Group Shot

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ShutterWork

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Anand
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Hi all,

As the title suggests, I have been asked to do a group shot at work as part of a leaving pressie for our boss. Just a basic photo, nothing super professional.

Having never done this before, will kindly appreciate inputs to see if I have got this right
- outdoor shoot (fingers crossed for weather)
- group of roughly 30. Planning for a three row set-up. Two stood at different levels and one sat down.
- camera set on tripod
- aperture f9-11 on A mode?
- using evaluative metering
- using centre focus point and recomposing as required with single-area mode. Focussing centre person on front or middle row
- just got one jessops flash with remote trigger, is it worth using this at all for bit of fill flash?
- have got a 50mm prime and 18-55 kit lens. Will be doing a reccee tomorrow, but think 50mm prime may not work. So will have to be my kit lens
- ISO set to lowest

Any other considerations? Any thoughts on photo gifts? Was having a look at photo planet but looks quite complicated and not sure if PSE can do this?

P:S - additional question has dawned on me as I am typing this..With tripod used, what can be the lowest shutter speed to prevent motion blur from people moving?

Will greatly appreciate all your thoughts. Thanks a ton in advance!
 
Last edited:
Your 50mm prime would be sharper to get the detail required for a large group, however with the crop factor on the D5000 you would definitely struggle to get everybody in.

If you have to use your zoom lens, you would get best results setting it at 35mm @ f/8, unless you need the background in focus, no need to stop it down further

I would say over 1/50th would be sufficient speed with tripod when you have people standing still.

Just ensure you take plenty of shots, as many as possible, you will always have someone blinking or not looking.
 
30.

18 chairs will do the job if you want a formal look.

1st row seated x9
2nd row standing behind. x10 Put in between people seated
3rd row standing on chairs inbetween the row in front.

Faces in spaces.

Then stick the last two (smallest) either end of row 2 overlapped. (Stand next to chair seated)

boses/managers in centre and if poss build in aheight order it will look very clean and smart.

(Tallest to shortest)

If just a fun one do anything.

If sunny get sun behind the group and put fill flash to the equivalent of ambient light. This will even up any shadow areas to the surrounding scene
i.e: F16 at 125th put F16 worth of flash in to it. Bright sunny.

If cloudy and you shoot F8 at at 125th put about F4 worth of fill flash in. will freshen it up a little.

Take the light reading from where centre person is and do a chest reading facing away with sun behind you.

it will be fine.
 
DavidW said:
Your 50mm prime would be sharper to get the detail required for a large group, however with the crop factor on the D5000 you would definitely struggle to get everybody in.

If you have to use your zoom lens, you would get best results setting it at 35mm @ f/8, unless you need the background in focus, no need to stop it down further

I would say over 1/50th would be sufficient speed with tripod when you have people standing still.

Just ensure you take plenty of shots, as many as possible, you will always have someone blinking or not looking.
Click to expand...

Thanks David. I really wish I could have used the 50mm. Beautiful lens!!

Anyway will check how I get at 35mm tomorrow. Luckily the shoot is not till next week

Thanks once again.
 
Daryl said:
30.

18 chairs will do the job if you want a formal look.

1st row seated x9
2nd row standing behind. x10 Put in between people seated
3rd row standing on chairs inbetween the row in front.

Faces in spaces.

Then stick the last two (smallest) either end of row 2 overlapped. (Stand next to chair seated)

boses/managers in centre and if poss build in aheight order it will look very clean and smart.

(Tallest to shortest)

If just a fun one do anything.

If sunny get sun behind the group and put fill flash to the equivalent of ambient light. This will even up any shadow areas to the surrounding scene
i.e: F16 at 125th put F16 worth of flash in to it. Bright sunny.

If cloudy and you shoot F8 at at 125th put about F4 worth of fill flash in. will freshen it up a little.

Take the light reading from where centre person is and do a chest reading facing away with sun behind you.

it will be fine.
Click to expand...

Thank you for a very detailed answer Daryl. Much appreciated.

Really hope people are patient enough while I do the set-up as often people without SLR camera cant understand what the fuss is all about :-))

So are we saying one flash unit at approximately 45 degree on shaded side is enough for fill flash? And considering I may have to postion this at some distance?

Thanks once again.
 
On a second thought just thinking should I just leave the flash on-board for fill-flash? Or if it needs to be off-camera may be more like next to it on a stand at rougly 70-80 degrees?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
Thanks Daryl.
 
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