Posing Groups of People for Portraits

A great group photograph can be captured by anyone. Professionals, amateurs, and scrapbookers can create a fabulous image by following these simple tips:

• Stagger heads
• Create a triangle or a pyramid
• Ensure even lighting
• Have fun
• Let them tell YOU a story

While none of these rules are unbreakable, they generally work.

Stagger the Heads of Your Subjects
When posing a group do not put the head of the person in the second row straight above the head of someone in the first row. This is uninteresting, and leads your eye up and down instead of from side to side. Remember too that people in the back rows need to be a FULL head taller than people in front of them. If they are not, the shadow of the front head falls on the chin of the back face. I often say, “If you can’t see me, I can’t see you.” Simply pose the second row with their shoulders and heads between the heads of the first row. Staggering heads will ensure that you can see everyone.

Create a Triangle or a Pyramid
A triangle makes the image more dynamic and naturally leads your eye from person to person. When creating close-up photographs, line the nose of one subject up with the eyes of another subject. Put the third subject in the empty part of the triangle. For additional subjects, go out from the center keeping noses and eyes aligned.

For images showing more background, start with one person as the base or middle of the pyramid and arrange the rest of the people around the base to form a triangular shape. Use chairs, step stools or other props to help you naturally create a triangular shape.

Light the Whole Group Evenly
You can have a gorgeous person, the perfect backdrop, and a pose that looks just right, but with bad lighting the resulting photo will not look good, no matter how perfect the pose. Your best option is to get the light to shine or bounce onto the faces of your subjects. If you are inside and using ambient or natural light, make sure the light is hitting everyone evenly. You may want to use a reflector to bounce light into a dark spot in the photo.

Staggering people will also help prevent the subjects from casting shadows on each other in the photo. If you are outside, I suggest shade that evenly covers your subject, but if you must be in direct sunlight, shoot with your subjects facing north or south and with a flash to even out the shadows. Shooting west or east in the sun will either put you (or your subjects facing the sun. If it’s the photographer you will have lens flare, and if it is your subjects they will be squinting.

Have Fun
Most of us have had subjects that do not want to get their picture taken. For the child that does not want to sit still or the adult that may not like the way he or she looks, working quickly is the key. Engage them in conversation the whole time. This will distract the moving child and give the photographer the opportunity to see the range of expressions that are normal for the adult. While it is easy to say “cheese,” it gets old after two or three times. Any word that ends in a long “E” sound will produce a smile. “Monkey,” “cookie” and “mommy” are good words for three year olds. “Poopie,” “boogie,” “sweet” and “money” work well for ages eight and up. The hardest group for me is the 14 to 17 year old boys. Words such as “Bikini” will pull that smirk from them. Avoid words that have long “O” sounds. For example, the word “Spongebob” will give you open mouths, but “Sandy” will give you that smile.

Here are some one-liners that work for me with younger children:

• “I see you smiling at me.”
• “Is your name______?”
• “Who is your favorite Rugrat, Tommy or Chuckie?” (notice the long “E”)
• “WOOWEE”

and some for adults:

• “You have to at least pretend like you’re having fun.”
• “Don’t look so mad at me.”
• “That’s HOT!”
• “Only the smart people smile on this one.”

Have everyone snuggle up into each other if the situation is appropriate. I think the closer you get the better it looks. If the pose just isn’t working, sometimes moving them in as close as possible makes the difference. You can quickly achieve this by saying such things as:

• “Go cheek to cheek.”
• “Get closer, closer, closer.”
• “Smoosh into each other; keep going.”
• “You are allowed to touch. You won’t get cooties. I promise.”
• “Pretend like you like each other for a minute.”

I use my mouth A LOT. But most kids cannot hold smiles back when you bring out the bubbles, balloons, and balls. I also use children’s mouths a lot. I hide cheerios, or other non-messy small snacks in their hand. That will usually slow them down long enough to hit the button.

Let Them Tell You a Story
My favorite photos are what I call “Storybook Portraits.” I prefer shots like this, but I often do this when I fear that I haven’t got the expression I want in the more formal portraits and there is no more time. It works every time. Have them all look at each other. If there is a baby, have one family member get the baby’s attention and everyone else look at the baby. If other children are in the photo as well you may have to say “Jimmy, what does Tommy have on his eye?” The child will look. If someone blinks, it is hardly noticed and since the expressions aren’t towards the camera, they need not be perfect. This will also create that storybook image. Incorporate a book, a favorite matching toy, etc. Often I will take families to the beach and bring along some bread. If the children are uncooperative in a more traditional portrait, feeding the ducks becomes the perfect storybook alternative.

When photographing wedding parties I will always make images where they are not looking at the camera. I will have the bride and groom kiss, and have everyone look at them. Without reposing them, I will direct the children to look at the bride and groom and everyone else to look at the children. Presto, two images, two stories, perfect expressions.

If you are stuck, let them direct you. Often with a family, I will seat the mom, get her posed nicely, and then have the dad sit. Without telling the children what to do, I find they will automatically go sit down, often just like their parents are. Sometimes this undirected pose will be the shot of the day.

Sarah O’Neal
Gemmysnap5
President, Gemini Studios, Inc.

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