Ideas please? ...Family Portrait of 35!

[Gilly B]

I am doing a family portrait next Saturday evening (7pm) of 35 people. Not really tackled that quantity. Done much larger (210) and then the usual wedding groups etc., but not 35 all posed to hang on a wall.

I have some ideas, but would love some tips from you peeps. If it is raining it will be in the large lounge of a country house with black leather chesterfield sofas and chairs. If dry, it will be outside with the Welsh Hills as a backdrop and / or the country house as a backdrop. Ages will vary, with 4 small children.

Any examples of what you guys have done or links to galleries would be gratefully received. Thanks

 

[Gilly B]

Bump - anyone.... pleeze

 

[natjag]

All I can say is. get them all to close their eyes, count to three then open them and click. Then your more likely to have them ll with their eyes open. If it was me, I probably pose them like a football squad, or my old school class photos.

 

[Phil T]

My large extended family were photographed by a pro from the Guardian a few weeks ago. Venue was outdoors in shaded sunlight.
Made mental notes as follows:
1. Use flash, even in sunlight
2. Arrange people in family units, loosely but equally spaced out around
a 3-layered semi-circle (if that makes sense - semi-circles 3 layers deep))
3. Little-uns can sit or kneel - the above "tiering" makes this possible
4. If there are family "elders" - position them at the front to either side, not at the back. I noted that the tog focused on the senior family member at the front left (from his perspective) to lock focus then recomposed with everyone in shot.
Unfortunately the pix haven't been published yet so I can't show you.
This guy counted 3-2-1 then took 3 pictures on constant with a 17-35 cannon lens. Cheekily I noted it was set to f13.
Good luck!

 

[Gilly B]

Aw, Phil that sounds soooo simple. Thanks for that, If they come back before next Saturday, I wouldn't mind a peek.

Natjag - good idea Thanks