Whether it is a family gathering, a party with friends or a group meeting, taking a group photo is part of it. When taking different group photos, how should the camera be set? Here are some photography tips to help you take amazing group photos.
1. Focusing
Firstly, we need to know that focusing is actually about distance. Subjects at the same level have the same focusing distance. Therefore, if two people in the photo are standing side by side, we only need to focus on one of them; if it is arranged one after the other (such as three rows front and behind), we should put the focus on the second row in the middle, so that the depth of field can cover the largest range. When the subjects are lined up, focus on one of them. Encounter several rows of large group photos, close the aperture and focus on the middle row.
2. Aperture
Aperture will affect the range of depth of field. If there are many rows in a large group photo (like 6, 7, or even 10 rows of extremely large group photos), the aperture needs to be adjusted down. The more rows, the smaller the aperture. Generally, f/5.6, f/8 or smaller apertures are used to ensure depth of field. Unless you are using an ultra-wide-angle lens, the effect of the aperture on the depth of field will be relatively small. The time circle for group photos will be maintained at f/5.6-8 to ensure that the subject is within the depth of field.
3. Light
For general group photos, the most important thing is that the subjects in the photo are clear and exposed normally. To ensure sharpness, in addition to the above-mentioned depth of field effect, the shutter speed should also be noticed: generally, you should keep a safe shutter (1/focal length) when you hold the camera in the hand.
To ensure normal exposure, we must pay attention to metering and ISO value.
Metering
If it is the whole area metering, it doesn’t matter. When there is backlighting during shooting, we have to increase the exposure compensation (+ev) to make the subject have the correct exposure;
On the other hand, if many subjects wear dark clothes (such as taking college graduation photos), we have to reduce the exposure compensation (-ev) to correct it.
ISO
At the beginning of the article, I mentioned the aperture and shutter settings, so the last thing to notice is the ISO value. When the aperture is small and the shutter must be kept at a certain speed, what we can adjust is the ISO. Don't be afraid to increase the ISO value. A clear but high-noise photo is better than a blurry photo, especially when the flash is turned on. Increasing the ISO value can help preserve the background light source and prevent the background from becoming dark.
Our lives are filled with all kinds of things. But don't forget to take pictures and remember the most important moments: family holidays, interesting training, crazy parties with friends and colleagues. Let these photography tips help you record precious memories and important events in life with your camera.
