DSLR Photography Forum

My good friends girlfriend was having all her family over yesterday evening, and has asked me prior if I could come over and take some shots of all the grandchildren in the family. I haven't really shot any group photos yet, but I told them I would be up for it.

Gallery is viewable here http://www.asphoto.ca/albums/yamasaki_photo

All the shots, except for the last two were taken with a 17-85IS, the last two with the 50mm/1.8. I should of used my brain a little and used the 50mm for the last few group shots taken around the bar to give a better DOF, but oh well, you learn day by day.

I really didn't like the first one we took in the front of the house, so we eventally moved in the back, and I pulled the bar out into the middle of the grass, and it seemed like the kids eased up a little more. The ones with them grabbing for the ball was my friends idea, he thru up a volleyball at them, and had them jump up for it to add a little fun to some of the photos. The grandparents ended up coming over early, so we took the one group shot with them in the photo. And the photos with them looking scared was because my friend grabbed a supersoaker and ran over to them 'pretending' to shoot them.

Probably my favorite shot however:



Thoughts, comments, room for improvement? No editing (or cropping) has been done to any of the photos yet, these are straight from the camera. These were posted online so they could see the images, and tell me which ones they wanted printed, which is when I'll then do the editing.

I would prefer some individual shots, but they look fine.
I just get the impression that they are a bit choreagraphed.
Hey but the girls are pretty.

Thanks for the comment!

They requested the group shot. I too would of preferred individual shots as thats what I have lots of practice in. They had some other images like these that were 'choreagraphed' by another photographer in the past. I guess thats what they liked, and hey, do what the client ordered right? We tried to make the fun shots with the ball etc etc. In all a good learning experience.

Big group shots like this are HARD you did a really good job with your exposure, and getting everyone nice and sharp, I'm shocked that you've done no processing on these, the colours look so good!
With a group as big as this, its pretty much impossible to get any decent shots without it looking posed...I don't think I've seen any myself anyway. But you did get everyone looking pretty relaxed and comfortable which is an acheivement in my opinion.

I think the bar is a problem for me - it just looks out of place. But it looks like there wasn't much to work with so anything else may have been difficult.

Apart from this the posing is ok and everyone looks happy.

I am sure they will be happy.