Adding a Person to a Group Photo in Photoshop

Learn how to use Photoshop compositing to add someone to a group photo.

Sometimes you have a group photo that doesn't include the entire group. Maybe someone couldn't make it. Maybe you needed to be in the shot—but also needed to take the shot.

Whatever the reason, Photoshop offers the solution: You can simply composite the missing person into the group shot. In this course, photographer and educator Seán Duggan shows how. He uses Smart Objects to nondestructively resize the images, adds and refines a layer mask, and then inserts the missing person behind the group. With some simple tonal adjustments, the end result can look completely natural. In chapter 4, Seán tackles a fun bonus challenge: placing new figures in historical photos.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files
• What you should know before watching this course

1. Working with Group and Individual Photos

• Why add someone to a group shot?
• Potential problems when using a provided image
• Shooting images specifically for this technique

2. Compositing a Person into a Group Shot

• Using a Smart Object to resize the group photo
• Selecting with the Quick Selection tool
• Adding and refining a layer mask
• Putting a person behind other people
• Tonal adjustments when placing a person behind people

3. Making Image Edits to Fit a Person into a Photo

• Adding a Smart Object from another file
• Compositing elements from another photo
• Moving a person closer to the group

4. Placing a Person in a Historical Photo

• Matching the texture in a historical photo
• Using adjustment layers to match tonal values

Conclusion

• Next steps