Ever had to take a group shot, like this one I toom of Kristen, Dan, and their wedding party in Jamaica last month?

You have heard me mention these many times. They are both fun and rewarding. And to do them, you need to be a people person:

• Laugh. Smile. Joke. Tell your subjects to have fun, too.
• Take charge, be in command, and have fun. Do not be quiet, do not be timid, and do not hesitate: if you hesitate, you will look weak and incompetent – and next thing, you lose the crowd and the shot is sub-optimal.
• Tell them to look at your camera clearly: if they cannot see your lens clearly and fully, then it cannot see them, either.
• Give them a count: “ONE – TWO – THREE – CLICK”. I say that every time so they know when not to blink.
• Take each shot at least three times in case of blinkers.

Of course you are well advised not to start with weddings – they are way too important: leave those to the pros. But you may end up there, and in any case, the same techniques apply to back yard family shoots. Practice your people techniques when it’s not yet important, so you will be ready when it is.