At a loss on ideas for indoor large family portrait

jetpack

jetpack

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Lyle
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Hi Everyone,

My photography style is usually wildlife and landscape but as we approach Christmas a few close friends have asked if I could take some family portraits.

I have a shoot in a week where it's a large family of 12 including a range from grannies to children. Disappointingly it has to be an indoor shoot in their house because of a availability.

This limits the light I have to work with and I'm wondering a few things. Should I buy constant lights, I can get these for about £30. Should I buy triggered flash bulbs. Should I just try with the lights in the house?

I have a 20mm f1.8, a 50mm f1.4 and a 70-200 f2.8.

Any input and advice would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Lyle
 
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20mm on fx? Is that wide enough? Trouble is you will need to be long way away to fit in and / or stop distorting at the edges! Otherwise people left and right will expand! Difficult call! Can't you get them in the garden?
 
70-200 and stand in the garden shooting through the window
 
Cheap constant lights are largely rubbish for portraits. 800w Red heads are ok but I'd still go for flash.

I wouldn't attempt a formal group shot of 12 people unless I had a lot of room. Bethy @sunnyside_up does group shots in a small space but I don't think I've ever seen more than about 4 people in one of hers.

Have much space - and headroom - will you have? What kind of background? What colour are the walls and ceiling - might you be able to bounce light off them? Large softboxes take up a lot of space on their own and bouncing two flashes off the ceiling or side and end walls might be the most effective approach.
 
juggler said:
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I wouldn't attempt a formal group shot of 12 people unless I had a lot of room. Bethy @sunnyside_up does group shots in a small space but I don't think I've ever seen more than about 4 people in one of hers.
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I've done 8 adults before, but it was tough, wouldn't do it again. Too much photoshopping the background... I now limit it to no more than 6 people, and no more than 2 (sometimes 3 if the third is a 'small' adult) adults.

And just to re-iterate what @juggler Simon said, go for flash... Far more control imo...
 
jetpack said:
I've said I will now and I can't go back on my word, I'll just need to try...
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It's good that you've realised that lighting will be a big issue. Unfortunately, fixing that is an expensive and time consuming issue.

So as above, you need to think about what you 'can' achieve, smaller groups in interesting shapes. I'm hoping you've been looking at group composition on the web.

A single speedlight can do a lot if you know how to use it.
 
Phil V said:
It's good that you've realised that lighting will be a big issue. Unfortunately, fixing that is an expensive and time consuming issue.

So as above, you need to think about what you 'can' achieve, smaller groups in interesting shapes. I'm hoping you've been looking at group composition on the web.

A single speedlight can do a lot if you know how to use it.
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Thanks Phil, good advice. Yes I have been looking at what I can do in the circumstances and I have briefed the 'client' about the issues with the lighting, she understood but just wants something as her Mum, who will be there, is getting on and I think they don't quiet know how long she has left!!

I've just realised I have a Yongnuo speedlight that I used for my Canon once, I've attached to my D810 and it works! albeit it does have a very light section at the top quarter of the image and then a clean horizontal line and a darker underexposed shot 3/4 below. I'm a complete newby when it comes to flash so I'm gonna need to learn quickly - any tips appreciated!
 
Are you shooting above sync speed? It could be the shutter curtain in the shot. Check what your camera is set to. Normal sync speed will be 1/200 -1/250. Do you have the opportunity to bounce the flash behind you? Are the walls a neutral colour? I'd go pretty simple on the group shot and play it safe. Smaller groups, separate family groups, individuals etc will all offer the chance to mix it up a little with regards to lighting. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself dude and go with the flow.
 
jetpack said:
Thanks Phil, good advice. Yes I have been looking at what I can do in the circumstances and I have briefed the 'client' about the issues with the lighting, she understood but just wants something as her Mum, who will be there, is getting on and I think they don't quiet know how long she has left!!

I've just realised I have a Yongnuo speedlight that I used for my Canon once, I've attached to my D810 and it works! albeit it does have a very light section at the top quarter of the image and then a clean horizontal line and a darker underexposed shot 3/4 below. I'm a complete newby when it comes to flash so I'm gonna need to learn quickly - any tips appreciated!
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This...
minnnt said:
Are you shooting above sync speed? It could be the shutter curtain in the shot. Check what your camera is set to. Normal sync speed will be 1/200 -1/250. Do you have the opportunity to bounce the flash behind you? Are the walls a neutral colour? I'd go pretty simple on the group shot and play it safe. Smaller groups, separate family groups, individuals etc will all offer the chance to mix it up a little with regards to lighting. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself dude and go with the flow.
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You'll need the Yongnuo in Manual mode, and with the camera in Manual too, it should be 'easy' if you do it right.
Set at (for instance - but a start point) F8 ISO 800 1/100, and 1/4 power on the flash, then you can adjust the flash power to get it right at a given distance (bounced off either the walls or ceiling - my preference is to stand in front of a wall and bounce the flash off the wall / ceiling join behind me)
Once set. if you don't change the flash to subject distance, you can simply keep the settings there. We only really need 'auto' flash when we move about and change other stuff.

But, I'd try for some shots in Natural light too, get out in the garden with the 70-200 to do individual portraits - they'll be much better 'portraits' (wide open at about 135mm)
 
Gents, thank you for the knowledge. The increased shutter speed worked a treat and I've just been taking shots of my boys with the flash with some success which is great! Feeling much more confident now and I'll try out the settings you've suggested Phil.

Thanks!
 
I know others have suggested talking the session in the garden but it will be dark - it's there any way you can make this part of the photograph? Put them all outside muffled up and holding candles and lanterns? If they have outside lights that might help but it could look really Christmassy and a bit different.
 
Applemuncher said:
I know others have suggested talking the session in the garden but it will be dark - it's there any way you can make this part of the photograph? Put them all outside muffled up and holding candles and lanterns? If they have outside lights that might help but it could look really Christmassy and a bit different.
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Hey I like that idea, I'll see what I can do!
 
Last Christmas I took a group photo of 20 people, indoors. I was also in the photo and popped the camera on a tripod with self timer. Unfortunately, the room I was in had been extended, so the flash bounce was largely behind an Rsj. The aperture was too low in hindsight... And the outcome was a pretty furry picture with many faces slightly blurry.

Probably sound have whacked up the ISO instead, and shot at f9 or something.
 
12 people in a house with a normal size room would I suspect not give room for softboxes.
I have seen examples where with a single flash, individual pictures and stacking in photoshop has worked.
But this I guess would work where you do not have overlapping bodies.
If you use a couple of speedlights you may be able to bounce off the ceiling, walls and a reflecter to bounce up to reduce panda eyes.
Maybe smaller groups would be the best option, families, siblings etc.
 
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