Best LENS focal length for large group portraits!

In this video, we discuss techniques and lens choices for large groups. Large family groups, teams portraits, sport team groups, kids, etc.
First time here? Hi, I'm Omar Gonzalez, a professional portrait and event photographer in the NYC/NJ area. On this channel, we talk about cameras, lenses, tech, and techniques to improve our photography.
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[@ogonzilla]

Guys. Beware in these comments. Spam bots have attacked. No one has won anything from me. I’m too cheap.

[@petlof64]

Oops too bad for you, hope you manage to get rid of it. Wish you all luck with everything 🤗👍

[@streamersofenergy]

I’ve never won anything so I ignored it.

[@lifeafterbeats]

Buy maybe this is the universe telling you that I should win something

[@mistycloud7257]

These are some of the best group photos I've ever seen. Everyone is engaged and shows their character. Amazing.

[@ogonzilla]

Thank you!

[@ScottBasu]

Agreed, Omar is such a talented & natural entertainer and comedian that I think some of these shots are better than anyone else could do. Except mayyybe if Jim Carrey took up wedding photography, Omar might have some competition there. 😆

[@MarcusSortijas]

This was extremely helpful Omar. Group shots can be really tough. You addressed so many questions I had, and questions I never thought of. Ideas for follow-up videos: -Fixing lens distortion in post on group photos. You touched on it here, and I’d like to know more in a computer tutorial. Such a relief to know there are some options to fix it in post if you’re forced to shoot at a wide focal length. -Lighting and flash setups for group photos. Thanks again for all you do to help photographers.

[@rmilstead]

Great video. Thank you. A lighting follow up would be much appreciated. Your clarity is so helpful.

[@Mariner1460]

Great video! I only clicked because it was you, Omar. These "best focal length" videos are usually kinda pointless. Your tips on when and HOW to use different focal lengths and your posing tips are very helpful. Thanks!

[@capturemeinpictures]

One tip that you mentioned was getting higher than the group. I did this recently by attaching the camera on top of a 9-foot light stand and triggering it remotely. Worked great! Thanks for sharing your skills in your engaging videos.

[@BenSussmanpro]

Thanks, I always shoot groups at events & these are the most crucial photos because everyone wants the prints or jpegs. Nice refresher & great phone-jingle dance!!😆

[@marcusespinoza2961]

This was so helpful, Omar! I’m shooting my mothers wedding photos and I’ve been wondering how to do the group photo, perfect timing lol also I love these “situation” videos, they’re very literal and practical and I think you should do more

[@PeterBallGoogleBlog]

That was really useful. I've been doing this kind of shooting since the 70's. It's nice to have a refresher. Thank you

[@frankseophotos9633]

These are true professional tips. I appreciate that you shared those! Thank you for the video!

[@petlof64]

I knew all this, still I love to hear you telling me this your way and I actually learn it a better way. Thanks Omar for your positive videos.

[@lifeafterbeats]

I always hated these group photos, now I know why. I'd been making the mistake of shooting too wide. I saw this video a few hours before a gig this weekend and my group photo is no longer the weakest photo in my shoot. Thanks big O

[@madjpey1]

Perfect! Just what I needed...I'm shooting 35 families this coming weekend at a resort and then one pic of them all together!! I'm now bringing my 85mm 1.4 along with either my 70-200 or 120-300 2.8. Leaving the wide angle at home

[@noynic]

Great vid Omar! Each time I watch I catch something new. This vid is loaded with gems! Thanks 😊

[@MartianCitizen]

Awesome Mr G. ! Great educational advice on group shots. It's been awhile since anyone really gave usable photography information of actually taking pictures... I am so glad I watched your video and will recommend it to others. As always, keep up the good work and keep'em flying.

[@deram2470]

Great advices, much more valuable than pixel-peeping of the latest lens 👍😊 thx for it

[@wongowonga]

Great video, learned some stuff just in time for my group shoot tomorrow. thanks.

[@martinlawrence8427]

Great advice Omar! Could perhaps have said more about the apertures you use with those stacked group shots!?

[@Cenit_Pro]

This is absolutly gold!, thank you Omar!

[@chasingvenusfilmarts]

Such great work and practical, insightful tips from an experienced pro! Thank you!

[@old4004]

Great tutorial, Omar. Different views for different lenses..........thanks for pictures that show the difference.

[@melissafaria5386]

Thank you for this! Second shooter for my first wedding and it's a big one so I know there will be large groups to photograph. This tip was so helpful!

[@titan2793]

Thanks for sharing your tips on group shots. I would always use the widest lens in my bag, and now I am armed with a wider selection of lens to use and how to use them. Thanks again.

