Denis Reggie’s 7 Tips on How to Shoot Group Portraits at a Wedding

Veteran pro wedding photographer Denis Reggie has some great advice for capturing tricky portraits of groups at a wedding.
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[@doughowell3171]

One of the best education videos of the year, please do more.

[@mikeindi7980]

A video that gives out great information, from someone that takes amazing photos and knows what they're talking about. A breath of fresh air.

[@pegshealth]

Mr. Reggie! So great to see you, sir! These are by far the most beautiful results I've seen anywhere. That's because you are covering the very important DETAILS that make the create professional level results. Thank you!

[@ballyantonia]

Thank you for your generosity . Lovely work.

[@GiannisVeronis]

Hello David, thank you for the video. Where do you place your lights please for group shots? This is very important as well..

[@tamaramerriphotography]

I would have liked to see an explanation for where you put your light source for larger groups.

[@evinioj5326]

Extremely well done, appreciate so much.

[@tekguyphoto]

Great video. Very simple to understand yet still with lots of detail.

[@VadimNYC]

Thank you! Way more of equipment than I can purchase right now or own, but good clean instructions. Thank you!!!

[@zandeosaddles208]

Incredible. High quality information. Thank you!

[@alexmetcalfe4668]

Wow, what a great tutorial. Denis knows his stuff hands down. Nice work Shutterbug.

[@crollinsphoto]

Yes he does.

[@MrSoulMonk]

Great presentation and advice. Thank you!

[@skanjilal2608]

Simple and so informative, straight from the heart, thanks

[@lindseyweaver6956]

This was really really helpful and easy to understand for a newbie! Thank you so much for making this video!

[@ericwetzeldesign]

AMAZING TUTORIAL! Thank you!

[@theMadiscene]

Thank you Denis! Very practical and helpful.

[@jvusa]

Thank you so much for this tip, this is one of the most valuable tips.

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

Great video. Thank you and love the Atlanta city scape at night.

[@DracoPL]

Beautiful group pictures, you are doing great job setting up people for shot.

[@daveamberphotography]

Really great and clear tutorial, thanks so much!

[@KeveenMihdidin]

You gave me very insightful tips! Thank you Sir.

[@THEROOK2007]

Thank you for the advices ! 👍🏽

[@old4004]

Great presentation with excellent results to back up your teaching.

[@jenpackard2893]

Excellent tips! Were the exterior night shots done with two strobes in one umbrella to the side?

[@tdyson90]

Wow. Thank you for this excellent tutorial. Very helpful!!

[@tripnaboa]

superb work! really beautiful! thanks for the tips as well!

[@Sedifet]

Fantastic video, thanks so much

[@old4004]

I've watched this again and again because of all of the information packed into a short video. Great information, great presentation. Do you take those large groups using just the one umbrella with two strobes? So glad to learn about the high ISO used.

[@MrShinobi1000]

Marvelous tips and works .... thank you so much 😌👍🏼

[@joecool4829]

Excellent presentation!!!

[@MrSIRCOFF]

Fantastic. Thank you!!

[@viciwo3396]

Very precise instructions!

[@RspbyLmn]

This is great advice. Loved the lens recommendations. So tired of being the victim of size distortion in group photos.

[@mr.workhardplayhard6550]

Awesome information 👏🏼👌🏼.....Thank you 😊🙏🏼

[@Chickboom34]

Enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@fiskpad]

Hi David. Where do you place your umbrella for large group shots? Do you subscribe to the theory of placing it on one side of the group and feathering to so that the scene is evenly lit as opposed to the center being correct and the light falling off towards the sides?

[@old4004]

I heartily agree with all of the positive comments about the value of this video. Do I understand correctly, Denis, that those photos of large groups (both inside and outside) were taken with just the ONE umbrella set-up (1 umbrella - 2 flash units) that you demonstrate in this video? Please have more videos!

[@bryk701]

Were all these sample shots taken with just one reflective umbrella placed on the side?

[@johnrusselgonzales8706]

this is great, thanks for the tips.

[@modelcitizen1977]

Great tips.

[@naomirivera3834]

Amazingly detailed! Thank you for taking the time to really go in depth - very educational and helpful. I always thought high f-stops would put things more in focus, honestly never though you only needed f/4-f/5.6.

[@joshmcdzz6925]

it depends on the hyperfocal distance.. if he was closer to the subjects then a higher fstop but he can get away with a smaller fstop number cuz he's further away from the subjects

[@davidblakephoto]

best of the best!!!!!

