Group Photography Techniques and Tricks

Using a tripod is helpful for two reasons. One, it eliminates all camera shake. If your group photos are taken in lowlight conditions or you’ve increased the ISO settings, this is especially important. And two, using a tripod along with a self-timer will allow the photographer to be included in the photo. This will make it so nobody is missing from the picture.

Taking several pictures in a row or using your digital camera’s burst mode will increase the chances of getting a great group photo. Another obvious thing to do - but not everyone does - is to take many, many photos. The days of digital mean we don’t have to worry about film and the cost of developing photos, so take advantage of it! The more lottery tickets you buy the better chances you have of winning. The same rule applies when taking photos; the more you take the better your chances are of getting the best group photos!

To capture fun group photos, follow these steps:

• Have everyone gather around behind the camera
• Set the camera’s self-timer for a few seconds (the longer you set it for, the less fun it will be)
• Have everyone dash into the camera’s field of view and pose before the camera takes the photo

Another trick is to count down from three, but snap the photo when you get to two. If you leave it until you get to one, people have had the time to perfectly pose their fakest smile, get distracted by somebody else in the group causing them to look away, or by the time you get to one somebody is sure to blink.

If your group photo consists of children – or immature adults for that matter - that just aren’t listening or are trying to goof off (are rabbit ears even funny anymore?), tell them that if they cooperate and help by posing nicely, you’ll take some goofy photos afterwards where they can pull whatever faces they want, without their parents snapping at them for doing so!

Merry Christmas!