What lens should I use?

[TheGazzzMan]

Hello everyone.
I've been asked to do a family portrait and would like to know what lens would be best to use, I own a Nikon D5100 with the 18-55 kit lens and I also have the 55-200 F/4-5.6.
Thank you.

 

[minnnt]

I'd go with the 55-200 if you have the space.

 

[andrewc]

How many people in the shot and how much space to work with?

 

[TheGazzzMan]

4 people and it's a outdoors shoot so i have loads of room to move about

 

[minnnt]

55-200 definately then.

 

[TheGazzzMan]

Great thank you

 

[simonblue]

18-55mm would be the one i would go for

 

[Phil Young]

18-55.

They are as good as each other but if you have 4 or more and trying to get full length, you'll be raising your voice quite a bit at 55mm...

 

[mrtoad]

blow the background as best you can with the lenses you have
this probably will mean the longer lens with a quite open aperture..max probably
tripod..of course
use the 2 sec timer setting so you dont get any vibrations on the head, 10 sec is too long for a pose
take lots of shots and for me avoid the vertical format...more square to cut landscape for me
cheers
geof
ps watch the background for extreme highlights and interesting shapes, vibrant colours...trees are best i guess