[@old4004]

It's me again......amazed that you get such good lighting with the two flash units on one umbrella.

[@voederbietels]

i dont think he did it is impossible

[@southimage1]

Awesome video...

[@ChoicesHabitsAttitudeLuck]

Greatest tip evah!

[@billhasson4528]

Great video thank you so group picture with two rows you focus obviously somebody in the front row yes?

[@MegaRay68]

I was looking at only one set of lights for such a large group. Are these pictures taken with only one set as you have shown?

[@AsianBlackR3501]

Did you use aperture F4.0 plus at those photos and end of the video clip? Thanks.

[@mohdkhalidmusa1960]

Good advice🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻

[@theMadiscene]

Would you please share the specific umbrella duo speedlight setup you used?

[@loremipsumproductivityengi7552]

Do you use this as a paramount or loop light? I want to know your light positions

[@GarryBurgess]

What was Canon thinking by putting out their new 24-70 2.8 L lens without image stabilization, esp. with a 30 MP 5D iv?

[@veronicamccoy8936]

Where do you place the umbrella for groups if you have one?

[@fromanabe8639]

I don't recall getting an orange or CTO cap in any of my 580EX ii's. The one in the video appears to be transparent orange, not translucent. I can't find one anywhere like the one Reggie showed.

[@anoddviewcreative505]

I’m good with group shots. This was great though. It’s the first dance when lights are dimmed and ensuring lighting is positioned the light the couple without killing the vibe. Do you have something on that.

[@krivaslsh81]

Please make a video where you explain the placement of your lights. Thank you!

[@GiannisVeronis]

yes i added a comment as well for that. It is very important to know

[@mikecollins5261]

@@GiannisVeronis It's just one light. He places it very close to one side or right above camera but up a little higher. It's a group shot and the light needs to be even across the group so the best place is as close to camera as possible but at least up a lot higher. I know this because I took a workshop with him years ago and he went over this as well. One umbrella. Two speed lights on a bracket. Brand of umbrella is not important. Just have a white interior and around 35-45 inches wide..

[@GiannisVeronis]

@@mikecollins5261 Thanks for your answer, definitely something to consider in the next group shot

[@irisd90]

@@mikecollins5261 hey there. But isnt this setup (putting the flash in the center) going to cause the ppl in the center to be MUCH brighter?

[@westrayc75]

@@mikecollins5261 like photo sample number 3 he showed. can it be done with one speed light on a diffuser. and better to be totally dark correct? so flash can work better. I've been wanting to do a night photo of my daughter's dance team? any tips? @mikecollins or @shutterbug

[@thriftingsifting6709]

Does he use two umbrellas for large groups? One umbrella on the left and the other on the right side of the group?

[@behramcooper3691]

Yup. I was one of the F8 guys, but lately switched to F4. So, if I am using F4 at 50mm focal length and I am about 7m (22ft) from the group, where should I focus? The row in front, the middle row or the back row, if the group consists of three rows.

[@atoulieneikhaphotography6590]

Ok sir for group photos which lenses is better most

[@mikeletson1962]

1600 ISO seems really high. I could never get away with that on my Nikon D810. Noise isn't an issue with that high of an ISO? Best.

[@Shootmesamphoto]

Yea he said some pretty legit stuff

[@noplacelikemauihawaii103]

wow that big group ., is that still 50mm lens??

[@royaltykidstv]

I shot at f/5.6 ISO 200 and shutter speed at 1/250, why did I get blurry people? This was a team of 19-20, three rows(seating,kneeling and standing), what did I do wrong? Was I supposed to shoot at f/8-f/12?

[@Narsuitus]

How do you balance your available light with your flash? I try to set my flash one stop brighter than my available light.

[@SC3designs]

How are the lights setup? On one side?

[@manoharmgr8235]

Super

[@allabouthim03]

Great video. Do you use just one source of lighting, lightstand, to light up your group shots?

[@simonandrewsphotography8157]

If the group is a single row, maybe 2 you can off set the camera to the side and get modeled light. If it's a bigger group, the easiest way to handle it with OCF is to think of it like an on camera flash. Push the umbrella above you a couple of feet and in line with where you're shooting from. The shadows fall out of sight, and not on another person's face. Hope that helps.

[@sulev111]

good answer! was thinking about that too. Really need to invest in a higher tripod.

[@pricelessclips]

Being the veteran in the group photography: What technique do you do to get everybody focused or sharp. I'm a bit worried using f4.5 for a group so I use f11 to guaranty sharpness. Then where to focus is another thing, but I really want to know your technique and at the same time justifying the use of f4.0 to f4.5.

