I never really wanted to be a photographer that does group shots. I prefer action or active portraits of some sort. But taking on clients that require group shots, I really want to find better ways than just lining them up in rows and snapping a picture. Its harder, but more rewarding and fun. We had a plan yesterday t have ladders and boards and create a large group portrait in the main high school gym at MASH, but the one problem. The boys basketball team was practicing in there and their practice certainly took priority. So we went to plan b. I had lugged all my lights in to use in the big gym, but the junior high gym was different and sudden;y we were behind schedule and only one ladder was available(note to self--plan better!) So in scrambling I saw the center court bulldog and figure I could play off that and circle the cheers around it. This wasn't my ideal shot, but I think under the circumstances we got something slightly different than they have been used to. And the rest of the shots we did all seemed to have a little different flavor--I had to climb up and down off a desk about 100 times, but after two hors of shooting we got the pictures taken and everyone seemed to have fun---that might be the biggest key! SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.