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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Large Group Photo Setup/Pose Suggestions??? :o)
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 11/10/2004 04:27:07 PM · #1
Anyone have suggestions for how to successfully shoot a large group awards banquet photo? There will be 37-40 people at this fairly formal event. Looking for pose suggestions. I will be using my two strobes and also my hot shoe mounted 420EX on my 20D (I hope I have enough light). Fairly limited space in the place where the shot will be taken. Do I just line them up, 2 lines straight across and take the shot? Do I create a sort of arch with them to move them further together because of the large size of the group? I hope you get an idea what what I am asking.

Thanks for any help you can provide!
 11/10/2004 04:32:55 PM · #2
I'd try slightly arched, two rows standing with the taller ones in back and the rows offset, and a third row seated in front. Otherwise you'll never get everyone close enough together to make them recognizable.

Think of pictures of sports teams, classes, or choirs.
 11/10/2004 04:33:52 PM · #3
Also take lots of shots of groups of 2-5 people.
 11/10/2004 04:33:55 PM · #4
Hey Bill -

Try sending a PM to JoelHSmith. He has a lot of experience in this.
 11/10/2004 04:33:57 PM · #5
bring a big ladder, and shoot down with them all looking up :)

Message edited by author 2004-11-11 16:23:43.
 11/10/2004 04:35:32 PM · #6
Originally posted by ericlimon:
bring a big ladder, and shoot down with them all looking up :)

Sounds like a Coca-Cola comercial : )
 11/10/2004 04:39:11 PM · #7
Shooting from above always makes big group shots easier.

And, for lighting, I'm taking a lighting course and I was told (not that I agree with everything my prof says..but that's another story) to use a 1:1 ratio for lighting. Nice and bright all around. So placing a light on either side at equal high power and maybe your flash to fill the middle. That way people can move around in different formations and you don't have to struggle with lighting - it just stays bright.

It's boring, but I'm told it works.
 11/10/2004 04:42:02 PM · #8
Some more ideas
 11/10/2004 04:48:15 PM · #9
Thanks, Folks! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for.

I'm going to take GeneralE's suggestion and do the slight arch with the two standing rowed staggered and then the one seated row in the front.

Goldberry,

I think that's the exact set up I'm gong to try. However, I'm not sure if I should use the bare strobes or put my softboxes with or without the baffles.(?) Nice and bright, that's what I'm thinking too.

Thanks again!
Bill
 11/10/2004 06:05:24 PM · #10
Originally posted by wackybill:

However, I'm not sure if I should use the bare strobes or put my softboxes with or without the baffles.(?) Nice and bright, that's what I'm thinking too.

Thanks again!
Bill


I'm baffled since I don't know what a 'baffle' is...I've only had one class so far :-) (we just so happened to talk about group lighting). From what I understand, using the strobes with some big umbrellas to spread out the light will work best.

I could be way off.
 11/11/2004 02:53:23 PM · #11
Does anyone have any good examples of large group photos? I did see the one in the attached thread that Gordon provided.

Thanks!
Bill
 11/11/2004 02:58:25 PM · #12
Originally posted by wackybill:
Does anyone have any good examples of large group photos? I did see the one in the attached thread that Gordon provided.

Thanks!
Bill


That's not a good example :)


11/11/2004 03:02:14 PM · #13
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by ericlimon:
bring a big ladder, and shoot down with them all looking up :)

Sounds like a Coca-Cola comercial : )


hey, commercial photography is where the moneys at. ;)

Message edited by author 2004-11-11 16:08:21.
 11/11/2004 03:50:13 PM · #14
Originally posted by ericlimon:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by ericlimon:
bring a big ladder, and shoot down with them all looking up :)

Sounds like a Coca-Cola comercial : )


hey, commercial photography is where the moneys at. ;)

If I could sell one photo to Coca-Cola I might be able to retire ...
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