I do lots of family portraits, and this is helpful for creative posing. I find it good too to lie on the grass and shoot through flowers or tall grass to the group. Very helpful though!
Bernie, you're the man! Thanks for another great video. I am one of your Skill Share students and was just about to go watch your video again on Skill Share when you popped up here on RUclips! Wild.
Hi Chad, heh heh, that's great. Hope you're enjoying my course(s) over there on Skillshare. I have a new course on Wedding photography coming up very shortly.
Yes! Enjoying your classes very much. Have learned so much from you! Most of all, I really like your delivery of the material. Very light and comical. Easy to digest. Your style always makes me chuckle. AND, I'm employing that knowledge in my work. Can't wait to share some photos with you. Been shooting portraits like CRAZY! I DEFINITELY NEED this Wedding photography video!!! Can you have it done by Saturday? Ha ha! Just kidding. I'll fuddle my way through this weekend. Lol.
Thanks Chad, glad you like my courses and teaching style. The wedding course is now completely finished, and is on my website (No menus yet as it's still not officially published with pricing, It will be £15, but happy to allow you a 30% discount). See it at becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/wedding-photography-tips-and-tricks/ watch the introduction and the few free ones, if you like what you see, please email me at bernie@raffephotography.co.uk to get full access to all videos.
What I tend to do is take bracket all my exposures and stitch together in post if needed, or even turn into a mild HDR. Especially useful on sunny days. Using a flash is good, but is an added element of complication if you are not completely confident. I sometimes use a reflector instead.
I thought this tutorial was great. So helpful. I LOVED the shot of the family on a bench. Honestly, I don't think I would of ever thought to have the family on the one end like that. I don't have much vision I guess. Thanks again!
I loved listening to the direction in the photographer's voice. Some of the poses were ok but I do feel that they are a little dated. Many were a little awkward. Perhaps a blanket would be better and the camera position could be lower? Maybe choose a location that is a little higher up? All in all I learned a ton! Thank you for posting! I'm noticing in the seated positions with a chair that it is best to show a bit of the item that the person is sitting on, or it looks like they are floating a bit.
Hi Bernie, very useful information on Group Poses. When you have people in two rows, where do you focus? Will that be on one person on the front line and then get the depth of field to take care of the people in the 2nd row? What would be your typical aperture for the shot by the tree where the parents are sitting and the boys are standing?
Thanks, the main thing is to use an appropriate aperture to ensure a depth of field not too shallow. With a family in two rows I wouldn't use anything wider than f5.6. I would then try to find a spot in-between the rows to focus on. (like the hands of someone on the 2nd row)
Lol, nether regions! For sure avoid crotch shots. Thank you so much for this helpful video. 😊 Oh, do you have a vid on where to focus in these group photos?
Focus somewhere in the middle (maybe slightlu closer tot he front), but more importantly, make sure you use an appropriate aperture for the size of the group (especially when further away with a telephoto lens)
I have to photograph a large family of 13 which includes 3 kids and 2 dogs...any ideas about posing.....also just curious when your shooting for real wouldn't be more pleasing to use off camera dimensional vs direct on camera flash....Cheers
Here's a recent example from a recent shoot with a large family. Note that some are sitting, some are kneeling, some are standing, and if you get it right, you can create a nice line and shape. becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/JMessenger-14.jpg No it wouldn't be any more pleasing to use off-camera flash for fill, reason being that the flash is only used to FILL-IN the shadows and brighten up the eyes a little. Not to actually overpower the ambient light.
Thanks for the tips. I have an upcoming shot with a family of 6 where their son is 6'5" and their daughter is 5'6" the other family members are in between any special tips for very tall individuals? This will be my first time with such a height difference.
