40+ person family HELP

So I was just called by a friend and he said he has his family coming in 3 weeks and that (fathers day weekend) the grea great grandfather of this small city wants a family portrait done. So thats all fine and dandy right?

Well, I got a 10x13'ft muslin back drop black or white, and I was thinling what would be the best way to shoot this, would it even be possible to shoot them all at once? if not maybe I was thinking stitching 3-4 pictures in PS and have one huge photo after wards?


HELPS IS GREATLY APPRECIATED


heres my gear

Canon Rebel XS

50mm EFS f1.8
18-55mm EFS
17-44 L ( that I will rent from my friend)

ABR800
2 45watt strobes
( if need be I will try to rent another light or 2 if its feasible.)

I will update with details as they come


I plan on charging

I forget the muslin- too small and stitching in ps too much work and another way to have errors (IMO)

Go for outdoor, if possible. You will need some chairs/ step stools or benches to acheive different heights. 40+ in one picture will be challenging so take an assistant to help, so you can be as efficient with time as possible. Scan the internet for examples of large groups it will help you come up with ideas.

do not use the ultrawides at the wide end, otherwise you will get distortion at the corners. outdoors with one AB800 for fill should do the job nicely.

Do the session out doors at a park or something, you can even do something a little more creative using picnic tables pulled in kinda close, have some people sitting (older people) maybe the kids playing on the ground in the center. You can rent one of those lift bucket thingies? not sure how much that would cost. Or bring a ladder, have an assistant.

You have a few weeks so scope out a location (outdoors definitely) and plan to shoot in the evening (not in the harsh noon sun).

thanks a lot guys.

this is a paid gig to so I really don't want to mess it up.