UP TO THIS point, I’ve only discussed portraiture as a process between two people—the photographer and a single subject. However, group portraits are also extremely common. All of the tips and techniques discussed so far also apply to group portraits: you’ll make the same types of considerations for groups in regard to light and composition, and many posing considerations are appropriate as well. However, there are a couple relevant techniques and considerations that are important to keep in mind for group portraiture.
The first consideration is a simple one, though it’s often overlooked by portrait photographers. When you photograph two or more people together, it is best to position them so each subject’s eyes are on the same parallel plane relative to the camera. Typically, portraits are made with a fairly shallow depth of field, meaning the aperture is very open. Aperture values of f/1.4, 2, and 2.8 usually provide a soft, out-of-focus background on which your subjects are isolated and in focus (Figure 44.1). However, the depth of field these aperture values provide is shallow enough that any subject in the group who is not on the same plane of focus will appear soft and out of focus (Figure 44.2). This is typically considered a mistake, especially when all subjects should share the portrait spotlight. The simple solution is to position your subjects the same distance from the camera, and when you focus on one of their eyes, the plane of critical focus should apply to everyone in the scene (Figure 44.3). This is usually a more pressing issue when working with groups of two or three, since those shots will most likely be tightly framed.
However, what happens when you’re shooting a larger group, or you cannot keep even a small group, on the same plane? This is when stopping the aperture down to gain depth of field is essential (Figure 44.4 and Figure 44.5). Gaining depth of field means the space around the plane of critical focus widens in the frame. Although there will be less of that nice, soft bokeh of a background, having each of your subjects in focus is more important.
If your group portrait shows some subjects in focus and others that are not, you can move your subjects so all are positioned on the same optical plane, or increase your aperture value to ensure the right depth of field to ensure sharpness in the frame. Personally, I like to do both. I line everyone up on the same plane, and then instead of shooting at f/2.8, I might shoot at f/5.6 or f/8 (Figure 44.6). This usually absolves the issue, especially with a small group. The thing to avoid in this case is a busy background that remains in focus due to the increased depth of field.
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