Hi J'Rie, I would avoid posing the son standing up, get him seated with the others either seated or kneeling by him. I have just published a complete new course on family posing. Email me via the site if you would like a discount coupon, becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/about-my-posing-video-course/ cheers, Bernie
+Bernie Raffe Thanks for the tip. I did end up sitting everyone down. I had higher hopes for the finished results, but, as you said some families do not pose easily or cooperatively. However, the mother was pleased, so that was all that mattered to me.
6:51 I personally think that's a terrible pose for Jane. I think my problem with it is that she's so below everbody else. Kinda falls out of the picture. 11:15 This one turned out great! I thought it wouldn't work because of the big difference in head levels, but it came out very nice and relaxed somehow. Nice backround with the trees, too. Great tips and explanations; gave me some good ideas for my upcoming family shoot. Thank you!
Hi, thanks for the comments, they're appreciated. I uderstarnd your point on the pose at 6:51, but have to disagree. Although I feel Jane could have lifted her head up a bit more, for me this pose ticks all the boxes. The heads are grouped together but at different heights, and form shapes, and yet the family are spread out nicely. Having said that, I think the young boy is too big to sit on his dad's lap (see previous comment), so that doesn't work for me (would be fine with a younger child). If I was doing this again I would sit him side on in front of dad's legs with his legs and feet out to camera left and with him leaning in towards mum. But anyway, glad the video has helped in some way and thanks again.
Crop in the viewfinder, *Never* in post unless you absolutely have to, and as *the* very last resort to save the photograph. If that is the case, the photograph isn't worth saving anyway.
***** Only for amateurs. True professionals know how to avoid post production cropping for photographs. A cropped image is a picture, not a photograph.
Hi Steve, If there are several 'rows' of people, I would normally focus about a third of the way in. If there are just a couple of 'rows', like in this video, I'd focus on the face of someone towards the back of the front row if I was fairly close to the group (and so shooting with a wider focal length) I would use an aperture of around f5.6, if I was a fair way back, zooming in (shallower depth of field), I might go to f8 to ensure everyone is in focus. Hope that helps Bernie
+Wolfgang Eckert The ambient light was enough to light the scene, on board bare fill flash used to fill in the shadows and brighten the eyes a bit. Camera on Manual, flash on Nikon I-TTL BL mode with power dialled down to -1.7 Cheers, Bernie
Hi Chris, assuming you're talking about a crop sensor camera (i.e a 50mm focal length is the equivalent of around 75mm on a full frame camera), I would recommend a 50mm lens, as long as you have the room to stand back a bit from the group, otherwise a 35mm would be ok. A 50mm would give a bit more opportunity of standing back and getting a better perspective. When I shoot couples I use a 70-200mm lens, so an 85mm would be great for smaller groups and couples.
There's no one magic bullet for settings, it varies depending on the light, the number of people, whether you want to blur the background, whether they're stationary or moving around etc... For me, the correct aperture is the priority, I use a wide aperture for individuals (again it will vary depending on the type of camera, e.g compact, 4/3rds, APS-C or full frame). I close down the aperture for groups to ensure they're all in focus. Sorry I can't answer in more detail, it's too big a topic.
Kevin, thanks for the comment, but I can't agree with you, they don't have the 'over-flashed' look that people have when the flash is on full-power. The flash was in the Nikon TTL-BL mode (balances exposure for background and subjects), with the power dialled down to -1.7, just to provide a hint of fill light. This provided just enough light to fill in shadows and put a sparkle in the eyes. Of course it's direct flash, there was no other way of doing it, I could hardly bounce the flash off the clouds and a reflector was out of the question under the circumstances.
***** When photographing larger family groups, my intention is to generally avoid any dramatic lighting as it's not always flattering, especially for us oldies, and I'm hardly likely to start using reflectors and softboxes with a large group outdoors in a video about posing and there was no opportunity for using 'Open Shade'. For this video, I just wanted clean light, and well exposed images to demonstrate the posing. As for the composition, I guess you're talking about the pose on the bench at around 9:30. I take you're point and would never make a shot like this for a normal family session (in fact for me the most distracting element is the sky, which I do mention during the video), but bear in mind what the video was demonstrating, i.e 'Tips for Group Poses and Family Posing" .
