Lighting for 30+ people

dan_yorkshire · 1 Dec 2012

Hi all,

I'm at a family celebration dinner next weekend and have been requested to take a photo of all 32 people for keepsake. It'll be darkness outside so be low lighting inside.

The ceilings are fairly low and I don't want to do too much setting up of lighting.

Would you think two speed lights with stofens either side of me pointed at the ceiling would light throw enough light out?

Dan

markmullen · 1 Dec 2012

Why not speak to Graham or Russ at The Flash Centre in Leeds and hire a set of Quadra Rangers for the night, if a job's worth doing its worth doing right. They're good guys and will be able to set you up with the right kit.

DizMatt · 2 Dec 2012

I would go for more
recently I did something with a much smaller group, two reflective brollies.
anyway the lighting was okay ish, nothing amazing, but what did show was those in the middle were often caught without light
so ideally I would have a speedlight on your camera which acts as the master, if you just want to keep it to a minimum
and I would angle the speedlights at 45 degrees or shoot them up but with the catch light card up to reflect some directly forwards.

HoppyUK · 2 Dec 2012

dan_yorkshire said:
Hi all,

I'm at a family celebration dinner next weekend and have been requested to take a photo of all 32 people for keepsake. It'll be darkness outside so be low lighting inside.

The ceilings are fairly low and I don't want to do too much setting up of lighting.

Would you think two speed lights with stofens either side of me pointed at the ceiling would light throw enough light out?

Dan

Should do. If not, you'll just have to push the ISO a bit.

Bear in mind that Stofens throw right everywhere. Most of it goes straight out, ie towards the ceiling which is where you want it, but also all around, so that includes a direct light component going straight towards the subjects - also good, lifts shadows under eyes and chins, and puts a sparkle in the eyes.

But depending on the circumstances, that direct light can create conflicting shadows with two guns, so maybe position them together towards the centre, above the camera, but aiming outwards for a more even spread of light. Try to ensure everyone is roughly the same distance from the flashes, basically by pulling inwards those people around the edges.

Careful arangement of the group will probably make most difference. If shooting wide-angle, keep people away from the sides of the frame.

dan_yorkshire · 2 Dec 2012

HoppyUK said:
Should do. If not, you'll just have to push the ISO a bit.

Bear in mind that Stofens throw right everywhere. Most of it goes straight out, ie towards the ceiling which is where you want it, but also all around, so that includes a direct light component going straight towards the subjects - also good, lifts shadows under eyes and chins, and puts a sparkle in the eyes.

But depending on the circumstances, that direct light can create conflicting shadows with two guns, so maybe position them together towards the centre, above the camera, but aiming outwards for a more even spread of light. Try to ensure everyone is roughly the same distance from the flashes, basically by pulling inwards those people around the edges.

Careful arangement of the group will probably make most difference. If shooting wide-angle, keep people away from the sides of the frame.

Cheers, that was the answer I was after.

Will pop them either side to start with and see how the shadows fall and move them more central where needed.

Will take a tripod and my trigger as dont trust venue staff cutting heads and feet off.

Dan

Organnyx · 2 Dec 2012

32 is no number at all, wind up the iso a bit, and use a decent on-camera flash!
At least "double deck" those in the picture (2 rows, perhaps put the men in front, and get them to kneel).... or find an area where you can put them all together in a clump, and shoot down on them from a balcony, or in a stairwell - if there's a staircase handy they're wonderful for groups of this sort (I often used the steps up into hotels for this sort of thing)

dan_yorkshire · 2 Dec 2012

Organnyx said:
32 is no number at all, wind up the iso a bit, and use a decent on-camera flash!
At least "double deck" those in the picture (2 rows, perhaps put the men in front, and get them to kneel).... or find an area where you can put them all together in a clump, and shoot down on them from a balcony, or in a stairwell - if there's a staircase handy they're wonderful for groups of this sort (I often used the steps up into hotels for this sort of thing)

Appreciate what your saying Martin but it will only be a quick photo and I can set up the two flashes whilst people finish eating and I don't have to move them far. Ill be in on the photo too so camera will be on tripod.

Organnyx · 2 Dec 2012

I really think you're over-complicating things - a group of 32 is tiny in the context of wedding groups (often taken in the stygian gloom of winter) - I never used any more than a conventional on-camera or hammerhead gun on a bracket for such things (and most of that was in the days of film, when we didn't have the luxury of increasing the iso) - the important thing is to arrange it right - perhaps have a look at how the wedding photographers do it - I really wouldn't go for the over-complication of extra flash, my guess is that you may have a lot of hassle, and end up with photos that are no better than you could have achieved in a far simpler (and quicker) way.