Photographing large groups - Advice please

[jamesward93]

Hi

I have just been asked to take some pictures of a couple of groups of people tonight, both groups to contain between 20-30 people. Having never taken pictures of a group this large I'm after some advice on lens/aperture etc.

I will be using a 5D MK2 and a 580EX flash unit. i have both a 24-70 2.8 and a 17-40 4 that i can use and do have a fair amount of space to work with.

 

[crashtestmac]

You will struggle with that many people and one flash...

Ideally you want to be outside or not use the flash, or take the group in small chunks then fit them together after.

 

[magicalphotos]

Hi, suggest you bump up the iso to prevent shooting wide open and softening the image. Maximize ambient lighting, or use a flash head. I also tell the groups if you can't see me I can't see you, and you won't be seen in the pic.good luck

 

[jamesward93]

i do have a Bowens 500 flash head and brolley that i could use, wanted to avoid taking that with me though if i could. However if thats going to be the best bet............

 

[Arkady]

Do it in one shot if you can, otherwise you'll need to be very careful with exposures - also, someone always moves, making the stitch very tiresome to get seamless...

If using flash, you will need at least three to balance the light across the entire group.
Shoot in daylight unless someone's got a gun to your head.

It's not as bad as you think: organising the group to look right is the hardest part...lol

A couple of easy ones from Iraq in 2008:

 

[david1701]

if you need to do it single flash get it high on axis off camera and skim it over try to work close ish to the ambient to soften flash shadows, gel the flash to match ambient

the isl can be your friend, the further away the flash the slower the fall off over the group 2 flashes are much better here

 

[jamesward93]

thanks for the responses, I will see if i can get the group outside, should be ok as long as the rain stays away.

Would be nice if i could have got hold of another flash, but not been able to at such short notice and i cant justify buying another one just for this shoot!