How to take the perfect group photo?

Start by choosing a spot with a clean background, like a plain wall or a garden hedge. Avoid busy patterns or bright signs that distract from faces. Position the group in two or three rows, with taller people at the back and shorter at the front. Ask the back row to stand slightly apart so the front row is not hidden. For a natural look, have people turn their bodies slightly towards the centre, not square to the camera. Shoot at eye level of the middle row, and step back enough to include everyone without cutting off heads or feet. Use a wide lens but not too wide, as that can distort faces at the edges. Take multiple shots in quick succession, because someone will blink or smile awkwardly. Between shots, ask everyone to relax their shoulders and take a breath. Check the viewfinder to confirm no one is half hidden. If you have time, take one formal shot and one candid version where everyone laughs. That candid one often becomes the favourite. Keep the whole process under five minutes so people stay patient and natural.