Outdoor Group/Portraits: Advice Please...

[Mr Jones]

I've been invited to shoot a few family outdoor group and portrait shots on Sunday in Scarborough. Depending on weather, we'll be doing out door shots by the beach and surroundings. (Forecast to be cloudy with 20% chance of rain)

Anyway, the group consist of 3 different families. About 8 to 10 in total. I've been asked to do individuals (there's kids and tots) and family shots.

I have enough kit for a shoot like this, apart from say an outdoor lighting like umbrella and limited to only 1 flash gun, remote or onboard. (See sig)

The shoot will try and in-corp the seaside, family, fun, kids, maybe some autumn feel if the venue is suitable. Will start shooting after 2pm (if the time of day is of any importance).

I'm looking for the experienced photogs to impart me some basic dos and don'ts for a shoot of such nature. Maybe even some examples and I'll try and pick up the trick or idea from there.

Much appreciated.

 

[Mr Jones]

Thanks Chronic, I'll keep them in mind. Will look for some poses - have been for a couple of hours now

I don't have an umbrella that's white, but I have a reflector, tripod and flash stand, so might try and make it ghetto, would it be good to fill flash / reflect directing into the subject from the side or from the front? (or would it be dependent on the light available?)

 

[Mr Jones]

...
I often think if you want to see quick results on a large screen so you can accurately adjust then, shooting with a long tether to a laptop, if your camera can do it, is a good idea.

I will be outdoor and carrying a laptop (one man show) will be very tricky, so I'll rely on the screen, histogram and light/shadow preview on the camera. I understand about exposing the background before using the flash to ETTL, fill flash my subjects. Tried that before with sunsets

www.adamfrater.com/uploads/PhotoPoses.pdf has a few ideas for poses

OMG! That is Brilliant! I love you syke! I mean it.

I know this may sound stupid but make sure the sun/light source is behind you and the subjects are facing it. It's an easy mistake to make

I've got that chiselled in my eyes now
I will however try some shadow shots with the lights behind, just for some fun...

 

[Mr Jones]

I'm off to a group shoot in a minute (only 5 people though) so I might have some advice for you when I'm back (ie. where I went wrong)

That would be very useful!
Good luck with your shoot

 

[Mr Jones]

Thanks SS, I'll keep the chatter going - especially when it comes to shooting for complete strangers, I'll have the keep it going otherwise awkward silence will reflect badly on the pictures...

 

[Mr Jones]

Just a couple of quick edits before I head back to doing my uni presentation work due for tomorrow!

I know the last shots is abit more saturated that needed but for some reason I love the colours.

By the way, working with both Kids and Dog ARE HARD!

 

[Mr Jones]

Prime example for why it is hard shooting a group, especially with kids and animals:

Finally... almost...

 

[Mr Jones]

Looks like you dealt with the conditions really well. One thing I found out from shooting 5 people this weekend is, take as many photos as you can, as it seems rare that all of them are smiling and with eyes open at the same time. A couple of the shots you posted have people with eyes closed or looking in the wrong direction. I think you did a fantastic job seeing as you were dealing with some many people, and a damn dog!!

Good work dude.

Thanks SS, I'm still learning and yesterday's session really gave me a lot of experience to shooting outdoors, big groups e.t.c. I had to check by zooming in every pictures I take to see if all eyes are open. Thus the need to shoot multiple times - see dog moving.

Here's another few more edits: C&C please as I need to learn more post shoot and improve on it next time around.

 

[Mr Jones]

I'll try and machine gun abit more next time

Also, can anyone help me check if my images are exposured correctly? It seems alright (well, within reasons) back at home on my laptop but in my university monitors, the colours look way too saturated and underexposed. Any input?