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Family Christmas photo-help wanted
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Dec 10, 2019 20:11:50   #
National Park
 
My mother in law has suddenly asked me to take a family photo on Christmas Eve. She wants 15 people in the photo to be arranged in three rows--5 sitting on the floor, five sitting in chairs, and behind them 5 standing up. The photo will be taken in front of a Christmas Tree in a relatively small room. I am an amateur: will be using my Nikon D5300 and will probably need to use my Nikon 10-20 wide angle zoom in order to get everyone in the photo. The light will probably be pretty bad. I will be shooting in RAW.I don't have a flash other than the one that is part of the camera. The camera will be on a tripod and the shutter will be tripped with a remote control. Since some will be seated on the floor and others standing up, should I mount the camera a little above belly height? What D5300 camera settings would you recommend that I use to take the photo? Should focus be on someone sitting in a chair? Any UHH suggestions would be most appreciated.

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Dec 10, 2019 20:43:28   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
On a Nikon D5300, your wide angle 10-20mm will give a FOV of 15-30mm on the crop sensor. That lens has good reviews. Even though it has a lot of plastic materials. I'm looking forward to owning that lens. That lens should cut the mustard. Your only concern is lighting. Since you don't own a flash. And the 10-20mm lens you own, is not a particularly fast lens, for low light photography. Others can give better advice to you. Good luck.

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Dec 10, 2019 21:02:37   #
JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco
 
The best thing to do it see if you can rent or borrow a flash you can bounce off the ceiling. You will need to stop your lens down enough to get all three rows in focus, and the available light probably won't be enough to do that. Also, the camera position should be as far back as possible with your lens since with a wide angle the people in front will appear proportionally larger than those in back. I would get the camera position as high as possible with your tripod so you aren't looking up at the people standing, and more of the Christmas tree will show.

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Dec 10, 2019 21:21:13   #
National Park
 
JohnSwanda wrote:
The best thing to do it see if you can rent or borrow a flash you can bounce off the ceiling. You will need to stop your lens down enough to get all three rows in focus, and the available light probably won't be enough to do that. Also, the camera position should be as far back as possible with your lens since with a wide angle the people in front will appear proportionally larger than those in back. I would get the camera position as high as possible with your tripod so you aren't looking up at the people standing, and more of the Christmas tree will show.
The best thing to do it see if you can rent or bor... (show quote)


Thanks for your suggestions-very helpful. Maybe it’s time to buy a flash...

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Dec 10, 2019 21:24:39   #
tvhasben Loc: Chattanooga, Tennessee
 
I think now is the time to spend a little cash and buy a flash. It doesn't have to be Nikon, nor does it have to be expensive, It should, however, be compatible with Nikon's TTL metering. After you get the flash, practice the setup to get the exposure right. Try bouncing the light off the ceiling or use a reflector taped to the flash head. Here's a trick I have used more than once - blow up a medium size white balloon and use it to diffuse the flash. Before shooting, Take command of the situation. Tell everyone you are going to take several shots and to stay put until you say it's all done. Tell them to stop chatting and look at the camera. Make sure you get everyone's eyes open in the shot: after the lash fires, ask if everyone has spots in their eyes. If they don't, eyes were closed. Now for the REAL advice - make damn sure you get a good shot or you will be on MIL's S**tlist for a long time.

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Dec 10, 2019 21:34:59   #
Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA
 
You do not have to spend a lot of money on a flash. I use a Godox TT520II and is available from Amazon for $40.00. It works fine for my uses. You could probably have it in a couple of days. My advice is to use it right away to get familiar with setting the intensity and whether to use the pull out reflector for a given situation. I would definitely get in the room and do some test shots before the actual shoot. It does come with remote if you want to use the flash off camera.

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Dec 10, 2019 21:35:30   #
Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA
 
You do not have to spend a lot of money on a flash. I use a Godox TT520II and is available from Amazon for $40.00. It works fine for my uses. You could probably have it in a couple of days. My advice is to use it right away to get familiar with setting the intensity and whether to use the pull out reflector for a given situation. I would definitely get in the room and do some test shots before the actual shoot. It does come with remote if you want to use the flash off camera.

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Dec 10, 2019 22:47:17   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
National Park wrote:
Thanks for your suggestions-very helpful. Maybe it’s time to buy a flash...


