Tips for Outdoor Portraiture

[Alpha_7]

I've been asked by a work mate to take some casual family portraits in a local park or gardens the park has some access to water and a mixture of both sunny open spaces and shade under trees.

Anyways the additional twist is that it will include 16 people, while I'm all up for challenges I'd like to be as prepared as I can be for this type of shoot, which I honestly haven't had much practice with, but between now and next month I'm going to try to get some practice in. The shooting time will be morning or more likely afternoon.

Kit wise I'll have, D70, 10-20 Sigma, 18-70DX, 50 1.4, 80-200 2.8, 1x SB-800 Edit : " Oh and two tripods as well might come in handy"

The brief is that they want atleast a few hangable shots of all of them, and then I can break them up into smaller family units and get some shots of that as well. Please feel free to bombard me with ideas and suggestions.

My first thought was a reflector or two wouldn't go astray, but like I said I'm in new photographic territory.

[Raskill]

Don't be afraid to use the 80-200 for some nice candid group shots. Nice use of DOF will always pull out a great shot.

[PiroStitch]

Maybe get them to bring a picnic brekky or brunch as well. That should give you ample shots of candids.

The 80-200 is sweet for portraits and candid shots as you can stay away from them. People tend to act stiff and unnatural with a camera pointed at them

[Alpha_7]

The other thing I guess would help to mention is that there is a number of couples in there late 20's early 30's a set of grandparents (50-60 I guess?) and then kids ranging from newborn to 14 .

Some good suggestions already, I like the idea of the picnic and sniping candids from a distance.. would certainly provide some options coming choosing the final shots. I also thought a ball, frisbee or something like that would help relax everyone, and open up the chance for some fun and friendly shots.

[Oscar]

Craig, 16 people - that's not a family, that's a crowd. Reflectors for a group that size would probably be multiple space blankets or the like. A few supports (or mounts) for the reflectors would be a good idea unless you have an assistant.
Hope all goes well. Cheers, Mick

[Yi-P]

For general ways, the 18-70 can do most of your shots. As for couple portraits or candid sniping, the 80-200 is perfect. Leave the 10-20 until you really need something with it. The 50 can be good at doing some group of 4-6 people shot, provided that you're outdoor and you can move around by much, you can fit in as much as 10+ people within a distance.

The age group in the 20s and elder can be easily dealt with. While the youngster lower than 12 will be a little pain to let them keep up with you. Entertain them (a ball, freesbie, or some little sport items may do well), dont make them pose, natural smile and laugh from them playing normally is the best shot. Dont mind too much in getting low for kid's eye level shot, get down on the ground if needed for the eye-level shots.

Im not familiar with the place you're shooting in, but avoid strong harsh lights.

And for last, have some fun with them too, dont be too stressed out. Specially with the kids

[PiroStitch]

Also, don't be afraid to take photos with tighter crops. Also have a few photos of the grandparents and their grandkids. Those tend to work very well

[Matt. K]

Craig
Pray for a bright cloudy day. That will solve all your problems. If sunny then the SB-800 will easily fill flash a group of 16 to 25 folk. Kids in the front row sitting on the grass, elderly sitting in chairs behind them and teenagers standing on a bench or chair behind them is one solution. Avoid a long thin line of folk. Get em close so that no light comes between the bodies. If no chairs then pose them in a triangular pose if possible. Shoot at about waist height so you are shooting ever so slightly up at an angle. F-5.6 and focus on the middle row. Dial the flash down a tad if it gets too 'hot'. Shoot from a tripod in Apeture mode. Wait till late afternoon for a nice cool sky and some sunset colours. Shoot RAW..(not you the file type) Keep any background well away from the group if possible. Use 50mm lens if you have one. OH! One last thing...NEVER cut the legs off a group. Keep a little space around them.

[Alpha_7]

Um, the shoot is next week, I've see a lot of mentions online and now in Matts post about poseing in triangle I think I get the idea but can someone post an example, and any other suggestions or tips ?

Thanks,
Craig

[phillipb]

Craig, I get this picture in my mind of the grandparents holding a baby, sitting in the middle of the photo, their grown up kids standing around them, a coupe of kids running in the foreground, a young couple courting in the far corner of the photo, a few guys standing around with beers in their hand talking, and none of them looking at the camera.
What's the chance of pulling something like that off.
Good luck.

[Alpha_7]

Craig, I get this picture in my mind of the grandparents holding a baby, sitting in the middle of the photo, their grown up kids standing around them, a coupe of kids running in the foreground, a young couple courting in the far corner of the photo, a few guys standing around with beers in their hand talking, and none of them looking at the camera.
What's the chance of pulling something like that off.
Good luck.

I like you vision, its hard as I've only met 3 / 16 so I guess partially it will be how I percieve there relationships together...

A few of my goals are get a few whole group shots out of the way, do any shots needing the young kids next, then let them run wild while I do the older kids and adults.. since they will have a longer attention span.

[ABG]

Taking photos of large groups is a tough assignment. Regarding triangular composition for groups, try to get a few shorter people, or people sitting in the front row, a slightly larger number of medium height people or people kneeling in the second row and then a larger number of taller people, or people standing in the back row.

With 16 people, I'd try to get say 3 in the front row, 5 in the middle row and 8 in the back row. Just work with it until you've got everyone's face in the frame and it looks pleasing. If you can get them to interact in some way like Phillip's suggestion, you'll have an awesome image

Having equal numbers of people in each row you end up with a shot that looks like a school class photo, or your standard boring sports club shot. I'm sure you know what I mean.

I'd be happy to help you on the day if you'd like.

[Reschsmooth]

With 16 people, I'd try to get say 3 in the front row, 5 in the middle row and 8 in the back row.

That would make a dead, Italian mathematician proud and should most definately result in a pleasing shot. Now, if you could make each row approximately 61.803% taller than the one in front, if would be 'golden'

P

[Alpha_7]

Golden Mean, and part of the Fibonacci sequence.

Andrew I'd have been more then happy to have you along, but I actuall asked earlier if I could bring another shooter and they were against the idea (a bit beyond me why) but I'm just trying to keep them happy.