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Group photography – what aperture?
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Hi I’m a relative new comer to photographer but have been asked to take some family photos at a christening this Saturday. I am hoping to take the photos outside (weather permitting) otherwise it will be inside a hotel. I have 2 lens’, 1 nr 18-55mm (0.28m) Canon and a Sigma 70-300mm (1:4-5.6). Firstly is it the 18-55mm lens that I use? Secondly what is best the f stop to use for a group or family photo? – I’ve been trying to do alot of research and lots (unless I’m not understanding right) seem to say a low f stop like 5.6 but I would have thought f18/f20 to get everyone in focus – or am I wrong in thinking that? Is Aperture Priority the best setting to select if they are all going to be stationary? One of the group photos will be of 11 kids ranging from 6 wks – 22 yrs, I’ll try to group them as close together as possible in layers so there isn’t a whole line of them so do I just use single a focus point in the centre of them all or aim at the centre of the front line? I’ll try to stick with ISO100 but will push higher if it’s in low light. I only have an onboard flash which I will try to avoid if possible. Also there are a family of 4 who want a casual photo of them walking outside – I’m assuming I then have to change to TV (shutter priority) if they’re walking so if I’m outside in good light (around 4.30pm) what shutter speed should I start with because alot of times I’ve taken similar shots but they’re too dark so maybe I needed higher ISO or my shutter speed was too fast? Also should I have a filter on the lens or not? (I have a UV and a circular polarizing filter). I will use a tripod for all shots as I dont trust my steadiness. Loads of questions I know – sorry! :?
Oh I’ve just been reading my camera manual – maybe A-DEP mode (the auto depth of field) would be a good mode to shoot the group photo perhaps?
Hi Kerryanne67. My first suggestion would be to put yer camera on P and let it do all the figuring out for you. Your 70-300 might be of use at the 70mm end, but the 18-55 will probably be better for group shots. I don’t know what you mean by 0.28? Your aperture will probably need to be as wide open as possible (the small numbers!) since the light will be starting to go in the afternoon and a smaller aperture(the bigger numbers) will be cutting down the amount of light getting in to your camera and raising the possibility of blurred pics due to camera shake or subject movement. F18 F22 and suchlike are tiny apertures, much used by landscape photographers looking for front to back sharpness over distances of miles, so don’t use them for group photos where you need lots of light and fast shutter speeds. Also, when you’ve got your victims, sorry, subjects, lined up for a shot, call out “OK, look this way please!” or similar to hopefully defeat the blinky bunch. There’s always one who steadfastly shuts their bloody eyes just as you press the shutter button, and one who “doesn’t like having their photo taken” so tell them they are going to f**k up the whole shot, and just bloody well smile at the camera. If you can bracket shots, so much the better, set camera to bracket three exposures, all at the same exposure value, and if blinky does keep the eyes shut in one, hopefully you’ll have them open in another frame. Best of luck with your shoot, don’t forget to post some shots on here!
Alex.Ah thanks a million Big Al Guitar Player!! Your reply came just in time I was starting to think I was gonna have to wing it lol !! Thanks a million for your advice, have just printed it off and will have it with me tomorrow. Fingers crossed, if I pull this off I’ll be having a large glass of vino tomorrow night – well for starters anyway ha!! Thanks alot !! :-)
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