Front and Center
Most cameras have a guide in the viewfinder that lets you center your shot easily. Take advantage of this helpful aid and you'll be sure to get everyone in the picture—the first time. For a different angle, try a few vertical shots. It's an easy way to capture a person's total look from head to toe.
Finessing the Group Shot
When shooting groups of people, take a tip from professional photographers and have them stand sideways and move closer together. This lets their bodies fill any gaps and allows you to get everyone into the picture.
How to Avoid Red-eye
Taking your photos either outdoors in good lighting or in a well-lit indoor space goes a long way in reducing red-eye. Plus, today most cameras offer a red-eye reduction mode. Activating this feature throws out a few pupil-constricting flashes of light before taking the photo. Keep in mind that this increases the time between the "click" and the image capture, so people will need to hold their smiles an extra second or two. Another tip is to ask people to look at each other rather than at the lens—in addition to eliminating red-eye, this helps to create a more natural shot.
Go for the Natural Look
Everyone wants to pose when they see a camera pointed their way. Some people know how to do this attractively—body turned one way, head turned the other, natural full smile—but most posed pictures result in that "gritted-teeth-and-bug-eyed-look." To capture the real moments of your reunion, try more impromptu shots. You'll be rewarded with genuine smiles and natural poses. Having said that, however, sometimes the best candid shots are the self-portraits you take of yourself and a friend. So don't be afraid to put your arm around a friend, hold the camera out at arm's length, smile, and click! There's something so heartwarming about seeing a close-up of two friends with their faces pressed together that even an imperfectly framed shot becomes a favorite photo.
What Not to Shoot
Every reunion offers numerous photo opportunities, but there are two scenarios where it's best to put the camera down. The first one is when you sit down to eat. While it may be tempting to take pictures while you've got a captive audience gathered around a table, know that someone will inevitably be mid-bite and you'll wind up with an awkward shot. One other situation to avoid is photographing a pair of people simply standing near each other. Wait until people start interacting with each other before you snap the camera and you'll get a more interesting photo.
Before You Go
The night before you head out to your reunion, be sure your digital camera's battery is charged and you have plenty of disc space. For non-digital cameras it's a good idea to carry a spare battery and extra film. At the reunion, get contact information from everyone so you can send a group email when your photos are uploaded (or printed). Or better yet, post them in a community photo album on Classmates. Looking through the photos is a wonderful way to make the reunion come alive again—and it's a great way to share the event with people who weren't able to attend.
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