Need help. Nightime outdoor birthday party

Hello,

I have a 30D, Canon 430ex, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L and an omnibounce.

I would like to know what settings to shoot with to produce images similar to the ones here. I will be shooting mostly candids and posed group shots.

Any advice on camera setting, method, and equipment would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
Alexis

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Set the shutter to 1/125 and start with the aperture at f/5.6 and ISO at 800. Take a shot and look at it. If you are getting good shots with no problem then dial down the ISO to 640, 500, 400, etc. If it's not looking to good light wise then open the aperture if you can afford the shallow DOF, or kick the ISO up some more. If there is some ambient light you want to see more of then slow the shutter down a bit.

Shots like these are a lot of trial and error, so pick a starting point then dial in to get it fine tuned.

Manual mode. High ISO, slow shutter, wide aperture is your friend...

Check out https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=369787

What Pete said, use the flash to light the subjects along with a slow enough shutter speed to bring up the ambient light to fill the background.

See post #3
Tips for Xmas Ball Please

No ceiling to bounce off of? ugh........
At least stick a tent up or something. White tents are GREAT for bouncing

Thanks everyone for all your helpful advice. The party is tomorrow, I am hoping that the pics turn out well so I can post some! I am a super beginner but who knows there is a thing called beginners luck, maybe it will work with me