There are subtle differences that make a big impact between images that look professional and those that fall flat. Lighting is a big factor, but a lot can hinge on how you, as the photographer, set up the shot as well. While pictures can always be easily cropped in this digital age, you can’t change the composition of an image without a lot of painting, cloning, masking and other advanced editing techniques. It can be done, but you’re not going to end up with a natural image. If anything, it’s more like digital illustration rather than photography. That is why it is so important to take your time when setting up your shot.
One mistake people make when posing their subjects is arranging them on a single plane. Think about most family photos you see – especially when it’s a group of kids – they are usually standing in a line. It’s a go-to pose but it’s problematic for several reasons. For one, the more people that stand in the shot, the farther away you have to stand to get them in the frame. You begin to lose detail in the faces and the longer the line becomes, the less visually interesting the image becomes. Another reason is the eye is not meant to focus on such a wide pan. Images where the intended focus point is limited to what the eye can focus on in a glimpse are more aesthetically pleasing and tend to evoke more emotion since they mimic the way we view moments in real life. There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, lining up people in a single row straight on from the camera is not going to get you an interesting image.
What are you supposed to do if you need to get three or more people in a shot? The most basic solution is to simply group people into several rows with varying heights. Try to avoid lining up like a choir. Bring in some chairs or other ways to elevate some of the subjects to add interest. A fun way to pose several children is to have them sit and stand around a fence – the low kind often found in parks. Some kids can sit on the fence, some can look through it, some can stand by it and some can sit in front of it.
If tradition calls for a line – if you are photographing a wedding party, for example – try shifting your horizontal perspective. Have the bride and groom in the forefront of the shot and line up the rest of the wedding party behind them at a diagonal.
Think outside the box when setting up your shot. Try having everyone lie down in the grass with their heads together, forming a circle. Pose one person in the foreground and have others goof around in the background. Tell everyone to get into a group hug: it’s sure to bring out true smiles and laughter.
When it comes to photography, there are no hard and fast rules. When it all comes down to it, the photo that makes your heart sing is the one that wins the prize. Play around with different poses and shots until you find one that you love.