025 – Taking a Group Photo – part 2
This week’s article is the second of three based on a question from George in Panama. George tells me that he has a request to take a photo of his son’s Little League Team for the parents and inquires how he should approach this task. In the last article, we discussed planning and expectations for the event. In part 2, we move on to location, lighting and equipment.
Location seems kind of clear-cut: Use the Little League field. There are some potential complications that must be considered, though. Do Not Assume that you can do the photo on the same field while another team is practicing; the distractions will be sufficient to insure that you will not get every team member’s attention to the camera at the same time. The end result will be eyes looking every which direction. For the same reason, you will not want parents close by trying to take pictures over your shoulder; unfortunately, depending on parent-child dynamics, this can cause a lot more problems than bad eye contact with the camera.
In the photo session planning, coaches need to come to agreement that time needs to be set aside for the photo – and not during a practice or after a game. A good photo needs the team in uniform and not covered with mud, dirt, sweat, etc. A photo following a game will insure to considerable lack of team focus (if they won) or a hang-dog look (if they lost). Notify parents so everyone is on time, at the correct location and dressed. A phone number for questions allows the parent a contact if they prefer to opt-out. The same notice to parents supplies info on packages, purchasing photos and when the photos will be available. Their return of the order signifies permission to take their child’s photo.
On the day of the photo, lighting will be a variable. While most photographers would hope for a bright, overcast day (this provides a more even light on the subject with less harsh shadow), the lighting could be a brilliant, clear, sunlit day (this lighting provides high contrast between light and shadow). In either case, try to position the team so the strong light is coming over their shoulder from behind them and use a flash to front light the team and fill the shadows. While the flash can be mounted on the camera, if possible, position the flash higher and a few feet off-center (about 30 degree angle to the center of the photo) to give greater appearance of depth. If using a light meter, meter the light and set the camera for the flash intensity. If not using a meter, make sure your camera doesn’t set its exposure on a bright background. You may have to do a couple of trial shots and check the exposure histogram to make exposure adjustments. While you’re considering the lighting, be aware of the background behind the team. A fence with trees behind it – with the strong light coming over their shoulder would be ideal.
When you pose the team, arrange them in rows so their appearance forms a rectangle that will be about the same proportions as the finished prints. A 12 to 15 member team arranged in 2 rows, front row kneeling and back row standing would give this proportion. Arrange back row bodies to stand in the space between the front row bodies so all faces can be seen. My preference is tallest people in the middle. If the team is large enough for 3 rows, arrange them sitting, kneeling, standing or use bleachers to pose the team.
You’re ready to take the picture, but there are still 2 more concerns that won’t show up until you upload the photos to your computer or print them out. Those are focus and distortion on the outer edges of the photo. Any time you’re photographing a subject with depth, something will be out of focus. If the focus point is on the front row, the back row will be out of focus and vice versa. To minimize the focus problem, set your camera to use a higher f-stop: f-11 or f-16 if you have enough light. This allows a greater depth of field to keep the print in focus. The higher f-stop also helps avoid the distortion problem caused by lens parallax. To avoid a different type of distortion avoid using the shortest lens setting. If your lens has a 18mm to 105mm zoom possibility, zoom in to 40mm to 50mm lens length and move back a little from the group. Finally, don’t frame the photo to completely fill the viewing window; leave a little space all around the team. This will be critically important when you develop and crop picts for printing.
Tip #1: Use the largest file setting for the photo.
Tip #2: Use a fill flash to front light the team.
Tip #3: use a higher f-stop to increase the depth of field and keep more of the photo in focus.
Tip #4: Take several exposures of each pose to allow a choice of the best picture.
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