Pictures of couples, families, or kids with pets fall into both the classic and environmental categories. Most of the techniques used to photograph single subjects also apply to these shots. However, they require some extra finesse when it comes to posing, composition, and lighting. That's because all the factors you have to consider when taking pictures of individuals are now multiplied.

It's often difficult to light multiple subjects equally and well. If you pose two people looking toward each other, they'll each catch the light differently. Shooting with nondirectional light is often the best answer, or you can stay with a strongly directional light and use a fill (poster board or flash) so no details are lost in the shadow. Another option is to make the picture about just one person, whom you will light well, and let the other person be somewhat obscured in the shadows. For example, if you photograph a mother looking at her newborn, you might light the infant, but let the mother's face be in shadow.

Lighting a large group is always a challenge. If you're shooting outside, your subjects will squint if they face the sun. If you take the picture under noontime sun, the shadows on their faces will ruin the shot. Strong directional light from the side may put some of the people in other people's shadows. Try to time these shots for the hours around sunrise and sunset, which are great times for catching warm yet directional natural lighting. If you're limited as far as the times you can shoot, create a backlit situation by placing your subjects facing away from the sun. Use the backlighting setting on your camera, or manually increase your exposure by one or two stops. Using fill flash to brighten the group and balance lighting between its members is also an option.

When shooting groups indoors, avoid using direct flash. Instead, use the bounce flash techniques described in Chapter 11 to create more pleasant artificial lighting. At a distance of more than ten to fifteen feet, your bounce flash will not be strong enough, so use a direct flash, but aim it slightly higher than the group to even out the lighting.

You have two options when taking pictures of groups: spreading them out so they fill the scenery or keeping them close and in contact to emphasize interpersonal relationships. If the picture is more about the setting than the people, you can increase the spacing. Zoom out or back up to include the scenery and the spread-out group. For group pictures at a picnic, family reunion, or celebration, you'll want to come in very close. The closer people are to each other, the larger they will appear in the final image. This is very important if you want to be able to recognize faces in a large group.