[@TheStephaniear85]

I am truly grateful I came across your video 😭😭 For some time I’m thinking what is going on and you nailed every single issue on the nose. Your thorough video will allow me to tweak what I have been doing to have better outcomes with my photography. Thank you THANK YOU 🙏🏾 I especially appreciate the note on allowing more space around the people at the end. The many times I have taken group photos with my 35mm and the people on the outside are distorted or blurry has been madness 😅

[@JTD1719]

Really helpful for us beginners! Thanks Omar.

[@tylervelasquez5639]

This was a perfect video for what I needed to know! Very clear with the examples and to the point!

[@williammarino3366]

Omar is my favorite KZbin photographer! Fellow jersey wedding photographer here and after second shooting since 2013 and my business on my own in 2018, I s to ll struggle at times to find someone who shows the shoots, the photos and what happens and makes me laugh and learn! Keep going Omar! I ant wait to see what comes next but after trying to learn groups and family photos more I come right here to learn. Cannot wait to for the wedding this weekend to try these

[@wojtekw6040]

Everytime I watch Your videos it feel like a great meeting with a dear, goofy, but dear friend and than I see Your photos... Dammm You are talented! Those group shoots are amazing!

[@tannerdaylea7557]

this was the most helpful video i have watched and i have been surfing youtube for hours. Thank you Thank you!!!

[@theDanDeleon]

This was a good video bc you also had all the examples come in at the right time. I wish you went more in on stacking. I’ve never heard of that before. Great video!

[@dzhelildzhanaptilyazis]

Omar, you always crack me up, love your humor and your energy😂❤️

[@Aqualiser]

Thanks Omar, these tips will really help me the next time I face a group photo moment. 👍

[@sexysilversurfer]

Hi Omar, can you do a video on the depth of field and where to focus with large groups as it’s something that I can never seem to get right.

[@delshadxenakis]

This was awesome thanks! I really learned a ton! I just upgraded to a Nikon Z6ii with a 35mm & 85mm Z lenses. I don’t have any others yet! So this was great to hear I could should a group with an 85mm too. I loved learning how things are distorted and all the examples! Xoxoxo

[@KenCannon]

Excellent suggestions for groups… thanks so much.

[@deleunique7363]

Your sense of humor is top notch.

[@Kit2Canada]

Thank you, always some good tips for us!

[@chrisconner1811]

incredibly helpful! you rock Omar

[@GYAGENDARK]

Extremely helpful, Omar! I was planning to but 16-35 for large group photos. Thanks!

[@cesarm8811]

Great tips, Omar. Will apply them in my next family photos.

[@abadjoseph]

Really great tips! Thanks for the content!

[@emmaholt5063]

Super helpful! Thanks for the tips on the bigger group shots

[@nabilrahman32]

Super helpful. Thank you. A lot of time people buy cameras to take photos of their family during events then often think wide lens is the way to go.

[@garryhughes3747]

Super helpful. Right out of the blue I have been asked to photograph our old friend's wedding next week. I am a very amateur but enthusiastic landscape photographer so I'm clueless! This has pointed me in the right direction....Much appreciated and many thanks. Also made me laugh!

[@mohis4299]

Thank you for the tips and techniques and I straight away subscribed to your channel.

[@streamersofenergy]

You are the consummate professional! Thanks for the helpful advice as always,

[@aaronza7218]

Thank you Omar. Very helpful.

[@eagletheblue]

Thanks, that was super helpful and really interesting!

[@jonphebus6720]

Gosh, once you pointed out about how zoom brings the background closer I remembered that geometry matters! I loved this video, especially the phone ring dance (I do one when my phone rings, too!) Thank you, Omar!

[@Bloggerky]

Exceptionally practical; thanks!

[@segagne78]

Super helpful video Omar!

[@DouglasMackenzie1]

Great video! Could you make another video about how to chose the optimal aperture for groups of different sizes too?

[@arttiz01]

Tremendas ideas para fotografía de grupos!! Nice!!

[@jmh1512]

Great, super helpful info. Thanks a lot for your time.

[@PrintAdventures]

That was a great rundown of group shots.

[@Chunkfterbi7183]

Brilliant and very relevant. As relevant as Andreas Feininger‘s photoschool that taught me analogue photography as a kid, many, many ages back.

[@ToddWhirley]

Really helpful to me, Omar. Thanks

[@52701970]

Thank you do much. This is great advice.

[@WelcometotheJones]

Great tips Omar, thanks! 👍

[@Risayogi]

How come nobody ever made a video about this. I’m sure most of us do group photo, and this video is very helpful. Thanks, Omar.

[@danielahermosillo8991]

Really helpful advice! Thank you so much!

[@tabithapearson-marshall1313]

Thank you!! Awesome tips!!

[@boabrahamsen9442]

Fantastic tips, much appreciated

[@grillodon]

You make me so calm.

[@bmeclipse]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@tauhidsahadat]

What best with your videos is you always try to come with a photo example from everything you said. Thank you very much...

[@sethie_shots]

Killer vid Omar _tysm_

[@dunnymonster]

Excellent tips Omar 👍

[@RyougiVector]

Huh, well this explains why so many school shots involved stacking. Thanks for the tips!

[@wademortenson]

The school photo at min 7:07 blew my mind. I learned from this video. Thank you!

[@adriandoko]

very informative! Thanks for sharing.

[@kevinl1492]

Very helpful. A week ago, I was shooting an awards ceremony featuring architects, developers, community groups etc. We were in a 100 year old auditorium seating about 150 people. I used a 50mm to shoot each awardee, but some of them were groups of 8-9 people! Then, I had to shoot all of them on stage (30+) at once. Even with a 16mm, I had to get off the stage to get everyone in - holding the camera over my head to stay level with the stage. I was working that distortion slider a lot in post. Stacking people would have been good, but just not possible. So the photo is 2:1 aspect ratio. Wish I had seen the venue (and this video) before the event.

[@patrikpalo5448]

Thank you Omar 🥁🙌🏽

[@Natzcape]

Great tips...never thought about getting this far away....always rocked my 23 1.4...guess next time i try the 56 or 85

[@clairearthur7058]

This was so helpful Thankyou!

[@deejaybeephoto]

Really helpful Omar. Thank you. I’ve made the wide-angle mistake with the 10-24. My son on the edge of the group took one look at the image and said he was going on a diet. I did own up though😇

[@amateurphotographerassocia5965]

Great. Will share with my large group ;)

[@russellfernandes9607]

Great video Omar 👍🏻

[@nowofficial2853]

Great video! So helpful!

[@XavierJacome01]

great lesson, thank you

[@veeaa]

Why didn't I stumble upon this video a couple of weeks ago when I had to take a group shot at work and I was researching the subject? I'm your subscriber fer chrissake! An indoor group shot brings some challenges though since I only had an on-camera flash. I figured that I should be as far as possible but bouncing from the ceiling was limiting the distance I could go away. I also thought about getting a whiteboard behind me as a large bouncing surface. In the end I did just fine with 35mm and a ceiling bounce. The flash cycle speed was the crucial limit as there were balloons flying in the air.

[@RonK]

"Scam likely, Virginia Beach" is calling you? lol... Cool video, thanks for the tips & tricks, very helpful

[@kihu14]

Very very helpful video!! Thank you

[@AkAk-lr6vo]

Very informative and helpful!

[@timbezy8601]

Very good and informative video. Thanks!

[@tonytfuntek3262]

Great tips, thank you

[@joebailey7361]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@TwlShooter]

Really good video thx been shooting 10+ years always used the 20 or 35 for groups. i have a wedding in 2 weekend going to pull out the 85 for the group shots this time, nerver even tryed a long lens maby its because Group shoots always stresses me out and hate doing them, thx for the stacking advice so basic but still overlooked I feel like a rookie lol

[@maryjanesandonato1165]

Awesome video! 📷

[@laurenharper4953]

Thank you for some GREAT tips that I have not heard elsewhere! I plan to try an 85mm for a very special shoot of my 2 grandparents with their 9 great-grandchildren. ❤ Not too big of a group so I'm feeling confident the 85 will be perfect!

[@federicomoretti3582]

the pic at 5:11 is AWESOME big up!!

[@azorazul007]

Haha being in Carajoland to take a picture applies more to Wildlife Photography than to Portraits. That single sentence sold it to me, thanks for the laughs. Awesome video!

[@christinacooperfilm]

Great tips!!!

[@tourinojacks5844]

Super great video tutorial! I learned a lot. LIked and subbed!

[@ebouwens]

Very timely!

[@robkeaton6143]

Very helpful! Thank you

[@svetlanagrobman3476]

Thanks, Omar! One question though. Are the figures for APC-S or full frame?

[@CleafKnowsVLOGS_nl]

Next week I have to photograph 4 soccer teams at once, so this video was really helpful!

[@TheEdge008]

Excellent video! *

[@jamesallison5726]

The photo at 5:11 is amazing!

[@carloscueto7561]

I had to laugh at your "carajo-land 2 blocks away" comment about longer focal lengths. That was hilarious. I was shooting photos for family gathering for New Years Eve recently and I was using a 85mm 1.8 that had me in "carajo-land" for most group photos and immediately identified with your comment 😂