I've never done a group shot before. 15 or so people. Don't have a location yet since there isn't really anyplace in our office to do it. No idea what its for since there's never been one taken. It's a new media company and I think bossman will be there. Anyone have tips for something like this? I'll bring my collection of strobes, umbrellas and my softbox but fuck. How should I line people up? By height? Boss is really tall, second in command is 5'5 or so. Easy solution is just tripod and use natural light and have an ok picture but id rather not go that route.
what equipment do you have? If you use an outside location you should be ok as you will be using your strobes for a good amoutn of fill. But make sure you stack the people up where you they will not cast shadows onto each other.
shoot out front of the company how much is your boss paying you for doing this? just letting you clock in for those hours or something?
you'll be fine. 2 rows, tall in back - short in front set an umbrella up on each side, about 45 degrees from axis. shoot through the umbrellas. Shoot with their backs to the sun, and use the sunlight as the hair/accent light, and shoot with whatever iso/flash power/shutterspeed you need in order to keep the ambient. It'll take you a couple minutes to get everything perfect, so you should definitely get some details on when and where, and practice tomorrow.
Find the best background and figure out the best time of day to shoot (if you have that option). Shoot from a ladder. You want to be higher than the tallest person. Stagger the group in a V formation. Use your strobes for fill.
usually when im taking pictures of a large group i make sure to bring some toys to wave around right before i take the picture so they look at the camera.
Interesting about getting higher than them. Right now the best option is shooting from the backstair case but i need to scout some more. And the person who is coordinating this keeps saying 'thanks for letting us use your camera'
Alright so i scouted locations around the office and the best bet is this wall in the alley. I can probably get them 5 feet out in front of it so there is decent separation BUT the sun is going to be in front of them not behind. We are shooting at 1130 which isnt the best time at all, but it's the only time we cna get everyone
Here are the locations I scouted: The wall - where I think im going to shoot. The sun will be over head. Stairs, the sun would be slightly in front. There is a horrible shadow tehre which i hope will move (it should) and some stuff would have to be chopped out. The car and the gate I can move. Roof - where I want to shoot but 'they' dont want to since some employees wont be able to climb the latter to get up there.
. Or you could even get creative with some dodging and burning in PS. It'll be difficult to light the faces fully unless you have some huge lights. How many people again? To make the scene believable, maybe find a decent location around the office (for the bg)or go back and shoot the alley when the light is right and compile the two.
Oh and shooting on a 40d, probably use my 24mm lens, i've got 3 540EZs with cactus triggers, light stands, umbrellas and one soft box.
Hardest part with lighting groups of people it making sure one person doesn't cast a shadow onto another person, so you end up with the very weird (at least for larger groups) looking V shape.
That just what I'd do to control shadows. You can do it however you like though. Nothing worse than a huge shadow on someones face
oh man, there is goign to be alot of closed, squinty eyes... you can find anywhere with shade? or sun at their back?
Actually doing the shot from up and them circled might work well - the tar has a nice texture. And it's in the shade.