The formal portraits of the bride and groom together are significant images that demand special time and an understanding of formal posing and lighting techniques. Often the photographer will arrange to make the formal portraits on the day of the wedding, but several hours before the day’s schedule commences. Couples relish the alone time and (in addition to an engagement session; see page 86) it is a good opportunity for the photographer to break the ice with the couple.
28. Adding a Third Person A group portrait of three is still small and intimate. It lends itself well to a pyramid- or diamond-shaped composition, or an inverted triangle, all of which are pleasing to the eye. Don’t simply adjust the height of the faces so that each is at a different level; turn the shoulders of those at either end of the group in toward the central person as a means of looping the group Try creating a diagonal line
together. You can also try creating a diagonal line with the faces at different heights and all the people in the group touching. Or, create a bird’s-eye
with the faces at different
view—cluster the group together, grab a stepladder or other high vantage
heights and all the people
point, and you’ve got a lovely arrangement. It’s what photographer Nor-
in the group touching.
man Phillips calls “a bouquet.” For a simple variation, have the people turn their backs to each other, so they are all facing out of the triangle.
29. Adding a Fourth and Fifth Person As you photograph more group portraits, you will find that even numbers of people are harder to pose than odd. Three, five, seven, or nine people seem much easier to photograph than similarly sized groups of an even number. The reason is that the eye and brain tend to accept the disorder of odd-numbered objects more readily than even-numbered objects. (Note: As you add more people to a group, remember to do everything you can to keep the film plane parallel to the plane of the group’s faces in order to ensure that everyone is sharply focused.) With four people, you can simply add a person to the existing poses of three described above—with the following advice in mind. First, be sure to keep the eye height of the fourth person different from any of the others in the group. Second, be aware that the faces will now begin forming shapes within your composition. Think in terms of pyramids, extended triangles,
Seated Men in Groups Whenever a man is seated it’s a good idea to check his clothes. He should have his jacket unbuttoned to prevent it from looking tight. If wearing a tux with tails, he should also avoid sitting on them, as this will alter the shape of the coat. If he has shirt cuffs, they should be pulled down to be visible. And if sitting cross-legged, make sure his socks are pulled up high enough so that you don’t see any bare leg.