reflecting lights will brighten everyone's faces in those images.

You can either use a point and shoot camera or try your hand at using a DSLR camera. Of course, the results will be poles apart because of the advanced features provided in DSLR cameras. However, the images will be remarkable nonetheless.

Don't use sideways or downward angles while taking group photographs. Use a tripod or hold the camera so that your hands are not moving involuntarily. The images need to be centered so that the group's photographs come clean. It's alright if you can't include the sky along with the people. Outdoor photographs don't necessarily require the sky background.

While you're taking group photographs or any other photographs for that matter, practice, practice, and more practice.

Keep experimenting with your camera, try different backgrounds, and see what results you get. The more you get familiar with your camera, the better chances you have to get amazing images.