camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Besides illumination your other challenge is going to be depth of field. If there will be three rows of people make sure you focus on the middle row. A wide angle will help the depth of field BUT it is prone to distortions so make sure you use the center of the frame and not the corners.
Flash most probably will save the day and I agree entirely that bouncing the light is your best bet for a pleasant portrait. You have been recommended TTL but in my case I prefer manual mode testing what setting will do the job. Depending on the power of the flash you buy I would start at 1/4 power and go from there.
Good luck and Merry Christmas.

Dannj

Good idea others have proposed for the flash. I would also think about what’s going to happen with this photo. Does she want it enlarged for framing? 5 x 7s for family members?
Make sure you get cooperation from the group. You know the family so you’ll know how best to deal with them. Think about the best time to do this...before everyone gets in to the goings on of the day?
Are there kids involved? They can be a problem. