I think photographing large groups can be fun and stress free. Here are some tips I have learned along the way that can be applied to big groups (extended families etc) or also applied to smaller groups (individual families).
1. Educate your clients.
First off, start with an extensive “Getting to Know You” process. Talk over the phone or meet in person to discuss what the group is hoping to get out of their session, what is MOST important to them etc. Large extended group photos don’t typically happen often so it’s nice to have a clear understanding of what the client is hoping to walk away with and then if it is possible to over deliver after you get all of their “must have” shots.
Make sure they have seen your work and know what to expect in terms of how you will run the session. Talk in depth about what to expect – I always feel so much more at ease going into a session when communication has been established early and I know my clients are comfortable with my style, my pricing, what to wear, what to expect etc.
If a client says their primary focus is to get formal portraits where everyone is looking at the camera, I may not be the photographer for them. My favorite shots are the in between moments where interaction and love override all else. Before the session would be a very good time to know this…I am happy to offer help in finding someone who fits their vision more so I don’t have to compromise mine. Discuss clothes recommendations thoroughly; I believe this is a very important piece of the puzzle. I always make sure my clients know that I don’t recommend the all one color look and I make sure they know why!
After talking through all of this my clients know how I will run their session – they know that it’s okay if their kids act up and need to take breaks, that I pose very naturally and love candid moments and that I want them to just be themselves.
2. Consider hiring help.
When working with a large group of people, you might want to consider hiring an assistant. The assistant can simply be an outgoing high school student who likes kids or a babysitter you know from your neighborhood. Since you are leading the session you really just need someone who can help get everyone’s attention or assist in crowd control. While he or she is helping to get smiles and eye contact, have her stand pretty much right on top of you so she isn’t pulling your subjects eye contact away from the camera lens. Talk to her before the session in great detail about what you need from her so she is useful to you during the session and naturally steps in to do the things that you hired her for.
3. Location makes a difference.
Choose a location that is comfortable to the family. If it’s a cold day, shoot inside their house or in the yard (if it works well as a backdrop) so the subjects can warm up inside the house between shots if needed, use the restroom, have a snack or just re-group. Take into account all members of the family – walking distance, availability of chairs or couches etc. Scope out the location before the session at the same time of the day as the shoot so YOU know what to expect, can visualize how the light hits the space, and can begin to plan more effectively. Allow enough time to get all the shots you want without being in a rush.
We chose this location because not only was it beautiful but more importantly it was meaningful to the family.
4. Connection is Key.
When it comes to family photography it is so important that the members are connected in their photos. I always tell people to get close then I say now get even closer! I want everyone to be connected to the person next to them in their own way whether it be holding hands, linking arms, arms around their back or whatever they choose – it looks so much less stiff when there is natural connection.
5. Variety creates a more appealing gallery.
When working with bigger groups remember to photograph individual couples, individual families, individual kids or siblings together, grandparents with grandkids, etc. Try to think of every possible combination and the client will be blown away that you captured pictures they may not even known they wanted. Remember to switch your photo spot from time to time, the configuration of subjects and their pose (ie from standing to sitting etc) but always make sure you have genuine connection in each spot.
Stop and take your time – if you don’t like the lighting or there are distracting objects in the background taking away from the shot then you can control that. You are in charge here! You can always move your subjects and start fresh. They won’t be irritated with you for wanting their pictures to be the best they can be and will appreciate your attention to detail.
6. Help your clients true personality shine.
Part of our job as a photographer is to help our clients feel at ease. When working with a big group this is more challenging naturally as there are more people to get to know but it is still possible! I usually start by photographing each smaller individual family first so I can get some personalized time with them. I ask questions, show interest in their children and lives, and take the time to show I can and want to learn more about them. Sometimes I can pick up on some interesting insiders this way on how to make certain people smile, laugh or just loosen up; sometimes I simply observe behaviors and begin to read ways in which might be best to deal with certain personalities to get through to them.
If their kids act up I tell them not to worry, that I am a parent too and have seen it all then offer a break or whatever I can sense might help without making them feel like I am rushed or frustrated. I make small little comments here and there thanking them for taking the time to do this – “I know your mom will really appreciate having pictures of her kids and grandkids, this will mean the world to her!” I try to make myself approachable and relatable more like a friend than their photographer.
Here are some ideas to get kids out of their shell, flustered children to be distracted long enough to forget they were flustered, families more comfortable and connected or just to get some true emotion out. You can read these ideas and decide whether they would work better for you while photographing couples, families or kids.
- Staring contest (gets kids looking at each other and possibly laughter may occur:)
- On the count of three everyone can yell out a random number or color and see if anyone picks the same one. It can lead to laughter! If not at least you tried!
- Tell me about how you two met.
- Be silly! Get your subjects attention with a squeaky chicken or long feather duster, funny noises, throw grass on your head, talk like a robot or even say something in another language. You are trying to break the monotony here and create emotion, not trying to be cool!
- Tell your subject you have a problem where sometimes you snort when you take pictures – you are really working on it but apologize if you do it accidentally! Randomly out of the blue start snorting or making other crazy animal noises.
- Put grass on your head, sticks poking out of your hair or a sticker on your face and pretend you don’t know they’re there.
- Have a parent or assistant do a funny dance behind you while shooting.
- “Whisper a silly secret to your brother. You can even say something silly about me!”
- Keep them moving! Shake them, fly them in the air, swing them, put them upside down, let them stand, walk or run then re-group and try again. Tell them to jump – their expression as they’re coming down to the ground might be just what you were looking for.
- Play Peek a Boo behind the camera.
- Surprise tickle your subject.
- Tell silly stories.
The list goes on! Be creative! And remember, when you are a photographer you get to act silly at work…
7. Change your perspective.
When posing your group make sure you truly take your time to look at everyone’s placement to make sure everyone is visible and the way everyone is staggered looks natural. Sometimes this takes time to get right…don’t rush it. This part is important! Once everyone is in a good spot then you can work on getting the genuine interaction/connection to shine. Sometimes your background choices are limited. If you have a busy background with a horizon that seems to cut right through your subjects heads it will be distracting to the viewer and compromise the quality of the pictures. In these cases, sometimes a simple change in perspective/angle can make a huge difference.
Consider bringing a step stool so you can make yourself slightly higher than your subjects then angle your camera with a small tilt to avoid that distracting background and create a more clean look. Once you get the big group shot, work on changing your composition to add variety to their gallery and provide options by focusing close up on certain family members, changing focal length, etc.
All of these ideas can be applied to almost any kind of session but for the purpose of illustrating my point working with a large group here are some examples from past sessions.
See below for more examples of family:
Family Session 1, Family Session 2, Family Session 3
Kelly is a natural light lifestyle photographer in Houston, Texas.
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