10 tips for taking group photos

Okay, I'll be honest. Shooting group photos isn't one of my favorite subjects. Small groups are easy to pose, but larger groups make it difficult to create a stunning photo. Nevertheless, Photofacts visitor Arjo asked be from some tips in this area. And actually I've got a couple of useful tips to shoot a group.

1. Go outside

Indoors it's often to dark to shoot photos with a large depth of field. And you'll need a large depth of field in most group shots to get everyone in focus. Of course you can use flash, but lighting a group photo with flashes will be a future article on its own. Most of the time there will be plenty of great light outside, so why not use it?

When outside, try to avoid direct sunlight. The direct light from the sun will cast hard shadows and will have your group squeezing their eyes. Try to find a place in the shadows. If it's a dull cloudy day you're in luck! This is great light to shot group photo's. So don't let a couple of dark clouds stop you from going outside to shoot. There's no bigger softbox available.

2. Feel free to crop

Group photos are often shots where everyone is completely in the frame; from head to toe. While this is fine for some shots it can lead to too much excess space around the group. Try getting in close to your group and only shot their heads and upper torsos.

I'll often go for both versions; a couple of shots where everyone is in from head to toe and a couple from up close. Using a zoom lens for these shots makes it easy to quickly take these different kind of shots. Shooting both types gives your client the possibility to choose. Personally I mostly prefer the cropped shot.

3. Take distance to the background

Often when someone tries to take a group shot they pose the group close to a background. Even when you try not to, people will automatically stand too close to the background. So pull them away to the front! Ask people to stand a couple of meters in front of the wall, bush or whatever you're placing them for.

This will not only prevent shadows on the backdrop, but will also allow you to separate to group from the background. You can have the group in focus while blurring the background just by adding some distance between the group and the background.

4. Take a high viewpoint

Bigger groups are hard to manage. When there are a lot of people in your shot, it's likely that some will be hidden behind others. The best way to overcome this is by seeking higher grounds. Try to get your camera higher than the group.

You can bring a small ladder that you brought with you. When you didn't bring one, try to find some way to get higher. You can shot from a window, balcony or rooftop or find a chair to stand on. Of course you can reverse the process; have the group stand on a stairway. This way you can pose people of the same height behind each other and still get their faces completely in the shot.

5. Height differences

This tips works best on small groups. Try not to get all the heads in one straight line. This makes your group photo look a bit dull. When you create height differences between the heads the group photo will look much more dynamic. It can help to pose people around a chair or table. Differences in height will form automatically.

6. Be seen

Ask everyone, certainly when shooting bigger groups, to make sure they can see you. When they see the camera, the camera sees them (well, their eyes) also. An added bonus is that they are focused on you and not looking any other way. When people look away this will get noticed immediately in a group shot (but not while taking it). Especially older and younger people tend to look the other way during a group photo. They are easily distracted.

7. Closer to each other

This can't really be done with bigger groups, but with fewer than ten people you can ask the group to come in closer to each other. People who stand further apart will leave a gap in you shot. So ask them to get close. When shooting smaller groups you can ask them to turn their heads a bit to each other. It's hard to be too close for a fun photo..


This group photo was taken with a compact camera at the edge of the shadow of a building. This way there are no hard shadows and an even lighting across the frame.

8. Keep connected

During the posing and shooting the group shoot, try to stay connected with the group you're photographing. Don't hide behind your camera and don't be busy looking at the back of your camera or checking your settings for the long. Speak clearly to the group you're posing, but keep it fun. You don't want to bore or offend the group.

Make it clear why there is a group shot taken. Remind them, for instance, that the wedding couple would like a memory of everyone who was there with them on their special day. Making a joke can be a good way to get attention en loosen up the group. Please don't try to be the comedian, usually this won't be appreciated to much. Let the group known how long you'll need them.

Personally I think it is a bit corny, but you can ask everyone to trough their hands up and shoot 'hoorah' for the last shot. It will get you a enthusiastic photo, but it won't work for every group.

9. Shot lots of photos

Don't be afraid to shot a lot of photos quickly after one and other. After the first click most people relax and that is often a better shot. Changes are that someone in the group is closing his eyes, by taking multiple shots they odds of a good group shot is greater. If you need, you can combine multiple shots in post-processing to create a version where everyone's eyes are open. This works best with a couple of quick shots in close succession.

10. Be creative

Every now and then, try a group shot that is a bit out of the ordinary. Use a extreme wide-angle with everyone standing really close, for instance. Or pose the group lying down on the ground with their heads together, or with their foots together. Of course, the location most make it possible for you to take a high point of view.

The sky is the limit! Try using objects nearby or that have something to do with the group. An alternative group photo can be to take a location and spread the people around in the shot. Let everyone do something else in the photo.