Photographing a large group of people can feel a little like herding cats—beautiful, excited, easily distracted cats. Whether you’re shooting a big extended family, a wedding party, or a corporate team, there are some tried-and-true strategies that will help you get natural, flattering, and organized group portraits without the stress.
As a Michigan wedding photographer who regularly captures large families and wedding parties, I’ve learned how to simplify the chaos and make it fun. Let’s dive in.
Let’s dive into my tips on how to photograph large groups of people
1. Scout Your Location Ahead of Time
Before people even arrive, know exactly where you want to photograph them. Look for:
- Even lighting (shade is your friend!)
- A background with depth but not too busy (You want the focus to be on the people)
- A spot with enough room to layer people in rows
Bonus tip: Bring a small step stool or ladder to help you shoot slightly above eye level—this can help you see every face in the crowd, and it can make for more flattering images overall.
2. Have a Plan (and Communicate It!)
Before the shoot, get clear on:
- How many people are expected
- Any “must-have” group combinations (my personal rec is make a list, keeps things super organized)
- Whether anyone needs extra time or accommodations (any disabilities or requests?)
If it’s a wedding or family shoot, I always ask my clients to send a shot list ahead of time—organized by group size and family side—to keep things smooth and efficient. I also offer to create this myself, if they would like – to provide a luxury experience.
3. Arrange People in Layers (Tallest to Shortest)
A simple layout trick:
- Tall people go in the back
- Shorter adults and teens in the middle
- Kids and seated folks in the front
Avoid just lining everyone up in a single row (unless the group is small). Use chairs, stairs, or even natural slopes to stagger heights and add interest.
Once you get the standard combos done, make sure to throw in a couple candid shots. For example, I may have a group walk together – holding hands (or not, if that’s not their vibe) or maybe go in for a bear hug! A couple fun ones to throw in the mix. 🙂
4. Keep It Moving
No one loves standing still for 20 minutes—especially kids. Get the big group shot done early, then break things down into smaller combinations. Keep your energy upbeat and your cues clear.
Things I say during group photos:
- “Chins out and down”
- “Try and keep chests up”
- “Okay everyone, fake laugh at the person next to you!”
- Sometimes, I will creepily and goofily laugh, and that makes them laugh because they find it ridiculous. No shame.
(Yes, it works.)
5. Use a Fast Shutter + Continuous Shooting Mode
Large groups = more chances for someone to blink or look away.
Use a shutter speed of at least 1/500 (higher if kids are involved!) and shoot in burst mode so you have options.
And yes, it’s totally okay to do a head swap in editing if one person is blinking in an otherwise perfect photo. Happens to the best of us.
If you don’t know how to do a head swap yourself, Retouchup is amazing!! That’s my go to for all specialty editing I don’t have time for myself.
6. Use a Mid-Range Aperture (f/4–f/8)
You want everyone’s face to be sharp—even in different rows.
Avoid super low apertures like f/1.8 unless you’re doing a creative or close-up portrait. I stick with f/5.6 or f/8 for large groups to keep everything in focus and sharp. If everyone is in one single line, I will sometimes go to a f/2.8.
A tip for those whole love the wider aperture & blur – If you want to try to open that aperture up, test out some at a f/2-2.8, but then just make sure to get some safe shots using the higher aperture (f/5.6-8) as well. This is what I do when I am feeling adventurous, but want to stay responsible at the same time. Because at the end of the day…clients care more about their faces being in focus then a pretty photo with a blurry background.
7. Give People Something to Do
Natural expressions come when people are relaxed. If it fits the vibe, have them:
- Walk toward you and chat
- Look at each other instead of the camera
- React to a silly prompt (like “Who’s most likely to be late to everything?”)
Candid energy makes big group photos way more fun and memorable.
Final Thoughts on photographing large groups
Photographing large groups doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With some prep, a little humor, and a solid plan, you can capture portraits that feel connected, joyful, and real.
Oh—and if you found this helpful, I’ve got so much more coming in my upcoming photography course, where we’ll deep dive into camera settings, the exposure triangle, and how to shoot confidently in any lighting situation. 🎉
Want in? Join the waitlist here
©Cheleana Rowan, with Cheleanamarie Photography, 2015-2025. Unauthorized use and or duplication of this material without express and written consent from Cheleana Rowan is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Cheleana Rowan with Cheleanamarie Photography with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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