Large Group Photo

[RAG]

Aside from placing oneself higher than the group and using a wide angle lens at F22 or higher, are there other tips for photographing a large group (Say an entire grammar school) that allows for all of the faces to be seen clearly?

[Frank Lopes]

Use your sharpest lens

Don't use F22 since you will get light diffraction which will soften the image. If possible stay around f8 to f11

Off course the exact "sweet spot" will depend of your particular lens.

Take a look at some field tests that explain this issue much better than I can:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/diffraction.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/50-...on/f-stops.htm

Originally Posted by RAG

Aside from placing oneself higher than the group and using a wide angle lens at F22 or higher, are there other tips for photographing a large group (Say an entire grammar school) that allows for all of the faces to be seen clearly?

[Swampy]

Photoshop's Auto Align feature can be a god send if you have one or two kids not looking at the camera in one shot, but are fine in another.

[neumanns]

Search DOF calculator...Crunch some #'s then pick an appropriate aperture.

How large of grammer school, my crystal ball is in for service.