September Issue 107
www.thenewsyneighbour.com
By Patricia Manuell, Memories by Design www.memoriesbydesign.ca
It’s
surprising how hard it is to take great photos of groups. It seems that as hard
as you try, someone is always looking away, blinking or not looking their best
in the photograph. In this tutorial, you’ll discover seven simple techniques
that will help you capture picture-perfect phone group photos.
Whether
you’re shooting for a professional-looking photograph or a quick keepsake,
following these steps will help you create images you’ll treasure for a
lifetime.
1. Get The Timing Right
Timing
your photo correctly is absolutely critical. Of course, you’ll want to
select the time of day when the light is best. But much more importantly,
you’ll want to choose the time when your subjects have had the most rest and
are looking their best.
If
you have to take a group photo at an event (which is where most group photos
are taken), it’s generally a good idea to rally your group as early as possible
to take your most memorable group photo. Take advantage of your subjects’
positive energy before they have a chance to get tired and hungry or need to
fix their hair and make-up.
2. Communicate Your Vision
Before
you even get started with a group photo, you’ll want to gather everyone
together and talk about what type of photos you’ll be taking and what to expect
along the way. If you’re photographing adults, you’ll want to share your vision
of the final product. It’s a great idea to encourage your group to share and
contribute their ideas. Who should be in front? Should anyone be holding a prop, wearing
a special item of clothing, or standing in a particular spot?
Let
everyone know, “if you can’t see me, I can’t see you.” Encourage everyone to
lean forward or move their head so that they can be seen clearly.
If
you’re photographing children,
you can turn the conversation into a game, a challenge, or an opportunity. For
example, “Today I’m going to take your photo and I want you to teach me your
best dance moves. Can you show me how to do a ballerina pose?”
3. Compose Your Photo
Effective
composition can take your group photo to the next level. Positioning your
subjects to follow general composition rules rather
than posing will allow you to achieve amazing results with a natural
candid feel. While you may be tempted to line your subjects up and have them
face the camera with big smiles on their faces, you may want to try a more
unusual approach.
When
you have a small group of people, positioning them in a straight line works
very well. Try that pose with a larger group, though, and you’ll wind up with a
lot of dead space in the top and bottom of your photo.
To avoid the dead space issue, you can create a panoramic photo. Or you can shake
things up a little more and position your subjects in a circle!
4. Relax Before The Big Moment
Most
people will pose as soon as you pull out your phone, and will try to hold their
biggest smile for as long as they can. But it’s nearly impossible to hold a
perfect smile for more than a few seconds – and the strain will show in your
photos. To avoid this problem, let your group know that they can relax until
it’s time for them to give their best smile.
When
working with children, it’s a good idea to have them practice their best smiles
ahead of time – off camera. Then you can collaborate on a code word to use
when you’re ready for them to show that wonderful smile. This is a fun twist on
the classic “say cheese,” which can be effective but can also turn out some
robotic smiles. Choose a silly code word, which leaves the children laughing at
you. It’s a great way to capture those special smiles.
5. Have Your Phone Camera Ready To Go
There’s
nothing more frustrating than having a subject who’s ready and a
photographer who isn’t! Before posing and cueing your subjects, it’s
important to know how to use your phone’s settings. Access the camera app so you’re ready to take
photos the second your subjects are ready.
Set
focus and exposure ahead
of time. Look at your composition, tap on your group to set focus, and hold
your finger down for a few seconds to lock the focus point (you’ll see the
letters AE/AF Lock in a yellow box on the screen). A little yellow sun slider
will appear on the screen. You can use your finger to slide the sun up and down
in order to adjust the exposure (image brightness). Now that your camera is set
and your subjects know what to expect, it’s time to say your code word – and
the result is beautiful.
6. Use The Art Of Distraction
When
taking group photos of children (and some adults), you need a lot of patience
and a goofy personality to capture genuine smiles and keep your group focused.
Games and props can also make a big positive difference. The right kind of
distraction can turn a mediocre photo into a memorable keepsake. Try using
a crazy distraction like a light saber glow ring! Another
great option is to stick a mirror on the lens side of your phone so that the
people being photographed can see themselves while you’re taking the picture.
If
you’re really having a hard time getting your group to smile, whoopee cushions
are a terrific ice breaker, too! Some simple props from the dollar store, a
goofy personality behind the camera, and some fun games like “Simon says” can
help you get amazing phone photos of groups.
7. Use Your Phone Camera’s Burst Mode
Your
phone has an amazing “hidden” feature… burst mode. This allows you to take ten
photos in a single second, which will dramatically increase your ability to
capture your subjects at just the right moment. In seconds, you’ll have taken a
series of photos that you can then go through to find the perfect
composition in which every face is smiling.
To
use the phone camera’s burst mode, simply press your finger down on the shutter
and hold it. As you hold your finger down, you’ll hear the shutter fire
multiple times. When you lift your finger, you’ll have a selection of images to
choose from. Sometimes you have to take a lot of photos to capture that special
moment – especially when taking group shots.
Patricia Manuell
Memories by Design
See her ad on page #
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