This was good and useful. But I do feel that the youngest boy was too big to be sitting in the dad's lap. I will however use that for a younger child like a toddler. I think it would look better.
This was good and useful. But I do feel that the youngest boy was too big to be sitting in the dad's lap. I will however use that for a younger child like a toddler. I think it would look better.
Love that little guy shaking his head! So real! Thank you!
Great info on group posing...thanks for this!
Thanks, glad you liked it.
I do lots of family portraits, and this is helpful for creative posing. I find it good too to lie on the grass and shoot through flowers or tall grass to the group. Very helpful though!
This is a whole lot of fun to watch very interesting and not boring.
Great video, just what I was looking for!
very helpful and enjoyed watching your video.
Bernie, you're the man! Thanks for another great video. I am one of your Skill Share students and was just about to go watch your video again on Skill Share when you popped up here on RUclips! Wild.
Hi Chad, heh heh, that's great. Hope you're enjoying my course(s) over there on Skillshare. I have a new course on Wedding photography coming up very shortly.
Yes! Enjoying your classes very much. Have learned so much from you! Most of all, I really like your delivery of the material. Very light and comical. Easy to digest. Your style always makes me chuckle. AND, I'm employing that knowledge in my work. Can't wait to share some photos with you. Been shooting portraits like CRAZY! I DEFINITELY NEED this Wedding photography video!!! Can you have it done by Saturday? Ha ha! Just kidding. I'll fuddle my way through this weekend. Lol.
Thanks Chad, glad you like my courses and teaching style. The wedding course is now completely finished, and is on my website (No menus yet as it's still not officially published with pricing, It will be £15, but happy to allow you a 30% discount). See it at becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/wedding-photography-tips-and-tricks/ watch the introduction and the few free ones, if you like what you see, please email me at bernie@raffephotography.co.uk to get full access to all videos.
Bernie Raffe Great! Thank you, Bernie!
Very good example and more than enough if you get all good thanks!
Good one! I see alphabet n geometrical shape in your work, like - L A triangle 🔽 horizontal cross etc.
Thank you very much, great video. I loved that you had the thumbnails for us to print off. Subscribed and gave it a thumbs up.
+kimmobley333 Thanks for the comments, glad you enjoyed it.
Bernie Raffe You are welcome. :)
The photo in 9:53 could be saved by exposing for the sky and using an off camera flash to brighten the foreground/family. But it is still a good shot.
What I tend to do is take bracket all my exposures and stitch together in post if needed, or even turn into a mild HDR. Especially useful on sunny days. Using a flash is good, but is an added element of complication if you are not completely confident. I sometimes use a reflector instead.
I thought this tutorial was great. So helpful. I LOVED the shot of the family on a bench. Honestly, I don't think I would of ever thought to have the family on the one end like that. I don't have much vision I guess. Thanks again!
Thanks Donna, glad you liked it.
Thanks Bernie for this really useful video.
I loved listening to the direction in the photographer's voice. Some of the poses were ok but I do feel that they are a little dated. Many were a little awkward. Perhaps a blanket would be better and the camera position could be lower? Maybe choose a location that is a little higher up? All in all I learned a ton! Thank you for posting! I'm noticing in the seated positions with a chair that it is best to show a bit of the item that the person is sitting on, or it looks like they are floating a bit.
This is gold
Thank you for this! Very helpful!
Hi Bernie, very useful information on Group Poses. When you have people in two rows, where do you focus? Will that be on one person on the front line and then get the depth of field to take care of the people in the 2nd row? What would be your typical aperture for the shot by the tree where the parents are sitting and the boys are standing?
Thanks, the main thing is to use an appropriate aperture to ensure a depth of field not too shallow. With a family in two rows I wouldn't use anything wider than f5.6. I would then try to find a spot in-between the rows to focus on. (like the hands of someone on the 2nd row)
Thank you for the tips!
