Comments on: How to Take Good Group Photographs

on 11/22/2005 Add about 5 minutes to your estimated shooting session. If you end early, people will be pleased. If you end on time, they expected it. If you end late, sorry.

Tell everyone to lift their chin slightly, to avoid double chins.

If you have several tall people, those that are not centered in the rear can sit on the ground in front of the group.

Some people can kneel on one knee at either side of the group. This helps to round out the shape of the group. It bridges the disparity between those standing and those sitting.

on 11/22/2005 Tell folks what you're doing and why, LOUDLY. Tell them they'll be disturbed for less than 5 minutes and then line 'em up. It doesn't hurt to remind them that their fooling around is costing them money.

on 11/22/2005 Tell your subjects to go ahead and blink their eyes so they can all have them open when you take their picture on the count of three. Also, check the background to see that your subjects have no trees or power poles "growing out of their heads."

on 11/22/2005 Always include shoes in group portraits. Without them, the perspective gets lost. The camera should not tilt up or down. Adjust the camera height to fit the group, but do not tilt it. Otherwise, the perspective gets distorted.

on 11/22/2005 A former photographer for "Life" told me there is never any need to get shoes in the picture unless you are shooting a line of footwear.