A Corporate Event Photographer’s Guide to Large Group Photos That Don’t Waste Time
The doors to the hotel’s pavilion swung open, and a wave of business casual spilled outside. Two hundred fifteen of the company’s top sales reps lumbered into the afternoon sun for the dreaded group photo.
The group’s attire was a mix of dress jeans, sport coats, and work-appropriate day dresses of all sizes and colors. The only common accessory was the lanyard that hung from each person’s neck.
As corporate event photographers, my team and I have witnessed this countless times. The scene begins the same way: a slow-moving crowd shuffles out, laughing, enjoying camaraderie, yet dreading the awkward, time-consuming group photo.
I’m proud to say my team takes a different approach. We assemble the group quickly—and make it enjoyable. Our goal is simple: move fast, help people look their best, and make the experience fun. Since childhood, the group photo has always been the most unpopular agenda item: We’ve all met the overbearing, impatient photographer—frustrated, shouting, pointing, snapping photos as the group grows weary, their lunch break slipping away.
Meeting planners: Follow these five professional photography tips for large corporate group photos to achieve fast, flattering results. With an experienced corporate event photographer, the entire process is completed in 15 minutes or less.
- Hire a pro. No offense to Chad in accounting, but owning a good camera is not enough. Professional corporate photographers understand that time is limited, and there are no second chances.
- Scout ahead. The location, time of day, and vantage point should be scouted and well planned long before the general session begins.
- Close proximity. Time is essential. Find a convenient location so that 200 attendees do not have to walk for 20 minutes to the shoot location.
- Shoot from an elevated angle. This is a must for large groups. Use a step ladder, balcony, or raised platform. A higher angle compresses the group, reduces double chins, and lets you see every face—especially the third and fourth rows.
- Post production. Another reason to hire a qualified professional. The pro-photographer knows that yelling at the crowd is not the way to get great results. Instead, they shoot in bursts of 3-5 frames, then use post-production to swap heads, open eyes, and clean up details for the perfect final image.