Group portrait and Sports Lighting

Hello,

I have been taking sports team and action pictures for about a year now, mostly staying with jobs with ample lighting situations (outdoors). I am getting enough requests now for group and team pictures for indoor settings (tournaments, graduations, reunions) that I would like to take the jump to offering more indoor onsite group and individual photography. Studio portraits may be my next jump but for now I would like to take on one thing at a time until I am confortable with it so I have been using the progression of outdoor well lite jobs (confident in taking) to indoor group and individual jobs, then eventually down the line studio portraits. I have had requests for taking action photography at some indoor sports tournaments some big (500 wrestlers) some small (8-team Basketball tourneys). I have also had a lot of requests for group pictures such as reunions and class graduations pictures (indoor pictures) that I have turned down in the past, but would like to start doing. I have read numerous lighting post on here and have ordered Essential Lighting Manual for Digital and Film Photography. I am open to any other books/website that will aid in my learning. What I am wondering is there any lighting solutions out there that I could use to properly light a group of 50 and possibly also use the same flash/strobe for help aid the lighting of some of my sports actions photography at darker indoor venues? Thank You!

Current Equipment: Canon 20D, 580EX, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, 50mm, 18-55mm

Welcome to POTN

Strobes are what you need, for groups that size two strobes as the main light would probably be a good bet. Another light or two could be used as hair or background lights. One large strobe will be much better than what you have at the moment, with a tall light stand and an umbrella.

Have a look at this thread for specific recommendations, for you an Alien Bee AB1600 might be a good choice, or two AB800s + maybe extras. Having matched lights (ie all the same power) is a good idea.

Thanks Tim,

I have read about every post on here relating to group portrait. Kind of seems like a lot of people avoid them because of the challenges with DOF, Lighting, etc... I will be doing a bunch of baseball team pics coming up so the post with samples of that and how to fill in the shadows under their ball caps helps to know. But those indoor group shoots seem quite challenging.

I should maybe post this under the sports forum, but does anyone setup strobes lights or multiple flashes at some of their gyms or sports events and use remote flash. What do you use? Are their big Advantages/Disadvantag​es to using or not using those vs. no flash at all or a camera mounted flash (which some competition won't even allow). A lot of big time venues have strobes set up all over. I am still playing with the different modes, speeds, focus setting for sports like basketball, volleyball and wrestling. Most of my best shots without flash seem to come from using the shutter priority (Tv) 320-400 3.2-4.5 I also have challenges with the AF modes and points when subjects are moving fast, but getting better with practice.

Have a good weekend!

large group portraits presents lighting challenges, for one with a single flash you will only expose the center of the group. you can try those small battery powered strobes mounted on a light stand and set at least four feet apart. but be careful of casting shadows from those in front to those in the back. try using a flash above the group to eliminate some shadows and how you position the group can also help you

Strobes, done right, make for great group photos. You get great detail, great DOF, and hopefully nice lighting too