[@pippycrystal5786]

pricelessclips he uses lenses that are not too wide angle so he has to step back to get everyone in the frame; at that distance your DOF increases at wider apertures. I think.

[@annvalencia-alcaraz6232]

what is your AF mode do you use in group shot? do you use eye tracking? do you focus on the bride?

[@royaltykidstv]

Did you ever find out? I am trying to find the answer to this.

[@seansavoy387]

Great video. Assuming thats a bounce umbrella and not shoot through?

[@mikecollins5261]

Shoot through is usually better when shooting one or two people and its closer in to mimic a softbox. With large groups, you don't want to be wasting light so a bounce umbrella is best.

[@sulphuricacid16]

If you are taking like a small group photo with the closer distance wont the f4-f5.6 unfocus some of the subjects?

[@woox200sx]

Not at 35mm

[@mikecollins5261]

Well, yes. But that is why he suggests to use a longer lens and back up. The further away you can get, even at the same f/stop, the distance will increase the DOF. And if your watching this to see how an umbrella will help your groups shots, your going to want to be a little further back so the umbrella spreads the light more evenly.

[@simonandrewsphotography8157]

Aperture, focus distance (how far away you're focusing) and focal length (the zoom number in mm) all factor into depth of field. If you focus on a subject 20 feet away at 24mm(full frame) you can get a group in focus even at f/4. In fact, on my 5D3, the DOF starts at 9ft and ends at infinity! Download a depth of field calculator app, and play with the numbers, you'll be surprised how a mm of focal length change, can affect the depth of field.

[@kizzyjem]

Thanks. I've just downloaded one.

[@movieman2009]

Why not run the flashes with battery packs with a flash that has a HV connection

[@karthickdharma6497]

While taking group photos at f8 if people are standing one behind another what is the focus technic we have follow because I am getting out of focus most of the time.

[@williamsatish25]

You have tom for wider aperture when you are looking a at more than 5 on the stage. Or what you can do is move much closer shoot in sections then stitch it [if you are confident]. Otherwise if there are 10 people stacking on a small stage or wide stage forget it you have to for wider aperture.

[@samlee7420]

daym i did 2 weddings. lmao. 1900 holy shit. btw would love to see you do a Cambodian wedding.

[@Usualeclectic]

This was a gear review...just one thing IBIS is not a feature from Canon... this is the reason why I made the switch to Sony. I’ve made my own custom picture profile to match canon color science and I’ve never looked back. Canon is great but I’ve had better luck with Sony.

[@ananyachy4636]

which metering mood should i use????

[@williamsatish25]

Full evaluation is the best, no center weighted nor spot metering.So that the white balance is evenly distributed.

[@yttean98]

Canon 5D no IBIS so you need tripod? it may be time to switch to Canon mirrorless R

[@agro0]

which also has no IBIS, so what's your point?

[@MrNavi90]

@@agro0 lol

[@geminiasalon]

Hi Denis!! Are you shooting on M mode??

[@williamsatish25]

Obliviously you have to shoot in Manual mode there is no other better mode, if its a fast moving object for beginners shutter mode or aperture mode. If you are confident with your reading then M mode is your best and safest friend.

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

Very nice and I really appreciate the well earned tips but at 9:00 you broke your own lighting rule. Lit from the white brides side. Just saying. :-))

[@sllanka4944]

is there anybody to explain the reason for above ?

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

💥 if the light was moved to camera right the brides train would fade into dark. It’s all about the look you are trying to achieve in certain instances and I think his rule was about shooting the bride and groom when they are standing side by side facing the camera.

[@theresa.bellagala3088]

I hope people realize you can't dictate 1/100 of a second for speed, because conditions vary drastically. Is it a dark church later in the day? Or is it a brightly lit church midday?

[@jasonbodden8816]

20 MP to 30MP does NOT mean you need the camera on a tripod. That's just not true at all.

[@omnirhythm]

If Overeem never got into UFC

[@therookiefisherman5234]

Ok, Im a little confused. If you are shooting at 50 FPS and such a high ISO and @f4 why even use flash and you can probably get away with one flash? How about metering?

[@MichaelDiegel]

A canon advertisement?

[@RazorliteX]

Starts off interesting then within 2 minutes turns into a Canon sales pitch.

[@crollinsphoto]

Which is fine, I can overlook the promo to filter out for the info needed.

[@travis8665]

RazorliteX There is always one. It is good to know what he is using. Im have a sony A7R3 and would like to know what to use as well.