How to Take Group Photographs

We’ve all been a part of that dance that happens in front of a lens when a photographer is trying to orchestrate a group photograph before taking a picture. But arranging a bunch of people is just the baseline for creating a competent group photograph. From lenses to lighting, from direction to minor details, a lot of things go into a group shot.

Wide-angle lenses will make it easier

I rarely talk about photographic gear, but to shoot groups in a successful way, wide-angle lenses are indeed life-savers. Just remember to avoid getting too close; if you do, the group of people will start to look funny in your viewfinder or screen.

Wide-angle lenses are not known for being ridiculously powerful in terms of aperture, but there’s no need for an extremely fast aperture when dealing with groups of people. A wide-angle lens will be enough — anything from 16mm to 28mm. The affordable ultra-wide angle lenses often distort reality in weird ways.

Do some scouting

Regardless of your location, there will always be some sweet places well suited to photographing groups. Pay attention to not only your surroundings, but also the natural light in the scene. It’s also important to keep in mind the time of day — if you’re outdoors, you don’t want to photograph a group of people under the harsh bright sun of…