Posing: Families and Groups

When posing groups of people, we will still use all of the techniques for posing individuals, but we'll be using them on multiple subjects.

Start off by choosing where your group will look: the camera, each other, or off camera. Make sure when you pose them, they all look the same spot, or the group will appear disjointed.

Next, pose your subjects. Make each person look good individually, then bring them together as a group. Place each person's head on a different level (especially their eyes) to bring complexity to a group. Use the rule of thirds to position, and create leading lines (diagonals and triangles) to make the arrangement interesting. Most importantly, get the peoples eyes.

When working with large groups, apply these same techniques, but keep in mind the spacing between people. Make sure they are not cramped, but do not put in too much. This will keep the subjects comfortable, while keeping them all part of the group.

In group shots, clothing can play a large roll in making folks look like part of the group, like they belong together. Try having the group dress in similar colors and styles. Similar tones will keep all family members equal (no one will look more important than someone else). If there are small children, avoid white, as it will get dirty as the kids move around.

Finally, try having the group have similar expressions. This is tricky, but if you can do it, you'll notice the cohesion it brings to the group in the final photographs.

Notice how these concepts were applied to the photos below.