Alumni Team-TOMORROW!! Help

[Yiskah]

Okay, guys and girls- Here's what's up: I was asked today by a friend to do some alumni shots (just poses in the gym, at half-time of a high school basketball game). He wants me (trusts me:confused:) to do this and he'll handle the costs.
I have a Canon EOS 50D- no tripod because I only have a couple of minutes! I know how to arrange the guys- basically how they land;)-, but need help on these 2 main things: 1. gymnasium light- top of the line new gymnasium and 2. How do I get good, balanced shots with African American and caucasian men? My friend has very dark skin and the lightest guy on the team is fair with red hair- Sometimes it's difficult to do this right.
I will check this throughout tomorrow... ANY tips/help is appreciated. This is my first 'real' paid shoot and I am worried, yet excited.
Yiskah

[Yiskah]

It's today/tonight guys! Help, please!!! :)

[DDCSD]

What gear do you have? Even the best HS gymnasium usually has some pretty dreadful lighting. Do you have a flash and a bracket?

Correct exposure is correct exposure, regardless of the color of the person's skin. As long as you get the exposure correct, that won't matter.

[NickJushchyshyn]

1. gymnasium light- top of the line new gymnasium and

2. How do I get good, balanced shots with African American and caucasian men? My friend has very dark skin and the lightest guy on the team is fair with red hair- Sometimes it's difficult to do this right.

The main thing to do is use strobes to light the team. At the very least a pair of speedlights, so that the gym lighting is not a factor.

If you don't have this equipment, then you're basically at the mercy of the lighting on site and you're ultimately going to be just taking the best snapshot you can. Set shutter speed to something in the 1/250 or faster range in hopes of limiting blur from camera shake, set aperture above 4 (closer to 9 if possible) to get a depth of field that covers the whole team, and then dial up your ISO to get a good exposure level.

Shoot RAW so you have more post-processing options to help resolve any white-balance and/or skin tone issues.

Good luck.

[Yiskah]

Thanks so much for your help:) I'll let you know how it goes.
Y