Great picture Great photographer!
Great tips! Thanks a lot!
Love your laugh! God bless you! Thanks a lot!
Thank you for the tips.
I thought this tutorial great. So helpful.
Lol, nether regions! For sure avoid crotch shots. Thank you so much for this helpful video. 😊
Oh, do you have a vid on where to focus in these group photos?
Focus somewhere in the middle (maybe slightlu closer tot he front), but more importantly, make sure you use an appropriate aperture for the size of the group (especially when further away with a telephoto lens)
Awesome tips; love it
Thanks for sharing!!
Any time
Prina Patel
Brilliant!
I have to photograph a large family of 13 which includes 3 kids and 2 dogs...any ideas about posing.....also just curious when your shooting for real wouldn't be more pleasing to use off camera dimensional vs direct on camera flash....Cheers
Here's a recent example from a recent shoot with a large family. Note that some are sitting, some are kneeling, some are standing, and if you get it right, you can create a nice line and shape. becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/JMessenger-14.jpg
No it wouldn't be any more pleasing to use off-camera flash for fill, reason being that the flash is only used to FILL-IN the shadows and brighten up the eyes a little. Not to actually overpower the ambient light.
Thanks for the tips. I have an upcoming shot with a family of 6 where their son is 6'5" and their daughter is 5'6" the other family members are in between any special tips for very tall individuals? This will be my first time with such a height difference.
Hi J'Rie, I would avoid posing the son standing up, get him seated with the others either seated or kneeling by him. I have just published a complete new course on family posing. Email me via the site if you would like a discount coupon, becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/about-my-posing-video-course/ cheers, Bernie
+Bernie Raffe Thanks for the tip. I did end up sitting everyone down. I had higher hopes for the finished results, but, as you said some families do not pose easily or cooperatively. However, the mother was pleased, so that was all that mattered to me.
Esta genial solo que si puedieras subri los videos en español porfavor, no hablo ingles te lo agradeceria mucho.
Gracias.
6:51 I personally think that's a terrible pose for Jane. I think my problem with it is that she's so below everbody else. Kinda falls out of the picture.
11:15 This one turned out great! I thought it wouldn't work because of the big difference in head levels, but it came out very nice and relaxed somehow. Nice backround with the trees, too.
Great tips and explanations; gave me some good ideas for my upcoming family shoot. Thank you!
Hi, thanks for the comments, they're appreciated. I uderstarnd your point on the pose at 6:51, but have to disagree. Although I feel Jane could have lifted her head up a bit more, for me this pose ticks all the boxes. The heads are grouped together but at different heights, and form shapes, and yet the family are spread out nicely. Having said that, I think the young boy is too big to sit on his dad's lap (see previous comment), so that doesn't work for me (would be fine with a younger child). If I was doing this again I would sit him side on in front of dad's legs with his legs and feet out to camera left and with him leaning in towards mum. But anyway, glad the video has helped in some way and thanks again.
Thank you for this clip. I would love to view the thumbnails but can't find them....
+Belinda Howell Hi Belinda, here you go:-
becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk/CribSheets/SeatedGroupPoses.pdf
i learned that i need to keep it loose. thanks
Crop in the viewfinder, *Never* in post unless you absolutely have to, and as *the* very last resort to save the photograph. If that is the case, the photograph isn't worth saving anyway.
***** Only for amateurs. True professionals know how to avoid post production cropping for photographs. A cropped image is a picture, not a photograph.
you're good...thank you for sharing
I like how dad has to correct his son at 1:10. Almost didn't notice the hand on the foot. :)
the place is beautiful, can you tell me the country name of this place?
+Lalit Dewangan This is a park in my home town of Leighton Buzzard, UK
thankyou sir
where do you place the focus point in shots like this and whats the aperture?