You can get a third party flash unit. I own a Yongnuo #685 for Nikon. But Godox Brand is now the #1 popular third party flash unit. Overtaking Yongnuo. If you want a full size flash unit, the Godox TT685N is the one you need. It sells new for $110 at B&H Photo.

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Dec 10, 2019 22:52:40   #
National Park
 
Dave327 wrote:
You do not have to spend a lot of money on a flash. I use a Godox TT520II and is available from Amazon for $40.00. It works fine for my uses. You could probably have it in a couple of days. My advice is to use it right away to get familiar with setting the intensity and whether to use the pull out reflector for a given situation. I would definitely get in the room and do some test shots before the actual shoot. It does come with remote if you want to use the flash off camera.

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Dec 10, 2019 22:52:49   #
National Park
 
Thank you!

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Dec 11, 2019 00:57:42   #
sloscheider Loc: Minnesota
 
National Park wrote:
Thanks for your suggestions-very helpful. Maybe it’s time to buy a flash...

That was going to be my suggestion - a good reason to get a flash that will bounce off the ceiling :) SB-500 or 700? I've got an SB-700 and love it

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Dec 11, 2019 06:07:06   #
Jimmy T Loc: Virginia
 
National Park wrote:
My mother in law has suddenly asked me to take a family photo on Christmas Eve. She wants 15 people in the photo to be arranged in three rows--5 sitting on the floor, five sitting in chairs, and behind them 5 standing up. The photo will be taken in front of a Christmas Tree in a relatively small room. I am an amateur: will be using my Nikon D5300 and will probably need to use my Nikon 10-20 wide angle zoom in order to get everyone in the photo. The light will probably be pretty bad. I will be shooting in RAW.I don't have a flash other than the one that is part of the camera. The camera will be on a tripod and the shutter will be tripped with a remote control. Since some will be seated on the floor and others standing up, should I mount the camera a little above belly height? What D5300 camera settings would you recommend that I use to take the photo? Should focus be on someone sitting in a chair? Any UHH suggestions would be most appreciated.
My mother in law has suddenly asked me to take a f... (show quote)


In addition to the recommended flashes, etc. add 2-3 lamps without shades (and harps) close to the group, but not in the pic, aimed at the ceiling. It's not pretty, but you need LIGHT! Correct color in post.
https://smile.amazon.com/Philips-Dimmable-800-Lumen-2700-2200-Kelvin-Equivalent/dp/B014392FQK/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=par+light+bulb&qid=1576061886&sr=8-9
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

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Dec 11, 2019 06:12:44   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
National Park wrote:
My mother in law has suddenly asked me to take a family photo on Christmas Eve. She wants 15 people in the photo to be arranged in three rows--5 sitting on the floor, five sitting in chairs, and behind them 5 standing up. The photo will be taken in front of a Christmas Tree in a relatively small room. I am an amateur: will be using my Nikon D5300 and will probably need to use my Nikon 10-20 wide angle zoom in order to get everyone in the photo. The light will probably be pretty bad. I will be shooting in RAW.I don't have a flash other than the one that is part of the camera. The camera will be on a tripod and the shutter will be tripped with a remote control. Since some will be seated on the floor and others standing up, should I mount the camera a little above belly height? What D5300 camera settings would you recommend that I use to take the photo? Should focus be on someone sitting in a chair? Any UHH suggestions would be most appreciated.
My mother in law has suddenly asked me to take a f... (show quote)


Set your flash to rear curtain and place your camera in A mode and stop down about 3 stops and make sure your shutter speed is at 1/30 sec. If your test shot is too light, maybe, shoot at 1/60 to 1/125 sed. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
OH, make sure folks are all about the same distance from your camera.

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Dec 11, 2019 06:30:57   #
Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD
 
I would go with the Godox flash first, but bounce off a nearby corner wall instead of the ceiling as long as it is neutral in color. This will deliver good light in the eyes with soft shadows. The idea of using lamps is also good but make sure they have daylight balanced bulbs. That way you can include the pop up flash and auto-everything to get balanced color and good exposure. Shoot RAW if you can.

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Dec 11, 2019 06:55:44   #
DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
 
I'm not familiar with a 5300 but you might experiment with the following:
Take a small piece of aluminium foil. Tape it to the camera so it bounces the light from the flash upward, allowing it to bounce off the ceiling.
Camera flashes are pretty low power so this might not work and I haven't tried it. But it's something you can try at home without spending any money.

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