Group Photo 101: Poses, Lighting & Other Great Tips

Selfies are a part of everyday life for many people, old or young. We love to share photos of ourselves with family and friends. The problem is not all the pictures come out the way we want, and our phones fill up with bloopers. This seems especially true for group selfies.

Is there a secret about how to take a good selfie? There are 4! Have a look at the advice we’ve put together to turn you into a snapshot wizard.

Good Lighting

Just like with traditional photos, lighting is one of the key elements for great-looking pictures. Try to take your group photos during the day using natural lighting as much as possible. If you can, go outside and snap away in your garden where there’s plenty of light.

If you do decide to take it outdoors, don’t position the group directly in front of the sun. It could cause them to squint. The best is to angle in such a way that it prevents the bright rays from hitting their eyes. To avoid shadows on their faces, try using trees or a large wall as shade. Golden hour is the best time to take pictures outside. You can use the sunset sunrise calculator tool from Sunbounce Pro to know golden hour timing.

If you have time, wait for the clouds to partially cover the sun for even more subtle lighting. According to photographers, the best time to take a selfie is one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. If the sun is not available or the time is not optimal, you can also create an artificial golden hour effect with a ring light.

Strike a Natural Pose

No matter what pose you would have the group take, try to make it look natural. If you’re not sure how to stand, experiment with a few shots to see what feels the most comfortable for everyone. For example, newborn sessions are ideally done within the first 5-14 days of being born. Here is a prep guide from Crystal Jessup to read.

If people need to contort their bodies into weird twisted positions, they’re doing something wrong. The idea of taking a photograph is to present the group’s best side without going overboard or overthinking it.

When you arrange your gang, try to keep them as close together as possible. Take care to arrange them in such a way that the people in the front don’t cover the faces of those behind them. If you have the group position themselves in a staggered formation, it will look better, and you won’t have to worry about anyone blocking someone else. Check out this article on how to look good in pictures from Amelia McLeod.

Take Lots of Photos

For newbies, the best way to perfect the snapshot is to take as many as possible. Some celebrities take up to 500 selfies before picking one they’ll share on social media. It’s as simple as practice makes perfect. You’re not going to get the perfect group photo in one take.

The more time you spend snapping away, the more you will learn, and soon you’ll know exactly what makes a great shot. You’ll spend less time figuring out how to take the snap and more time clicking away.

Play around with angles and camera lens widths to figure out what works. You can also enjoy using various filters as well as enhancement tools to make your photos pop. Don’t overdo the editing too much, so you don’t lose the original photo’s initial ambiance.

Try Unique Snapshots

For interesting photo memories, think outside the box and explore new ways of taking pics. Explore using props and different settings. Check out these unique examples of Newborn photo shoot from Milashka Photography and Brooklyn Photography for inspirations. Have your group dress to a theme or coordinate their colors. Let them have fun with the session. Get them to jump in the air or make funny faces.

If you’re in a park or large area, get everyone to play a game and take photos while everyone is relaxed and not focusing on the camera. Explore your creativity, and you’ll find a whole world of fun possibilities for you and the people looking at your creations.

Closing Thoughts

Photographs have always been a convenient way to save memories, and with modern technology, we can share them across many social platforms. For better-looking snaps, make sure to incorporate natural lighting and avoid shadows when positioning your group.

Enjoy taking lots of photos and play around with various filters to enhance the image. If you’re bored of taking traditional poses, try some unique ideas with props and different settings. As long as you and the group have fun, it will show through the photos and cherished moments will be saved for years to come.