Hi Steve, If there are several 'rows' of people, I would normally focus about a third of the way in. If there are just a couple of 'rows', like in this video, I'd focus on the face of someone towards the back of the front row
if I was fairly close to the group (and so shooting with a wider focal length) I would use an aperture of around f5.6, if I was a fair way back, zooming in (shallower depth of field), I might go to f8 to ensure everyone is in focus.
Hope that helps
Bernie
flash...? Did u used bare flash from the on camera speed light direct ttl-manual , no flash....?
+Wolfgang Eckert The ambient light was enough to light the scene, on board bare fill flash used to fill in the shadows and brighten the eyes a bit. Camera on Manual, flash on Nikon I-TTL BL mode with power dialled down to -1.7
Cheers,
Bernie
Nice 1
Hi Bernie,
What lens would you recommend for these type of shots (family groups full body)? I have 85mm 50mm and 35mm, thank you
Hi Chris, assuming you're talking about a crop sensor camera (i.e a 50mm focal length is the equivalent of around 75mm on a full frame camera), I would recommend a 50mm lens, as long as you have the room to stand back a bit from the group, otherwise a 35mm would be ok. A 50mm would give a bit more opportunity of standing back and getting a better perspective. When I shoot couples I use a 70-200mm lens, so an 85mm would be great for smaller groups and couples.
Bernie Raffe n.l,
A real pro! No bullshit here;)
what aperture/iso/ss and lens focal length do you recommend Bernie?
There's no one magic bullet for settings, it varies depending on the light, the number of people, whether you want to blur the background, whether they're stationary or moving around etc... For me, the correct aperture is the priority, I use a wide aperture for individuals (again it will vary depending on the type of camera, e.g compact, 4/3rds, APS-C or full frame). I close down the aperture for groups to ensure they're all in focus. Sorry I can't answer in more detail, it's too big a topic.
Thats fair enough Bernie, its all trial and error in fairness, thanks for replying
The posing tips are awesome...but the direct flash gives an ugly deer-in-headlights lighting.
Kevin, thanks for the comment, but I can't agree with you, they don't have the 'over-flashed' look that people have when the flash is on full-power. The flash was in the Nikon TTL-BL mode (balances exposure for background and subjects), with the power dialled down to -1.7, just to provide a hint of fill light. This provided just enough light to fill in shadows and put a sparkle in the eyes.
Of course it's direct flash, there was no other way of doing it, I could hardly bounce the flash off the clouds and a reflector was out of the question under the circumstances.
***** When photographing larger family groups, my intention is to generally avoid any dramatic lighting as it's not always flattering, especially for us oldies, and I'm hardly likely to start using reflectors and softboxes with a large group outdoors in a video about posing and there was no opportunity for using 'Open Shade'. For this video, I just wanted clean light, and well exposed images to demonstrate the posing. As for the composition, I guess you're talking about the pose on the bench at around 9:30. I take you're point and would never make a shot like this for a normal family session (in fact for me the most distracting element is the sky, which I do mention during the video), but bear in mind what the video was demonstrating, i.e 'Tips for Group Poses and Family Posing" .
Dad smack! @ 1:10 lol
i hate posing people. i never do. but if you do this video is 4 you :)
I think dad should always be the tallest in these portraits.
Maybe in more formal portraits, but these are more relaxed poses, so sorry, but I have to disagree
Father's pose was too feminine...
Hi Darrell, that's possible, but there were quite a few poses demonstrated, which one are you referring to?
First one at the park.
If he was on his own, then maybe. But in the context of a close family group, I don't agree. Thanks for your comment though.
This was good and useful. But I do feel that the youngest boy was too big to be sitting in the dad's lap. I will however use that for a younger child like a toddler. I think it would look better.
Yes I agree with you, I messed up a bit there!
This was good and useful. But I do feel that the youngest boy was too big to be sitting in the dad's lap. I will however use that for a younger child like a toddler. I think it would look better.