How to Tackle a Group Shot with One Flash
How I Tackled A Group Shot
Taking a group shot is like going on stage to do a solo act in front of a packed auditorium. Everyone’s eyes are on you, expecting you to deliver. Fail, and they will remember you even more.
But they’re also dynamic, as each one will contribute their own poses, and it’s nice to see (later in the day) how people can be so different and yet go together so well. Today I covered a group of YMCA kids who baked cupcakes for those at Ann Arbor’s Ronald McDonald House. This group shot was virtually the last snap of the day, when all the trays were scrubbed and the tables wiped clean.
Now this shot isn’t bad, but it’s not perfect. The fundamentals are there thankfully. I ensured there was enough depth of field by closing the aperture to f7.1. Doing so, I had to boost the flash power. It’s important to get some catchlight in the eyes, which I did successfully for most of them, but less on camera right. Doesn’t matter what type, but it’s important to use a diffuser for your flash.
If I could change some things about the photo, I probably should have asked for them to stand in an arc around the cupcakes. There was too much rigidity, almost like taking a high school class photo. But it’s also important not to get people too close to the corners as wide-angle lenses (and I did use one) tend to distort the edges. Bear that in mind when you’re taking group shots.
Overall, I’m happy with the shot.
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