First birthday party advice please

[FiestaRed]

I feel far more at home lugging a big 2.8 birding lens and tripod about, sitting in a hide and taking shots at my leisure.

I've been asked to "take some pictures" at my granddaughters first birthday party and I'd feel far more comfortable if I had some advice from you guys on here.

I normally shoot RAW and in manual so I guess that's my first problem. As I'll be handing over the images on a disk, instead of editing in CS4 that way I normally do. Should I change back to JPEG and turn to Program mode or is there something even better. I've got a Nikon SB-800 with a Stofen cap, both which have never been really used in anger. I also have a good supply of rechargables for the flash. Is there a "better" setting for the flash?

Any advice would be much appreciated. I have to admit to not being in my "comfort zone" I'd be much happier if they held the party somewhere out in the open with a few waders and a reservoir in the background.

 

[RevOnline]

Don't eat so much cake and jelly you make yourself sick.

I'd do it in raw and process it yourself before you hand them over though. Do a proper job of it if you're going to do it.

 

[winchman]

Take photos of each child as they arrive like a wedding.
Set a few up playing etc.
Just see it as a wedding but smaller, if you can take a picture of birds this should be easy, oh keep an eye on your gear, cake and jelly arent good on cameras

 

[winchman]

Hang on another idea, paint a background with a 1st birthday theam and photograph mums and dads with kiids as they arrive, then post picture out on a callender etc,
Just ignore me if you think its over the top LOL