OK Very Nervous Need You Guys Help

I am shooting team photo's today for my AAU Team We have 2 Teams. I have never done them.. the last time i shot in a gym i used these setting.. please tell me if they are ok and or what would be better for team photo's

I really need this to go well for my girls for our website and also just for us to look like we need to in this community. our site www.augladyballers.com

Please advise any assistance would be greatly apprecaited.

I shoot today at 6pm... I am using a 40d I have a 50mm 85mm 24-70mm lense in my bag and several other available.

These are the setting I have

manual
f 1.8 85mm
iso 1600 (these were action shots not photo)
no flash
1/320

Please advise on the best options for this scenario i can use flash and I have the 430ex flash available.

I have a tripod but can go buy a monopod if its better please advise.

Thnx to all of you in advance.

thnx in adv to all of you for your help. I really appercaite and value you guys and your input

Izy -

While I haven't done team photos that much, I did do an informal MEGA group shot of all the families and the kids at a baseball tournament last year. In order to get EVERYONE in focus, you need a smaller aperture to get a larger depth of field. I wouldn't set the lens at 1.8 if you want to get everyone in focus. Go for a larger aperture (I think I used 9 or something like that), but not too large, for diffraction issues.

Pat

First at 1.8 either the front or the back row or both won't be in focus. Second 6pm this time of year, shoot it outside with a low level fill flash. You should be right around great lighting time and still be able to use f4.0 for good dof for the team members and sufficiently blur the background.

its basketball btw

and while outside sounds great there is no space to do it.. when you want out the gym there is a memorial plot for the school's namesake a side walk then the street.. And the school sits on the corner.. the parking lot will have all of our cards in it and the back of the gym is the auto mechanics sept.. and track stadium is located else where.

so i will have to be in the gym to get everybody there are 13 peopel on the team

ItzBitzHair wrote in post #5529281
its basketball btw

and while outside sounds great there is no space to do it.. when you want out the gym there is a memorial plot for the school's namesake a side walk then the street.. And the school sits on the corner.. the parking lot will have all of our cards in it and the back of the gym is the auto mechanics sept.. and track stadium is located else where.

so i will have to be in the gym to get everybody there are 13 peopel on the team

Izzy -

If it is only 13 people, then I second aperture at either 4 or 6. I used 9 last summer, only because it was a huge group of people and I needed everyone to be in focus, additionally, my shot was outside, while yours will be indoors.

Pat

Well noone here can give you perfect settings that will work because we don't all shoot in that gym using your equipment so impossible to know. With the flash (yes use it) drop ISO so it doesn't have noise and shoot f/5+ at least. Usually for team shots I go f/7 - f/11 to make sure everyone is in focus. Get a clean background or you'll find yourself removing stuff from the background that you dont want.

Basketball gyms - if you shoot at mid court thats a long way behind them so the flash will create shadows and a dark background possibly (again depends on the gym and how far over ambient you go)...this was my first attempt using softboxes and went direct at them instead of above.

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i only have on camera flash that I can use at this location.. no where to plug them and i dont have those energizer plugs to use.. the one i did have broke for some reason....


what iso do you guys suggest i will put it at f6 what ss do you guys do.. .my camera is not looking good at f4 400iso 1/60 now its looking to dark

omg now i forgot everything.. i cannot get my 430 to change on the distance it says 14mm that is not far enough

I have like an hour togo

The on board flash will not work with the 24-70, always have the shadow.

Don't panic, just bump it up to +1 and see what happens. If you have a white card, use a rubberband and put it on the flash to give it even more power. I would definitely do the 24-70 at f4-f8 with the flash to get everyone in the picture, ISO 800. Play with it.

manual mode f8 iso 100 and 1/200
with the flash
use the 24mm preferrably at about 30mm
and shoot RAW

and try to stand slightly above them to reduce the shadow behind them
chimp away and adjust ISO as needed
is the flash in ettl mode ??

yes i have my flash in ettl

good luck to you- let us know how it turns out for ya

why is it stuck at 14mm then
does it have a flip down flap for wide angle lenses
I know on my Sigma flash when the flap is down it stays at 17mm

it was ok well this is it... my first team shot... i am going now
thnx for the help and advise...