Group photos are often taken at events. There is an impression that the cameraman takes pictures quickly, but various “shooting methods” have been decided in order to shoot smoothly.
I'll show you how group photos are actually taken, and techniques for taking group photos.
When shooting with a small group of people, we recommend shooting in a horizontal row if there is room. By shooting in a row, everyone can be clearly projected, making it easier to blur the background.
If it is not possible to line up horizontally due to the size of the shooting area, for example, you can line up more compactly by having the subject fill at an angle of 45 degrees (half body).
For about 10 to 40 people
If the number of people can't fit in 1 row, it's a good idea to have 2 or 3 rows.
If you line up in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rows, the distance between the rows (and the closer the distance between the cameraman and subject), the sense of size may be out of place (the person in the foreground is larger, and the person behind you is smaller), and you may not be able to see your face clearly due to being covered by the person in front of you.
When taking a group photo, it is necessary to be packed as tightly as possible, have them take out their own purchases from between faces in the front row, and even so, if there are people whose faces are not visible when viewed from the cameraman's side, it is necessary to give individual instructions and move.
Also, we recommend about 10 people per row. If there are many people in a row, large margins may be created, and the subject may appear small.
How many columns should a group photo fit in
There is no rule that “you must always fit into this number of columns.”
For a typical group photo where each person's face can be clearly shown, when there are about 10 people per row, 3 to 4 rows (30 to 40 people) is the limit. If there are more rows than this, the difference in reflection (size) between the front row and the last row will be different, and the faces of those in the last row will be very small.
Nonetheless, that doesn't mean they won't take more group photos than that, and if the purpose is to capture an atmosphere where there are a lot of people anyway, they may shoot with hundreds or more people.
In the case of a few hundred people
If the number of people taking pictures is large and it is impossible to form a line at a time, the photo is taken by climbing on a large stepladder or building and looking down.
If the target number of people is large, the shooting will proceed smoothly by doing a preliminary inspection (location hunt) beforehand and deciding the approximate standing position in advance, such as “having them enter this area from here.”
If there is a person whose standing position has been decided, such as a corporate executive, the form of clearly deciding only that person's standing position in advance, and then having them enter the “shooting area” that has been decided in advance is smoother.
After everyone has entered the shooting area, the cameraman gives instructions to correct the standing position by looking at the balance between left and right, etc., and proceeds to shoot.
How to prepare a stepladder
What is often used when shooting group photos is a stepladder of about 6 feet (6 steps). If you go to an event venue such as a hotel banquet hall, you can rent it in many cases if you ask, so it's a good idea to consult with the person in charge of the hotel or venue beforehand.
Camera settings for taking group photos
Shooting mode is “Aperture Priority (Av)” or “Manual (M)”
Group photos are required to clearly show the subject's face.
Let's set an aperture value (F value) to set the background blur level (range of focus) depending on how it is arranged.
The smaller the F value, the narrower the focus range, and the more likely it is to blur the background, and when it is necessary to clearly capture the back, such as when shooting with a large number of people, the F value is increased. This is called “narrowing down.”
If it is a camera that can select a shooting mode, such as a single-lens reflex camera or mirrorless camera, we recommend shooting while controlling the F value in aperture priority mode or manual mode.
Examples of aperture values when taking group photos are shown below.
F2.8 or higher when shooting in a single horizontal row
2-row shooting F5.6 or higher
F8 or higher for shooting in 3 rows or more
It may also fluctuate depending on the lens used and conditions, etc., so we recommend taking actual shooting after making test cuts. Also, in the case of a horizontal row, if the aperture value is too close to the opening (minimum value), the focus may not suit everyone, even though it is a single horizontal row.
This is a mistake caused by standing positions a few centimeters to tens of centimeters back and forth, even though they are in a row horizontally. If you want to take a row of group photos while blurring the background, be careful to keep everyone on the subject's toes.
ISO sensitivity is within the range where noise is not noticeable
When taking group photos in a dark room, the ISO sensitivity may be taken at a high sensitivity such as ISO 3200.
