Need help quick!!---2 hrs

[1downfall]

I posted this in the kid section thinking more help would be there. Forgive me, I re-posted here. I need some help as this is our last get together and I would like a good shot!!

Hey all. I am pretty sure I have a good idea what to do today for an end of year group shot for my soccer kids. We were not offered pics in advanced soccer so I decided I could take one for everyone.
I have a group of 10 kids, 8 years old. I plan on setting up my tri pod about 10 feet away. Kids lined up in 2 rows w/ taller kids in back, shorter ones in front on 2 knees sitting up.
I will use my 24-104 I think.
I think iso 200 pending light.....sun will be dropping and all trees in the backdrop.
Maybe fill flash...if so, set @ -1/3? or so.
I will use remote shutter so I can jump in there..........or my wife will look into the cam, give the ok and I will push the release.
Question to you all....what Aperture would you shoot at and does my focal distance sound right?
I just want to get this right for everyone to have a nice pic.
as always, thank you for your help.
(oh,....i am learning, just not studying portrait stuff YET. still reading the elements manual!)

[Dermit]

Definitely fill flash. Fill rarely hurts and almost always helps (when applied correctly).
Arrange the group so the shape of the group roughly resembles the shape/aspect ratio of the print you want. This may mean making them squeeze in tight, or go to a thrid row (probably not for the number of kids you got here), etc. If shooting for an 8x10, make sure to leave room on the long sides to crop for 8x10.

Your 24-104 should be fine. Start at about f/8 if you shoot near the 104mm end of the lens.... f/5.6 if at the 24mm end... but check after shooting and adjust as needed. If shutter us too slow kick up the ISO.

For adjusting fill flash, start without compensation, shoot, look, adjust up or down as needed.

If you get something dark, like the shade side of foilage/trees directly behind the group and light it well with flash you can get some good contrast... especially if you can get some of the setting sun light to hit the backs of everyone's head.

[w7cma]

Lets see the finished product. Good luck.

[1downfall]

Dermit...i cannot thank you enough. Well, out the door in a hurry now and we'll see what happens! ty
Definitely fill flash. Fill rarely hurts and almost always helps (when applied correctly).
Arrange the group so the shape of the group roughly resembles the shape/aspect ratio of the print you want. This may mean making them squeeze in tight, or go to a thrid row (probably not for the number of kids you got here), etc. If shooting for an 8x10, make sure to leave room on the long sides to crop for 8x10.

Your 24-104 should be fine. Start at about f/8 if you shoot near the 104mm end of the lens.... f/5.6 if at the 24mm end... but check after shooting and adjust as needed. If shutter us too slow kick up the ISO.

For adjusting fill flash, start without compensation, shoot, look, adjust up or down as needed.

If you get something dark, like the shade side of foilage/trees directly behind the group and light it well with flash you can get some good contrast... especially if you can get some of the setting sun light to hit the backs of everyone's head.

[Dermit]

Make sure you post your results when you get back... even if it does not work as expected because then we can try and figure out what went wrong. And if it does work, share what you did, settings, etc. so we can all learn.

[1downfall]

well. hmmm. harder than I thought. Kids were cold, 3 were late. So we shot a couple and they turned out great. 15 minutes of losing more sun time and the 3 show up. All of the kids were restless.
I am not a portrait shooter. I can pick the photos apart after i shoot it. here are 2 results that are not too bad.
I tried and tried to photo merge the kid on the left with closed eyes.......no luck.
and being tired and not good at elements 6 yet, the second one may just have to do, for a free pic.

1.I like the positions better on this one......but the one kid closed his eyes. Then some of them, including my assistant coach, far left, moved. I am on the right.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s174/1downfall/THISISBESTONE.jpg
Looks like my white balance is off. Posturing was not a huge concern so please don't pick! I only had 10 minutes or so to actually settle everyone and sit the late kids in before i had a shutter speed of 1/13 sec at iso 800. Not the best for portraits.







2. This one is better because all eyes are open. This is the one I am trying take the far left kid's face and merge into the photo above. Frustrating for a beginner.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s174/1downfall/USETHISFACE.jpg

[Dermit]

Not bad! I think they will be more than happy with this one. You should be happy with it as well.

[1downfall]

Not bad! I think they will be more than happy with this one. You should be happy with it as well.
Ty....I must say, the parents tonight were very gracious and accepting. I know I can do better with a little more time and practice. They actually game quite a few compliments. I added the team name/season/year at the bottom.
ty for the advice prior to!

[AdrianeCale]

I'll be honest, I think the first one you posted, the one with the kid with the closed eyes, has better expressions from the rest of the team than the second one. You may be better off changing the closed eye kid in that first one. In the second one, the little guy in the back row on the right next to the other coach looks like he's seen a ghost, and the kid in the bottom row 2nd from the right looks like he's about to fall over.

Next time you have a set up like this, have them put their hands in front of them, they all look like amputees. I know you're not supposed to use your hands in soccer, but it might be helpful to show they actually have arms. I think it just looks that way because of the short sleeves.

I'm not trying to be picky, I'm just giving advice for the next time this comes up.

[1downfall]

i understand what you are saying! If i could fins a way to merge or change the one kids eyes, i would. I, as I said, am still learning Elements 6. Ty for your feedback!

I'll be honest, I think the first one you posted, the one with the kid with the closed eyes, has better expressions from the rest of the team than the second one. You may be better off changing the closed eye kid in that first one. In the second one, the little guy in the back row on the right next to the other coach looks like he's seen a ghost, and the kid in the bottom row 2nd from the right looks like he's about to fall over.

Next time you have a set up like this, have them put their hands in front of them, they all look like amputees. I know you're not supposed to use your hands in soccer, but it might be helpful to show they actually have arms. I think it just looks that way because of the short sleeves.

I'm not trying to be picky, I'm just giving advice for the next time this comes up.

[dmmiller]

You did a great job :) The shots look great.

[Dermit]

Another thing i would have tried is to stagger the kids. I typically don't like aligning them with one right behind the other. I might have even brought one of the kids from the back row to the front, then staggered the two rows giving more room for the coaches to fit into the back row. But overall I think you dod a great job. I didn't think you would post back the results (gald you did) and the results you did post back are much better than what I was expecting.