Did a shoot for a dear friends Childs first birthday party, big family get together.
Kids were abominations, it was like lord of the flies. Set up a small shoot location outside under a over hang with 1 1000 watt softbox and back drop.
Told everyone at least 10 times I could shoot up to two adults and one kid. I had to manage depth of field and framing. No they INSISTED ON COMING OUT IN GROUPS 6 or 7 adults. Needless to say I kept telling them it was too many people..to wide to deep. but no.... Needless to say those pictures all suck.
I had to go inside to the party to shoot candids and the little monsters were all over equipment outside. They broke or damaged EVERY thing I left outside. Cake and food on my back drop, stands knocked over and broken or bent. Softbox and light knocked over into the dirt.
I scraped a huge chunk of skin off my shin and blew my knee out tripping over some kid. When I was falling trust me it was 5Dmk11 and 85L saved first, then the kid, then me. Next time I am just going to land on the kid...they heal faster.
NO BOOZE AT THE PARTY AT ALL........ NONE. 
I got home after the hour long drive in traffic and my little dog was so happy to see me.... I actually considered kicking it. 
Re the equipment, chalk it up to a "lesson learned" moment. I would never leave a setup like yours unattended with a bunch of kids (or even adults for that matter) running around. I'd have either had an assistant stand guard or I would have broken everything down and put it away before moving on to the candids. 


