Large Group Shot - 80 people

Irishman

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I have a job on saturday which involves a group shot of around 80 of around 50 adults, 20 teens and 10 children, all indoors using a stage and benches as standing platforms. Have 2 dlite 2's to use as lighting.

Looking for some advice on how to build a group of this size and also what the best way to light a group of this size? :thinking:
 
Depends on size of the sprogs. Diddies can sit on laps of adults sitting on chairs.

small kids from 3 upwards can sit crossed legged on floor. still makes it hard with the sizes you have.

You say stage and benches?

So in reality if you forget the little uns you are looking at a group of 70.

1st row 13 chairs sitting front.
2nd row 14 standing
3rd row 13 on bences ( 2 full length gym Benches should work on that size)
4th row 14 standing on chairs
5th row 13 standing on tables or the stage if you can.

you sit the little ones in front or on laps of seated adults.

With the adults you need important people in in centre then build from height order. Tallest to shortest. Everyone should be in a line in height order before you build the group.

Depending on the space/gap from the bench to the chairs you need at least 5 inches in height from bench to chair. you build as follows.

Tallest first from centre alternate to the out side. Then next row then the next and so on.

Key is 'Faces in spaces'

If the height is not at least 5 inch between 3rd and 4th row you will need to change tack and build from back row back into 3rd. So the next tallest go at the rear.
It can be a pain but with experience you will get used to doing it. We build groups all the time.

Thing to watch on the last 2 rows id that there is suffient space/height. Otherwise you could everyone being the same height but in 2 rows.
It varies from group to group.

Good luck

I would post some examples but still have no idea how to link photos. Just wish I load unto here.

Oh and with the lights. Do not space them out from each other. You will get cross shadows. Have them no more than 5ft apart.

We use Bowens 500 at full belt and that gives us F8 at 125th. on RAW of course. Any thing under 400 and you will struggle to light.
 
8mm Fish Eye and cram them all into a 2 foot square area, failing my fun idea Daryls advice is pretty spot on although i think you should go Fish Eye.
 
Irishman said:
I have a job on saturday which involves a group shot of around 80 of around 50 adults, 20 teens and 10 children, all indoors using a stage and benches as standing platforms. Have 2 dlite 2's to use as lighting.

Looking for some advice on how to build a group of this size and also what the best way to light a group of this size? :thinking:
Click to expand...

if its indoors and you dont have sufficient photofloods...you will need to use some wb selection and long exposures...so the kids might be a problem...

outdoor diffused lighting would be ideal..

as for the arrangement...i see that has already been covered and is similar to that used by the england world cup team...minus the goalkeeper..:D

its the kids which present the problem...going to need high speed...and a 28mm wide angle..(35mm based)...and no wider...or you may get some bendy ruperts at the edges

this is not as bad as the 150 group query earlier on
 
Should look like this if it's done ok.....

file.php
 
Daryl said:
Should look like this if it's done ok.....

file.php
Click to expand...

Yep, it should have looked like that but ended more like this, I went a bit too wide and not enough deep but leason learned for next time.

Again Daryl, thank you for all your help on this. :)
 
Daryl said:
Hey you really well for your first one was it???

Fantastic well done!!!
Click to expand...

Yep, first one in a setting like that, have done wedding groups before that just a matter of getting everyone to look at the camera.
 
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