Large Group Portraits

[AndyBorzi]

We have been asked to take a portrait of a large family group consisting of:

Gran & Grandad, Family 1 (Mum Dad, 3 children) & Family 2 (Mum Dad, 2 Children)

They want it before March and has to be a Sunday so we can probably rule out an outdoor session unless the weather is good.

We don't have massively wide backdrops and not a large studio (we use our front room plus not sure yet if we are going to them to take) and I will assume that they don't have much house space either.

How would you pose such a group?
I'm guessing that two seperate shots would be needed and merged but any suggestions or guidence would be appreciated.

 

[Space Cowboy]

edit, ignore me.

 

[morgan]

I would suggest you start with a plain outoor background. something that wont distract from the subjects in the shot.

maybe have gran & grandad sitting down on chairs and arrange the families so they are surrounding the chairs. Try not to have faces at the same vertical level - and try to create an arch of smallest to biggest in the centres.

have a look at bambi cantrell's work. she does some great mixes on group shots.

hope that helps