Family shoot help

[mattchewone]

I have been asked to do some photos for a friends brother. It'll be his brother, wife and two kids. I've not done a group like this before using flash so would really like some advice.
I'll be taking my interfits with me using the soft box as the main light and the shoot through brolly as fill. But not sure how to position them with a group. If I did it at the normal angle I fear I'll get shadows between subjects.

Any tips and advice on lighting? What sort of aperture would be good to get them all sharp? Not sure what lens would be best for job either.

Thanks
Matt

 

[Mattys]

Suggestions are to

Either:
Feather the softbox across the front of them to get just the very edge of the light coming from it and fill as desired from the same side just off camera axis with your brolly.
Or:
Put the softbox high above your shooting position pointing straight towards them and slightly down so their feet are still in the output of light. Make sure it is above the level of their eyes. Make sure the stand is central to the group and shoot with your lens tight up against the lightstand. This should give you an approximation of butterfly or beauty lighting. I say approximation as I don't know how big your softbox is or how much room you have to shoot in.

If the softbox isn't high in relation to the group, it will end up being quite flat. If it IS high in relation to them, it will give you definition by giving you shadows under the subjects noses and chins.

 

[mattchewone]

Thanks very much I'll give that a go just hope I can have it high enough. I'll be going to check the house out before I go.

When you say off the camera axis what exactly does that mean? Sorry for the stupid question.

I think it's a 60 or 90cm softbox I'll double check later.

 

[mattchewone]

Does any one have any ideas on poses, i'd really appreciate some inspiration on some nice group shots. Bit stuck for idea's, my head is blank and can't seem to find much on google. I'd like to know what works and why? So I can learn as I go.

Thanks very much!