Group Photography, Done Properly
Photographing teams and groups so everyone is sharp, visible and looking their best.
Imogen Clarke
At a glance
- Depth of field needs to cover every row
- Wide lenses can distort people at frame edges
- Multiple frames increase the chance everyone looks good
- Face swaps Photoshop can align layers to combine frames
Why it matters
Why it matters: Group photos fail on closed eyes, hidden faces and soft focus at the edges, which are hard to fix afterward.
Best practice
- Stop down enough for all rows
- Keep people away from wide-angle edges
- Take many frames per setup
- Direct the group clearly
- Light the group evenly
Common pitfalls
Watch out for:
- Shallow depth of field
- People hidden behind others
- Uneven lighting
- Too few frames
When to call in a specialist
Bottom line Bring in help when team photos are needed for websites and press.
Where this comes from
- Adobe Help Center — Photography basics
- Adobe Help Center — Photoshop User Guide
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
Working on something like this?
We take on Photography & Product Visuals work for teams who want it done once, properly. Tell us what you are building and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right studio for it. Start a project.
Where to go next
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