However, depending on the specifications of the camera being shot, noise will be noticeable if the ISO sensitivity is raised too much, so in that case, we recommend shooting by adding light with a strobe.
Recommended equipment for group photo shoots
tripod
It is especially recommended when taking formal group photos.
Once the angle of view is determined, everything can be shot with the same angle of view. Since the camera can be fixed, you can shoot while talking to the subject without looking into the viewfinder or looking at the rear LCD.
However, when a sense of speed is required or when shooting from the top of a stepladder, such as a group photo taken at the end of an event, it is not realistic to use a tripod, so we recommend shooting with your own hands. (Setting up a tripod and readjusting the angle of view takes time, and as a result, may push down the time of the entire event.)
Use a strobe (flash)
There are three main reasons to use flash.
By adding light that hits the subject, it is possible to clearly project a face without becoming a shadow
By adding the amount of light, it is possible to shoot more narrowly (expand the range of focus)
In order for the subject to recognize that it was “taken”
Recently, cameras have become high-spec and highly functional, and it is now possible to shoot cleanly and with a certain degree of narrowing down without burning a strobe.
Therefore, in reality, there are many cases where a strobe is used to make the subject recognize that it has been “taken.” Communication is very important when it comes to photography.
Regardless of whether you are outdoors or indoors, you can take group photos with good rhythm by emitting a strobe with a minimum amount of light (which has almost no effect on the image) and making a voice.
Use a 50mm or larger lens to keep as much distance as possible from the subject
When taking group photos, we recommend using a telephoto lens as much as possible and keeping a distance from the subject. If you use a wide-angle to standard range lens, it will be distorted, and the way the front row and back row look (sense of size) will change.
it's time! Tips for taking group photos
Up until now, everything was an explanation of preparation. Next, here are techniques for situations where you actually press the shutter.
Shoot rapidly
The chance for a group photo is instantaneous. Also, such things happen when there are more people who blink or look away. Furthermore, if you press the shutter over and over again, the subject's expression will seem boring. Therefore, when shooting, we recommend shooting a lot with rapid fire rather than one shot at a time.
While the subject is moving to the shooting location, a test cut is taken to check whether the brightness and aperture are appropriate, etc., and the first shot is performed immediately after the alignment is completed. At this time, we recommend shooting multiple images in continuous shooting mode instead of 1-2 shots.
After shooting the first shot in rapid fire, the subject said, “Smile a little more!” or “My face is stiff!” They usually laugh when they make a “bright” voice, so they do rapid fire at that timing, and the shooting is over. Needless to say, the final cut is the main one.
What if there are so many photographers that they lose sight of each other?
When a large number of people participate in events, etc., many people may gather to take group photos. If you're the main cameraman who received a request from the event organizer, say in a loud voice, “This is an official record cameraman. Let's take a picture by saying, “Please take a look.” In addition to the subject, this also includes the meaning of “I don't want you to speak up right now” for the person holding the camera on the cameraman's side.
If you take a group photo without knowing who is the main photographer, your eyes will fall apart.
Once the group photo has been taken, the person holding the other camera is prompted to shake their gaze, and the shooting is over.
It's important not to spend too much time
When taking group photos, it's important to do it quickly without spending too much time.
If you get confused about the settings in advance, etc., and make the subject wait, that alone will reduce your smile. If you complete the camera settings at the timing when the subject is moving, and just press the shutter when they are lined up, the flow is good.
From when you start pressing the actual shutter until the end of shooting, shoot 2 times, and it takes about 30 seconds as a guide. Shooting with rapid fire of about 3 times at most is probably the limit.
If you are uneasy about group photos or in the case of important group photos, it is a good idea to consider requesting a professional photographer.
I wrote the article
Hiroki Yamamoto
CEO of Delta Creative Co., Ltd. /Photographer He started taking cameras by himself, and has been active as a cameraman since he was a student, focusing on press photography. After working in the photography department for magazines and online media, he has been freelancing since 2011. We are involved in the development and operation of TOTTA. Born in Hiroshima.
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