Dreadlock Girl Photography Tips: Group Shots
1.) Coordinate. It may sound cheesy to coordinate in matching colours, but it will be worth your scepticism when you see the results. I don’t want you to think, matchy-matchy shirts and pants because that is horrid. Here are some colour ideas for your group:
-Natural Colours: this works really well, really letting the faces stand out of the subjects.
-Primary Colours: I like this especially for kid groupings, but it could work on different ages as well.
-All One Colour: Tell your group beforehand to wear all wear green, pink or red-and not to worry about the shade of the colour, as that will add to the shot. Just say green, any shade of green. This works the best with a large group where there are so many shades that it really pops. If you do green, make sure to shoot outside for an added bonus of green around your subjects as well!
-In Uniform: This works if you are taking a photo of a group of ranchers, pilots, construction workers or Army men. It really shows off the faces because they will be wearing similar dress. Take care to not pose those in a uniform in a very strict pose, as it will just look like they are getting ready to march. Use different heights, some standing, some sitting. Or a pose that demonstrates their comradery, for example a shot of them all praying together, or with their arms across each other’s shoulders. These guys usually go deep, try to bring that out in your shot.
2.) Think Small to Shoot Big. Sometimes a huge group of people can be really intimidating, especially when thinking of how to pose them or get them all in. If you can, think of them in segments. You can group all the kids together, or the families or whatever you are working with, but call one group up at a time pose them as if for their own shoot and keep adding additional groups. This will make for a photo that has different heights, and that is much more visually stimulating than a group of people all standing together looking confused. I would recommend only adding the kids in for some shots, and maybe doing generational shots. Bring the kids in first or last, but don’t let them be there long…or you’ll get grouchy faces.
3.) Posing is Everything and Then Its Not. Unless you like the look of just a blob of people standing there looking confused, pose them. Sometimes if you have them on a structure of some sort that will do the job for you. Kids sitting naturally all over a play structure( you can shoot them while they are actually playing). I have mentioned before that it is really not fun to boss and bully your subjects, and this stands true here too, but many times in order to get the little ones to cooperate (and oldest) you may need a bribe of Popsicles, brownies, or a swim in the ocean when it is all over.
Posing is also not everything because action group shots are great too. Some action shots are planned, but they can’t be posed. It makes for happier people when you have their minds working on something, and happier people mean happier and better shots. There is a craze lately of the mid-air jumping shots. Also, if you set your group back 100meters from you and then just say “RUN!” the running shots are great too. I saw a wedding shot of this recently were the whole bridal party had their shoes off and was running toward the camera. It was the best shot of that wedding. If a group of ladies is sewing and you are going to take their photo, don’t have them stand up and get in a blob and shoot, if they are sitting, kneel down and shoot them in what they are doing. You will get much more natural shots.
4.) Black and White is Your Friend. Because people don’t want to coordinate outfits, because they don’t always get the memo, because they don’t like to cooperate, because one lady is wearing an obnoxious blouse, and because it really does look better: go black and white when shooting groups. I don’t recommend actually taking them in black and white, but just know, if you throw a group of uncoordinated people (and or clashing colours) into Black and White you will be suprised by how much it changes for you. Also, it is whimsical, it is old fashioned, and really I think Black and White can add a lot to your group shots. So if all else fails – just make the switch.
I always love answering questions for readers. I’d love ideas on future Dreadlock Girl Photography Tips sessions if you have them. Leave me a comment, I love hearing from you!
Previous Dreadlock Girl Photography Tips:
The Basics
Capture Real People, In Real Life Shots
Work That Thing! How to Get the Best Shots
Tips for Group Shots: How to Shoot a Group Session Like You Know What You’re Doing!
Photo Editing, Fixin’ Your Images
Dreadlock Girl Photography Tips: I am going to do several of these posts, I am not a professional photographer by a long shot, but I love taking pictures and seeing beautiful pictures so I want to share what I have learned with you.
Themocracy
My daughters and I are having professional pictures taken in a week and I have NO idea what to wear. This gave me some ideas but I think I need to spend some time bonding with our closets this weekend.
I am so glad! I hope the pictures go well.
Do you ever shoot IN black and white or sepia? Scott just got a new SLR, which I’M supposed to learn how to use, but he was really excited that it actually shoots in B&W and sepia. Is it better just to change the pictures in an editor later?
I don’t shoot in B&W or Sepia because then I can never switch it to colour. If I shoot in colour then I can put it into anything.
That is just me though, I am sure there is a reason to do it directly that I don’t know about.
Why is Scott excited about shooting in B&W? he probably knows something that I don’t then, do share.
LOL–I think it’s just because he can.
He doesn’t know how to use the camera at all. We’re headed on a roadtrip on Friday night and he told me it’s my duty to read the “SLR for Dummies” while he’s driving so that when we get to our destination (Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, Yellowstone!) that we’ll be able to take great pictures. It’s hopeless. 
When we had family photos taken this year we all dressed in bright colored shirts and jeans. So we had orange, red, blue and lime green shirts. When we got there the photographer was miffed that we weren’t wearing matching colored tops because evidently the appointment person forgot to tell us that they prefer it that way. Oops!
I thought our bright colored shirts looked fine in the photo though.
I think as long as it doesn’t clash or distract it is pretty much okay. I think bright colours sound great! I love it when your pictures are expressive, and a family with small children–bright colours express what you are and how hard you play. Fun stuff!
i just got a new digital slr for my bday and am frothing for a macro lens. i love closey-closeups. i have photoshop but it’s so mind-boggling…that i tend to use another corel paint on my laptop instead. maybe you can do a photoshop primer if you use it.
That is great that you got a SLR!! I LOVE mine. They are so fun to mess around with!
I just use i-photo editing. I am not a huge fan of editing, just fixing the basics. I think I am a little old-school about that since I learned on a 35mm Minolta in 1999. I can certainly do a photo editing post though, but I don’t have photoshop, so I couldn’t do it on that.