The secret of better group shots

I was going to pompously describe this as the secret to perfect group shots but let's back off from that and admit from the start that the technique doesn't work perfectly. But what this technique does do, consistently, is get almost everyone in a large group to look at the camera and smile. Or at least appear to be smiling.

First, the proof. Here are the last five group photos I've done. You'll spot one or two kids here and there with their eyes closed, or looking away, but for the most part we've got lots of happy faces looking straight at the camera…

So how does the technique work? Well like all the best tricks it's incredibly simple and very easy. You don't even need any extra equipment.

It was while doing the photo on the golf course that the lightbulb came on. (I mean that figuratively. It isn't an actual light bulb that comes on to grab everyone's attention.) There were a few guys at the back who were deliberately hiding behind other people, and a couple of guys talking to each other. It was starting to get a bit frustrating so eventually I lowered the camera and just stared at one of the chatterboxes until he shut up and looked at me.

Then I said to the group: "All I need is for you all to look at me for five seconds." And immediately someone started counting: 1… 2…

Suddenly the group was perfect. Everyone joined in counting outloud, all of them looking at the camera. The guys who were chatting were now counting. Even the guys who had been hiding stepped in to view. I snapped away.

After five seconds I said thank you and that was that. Almost perfect.

So for every group shot I do now I ask them to count to 10. Sometimes I push that to 20. But even if you went as far as 30 you'd still get the close-to-perfect shot much faster than you usually would.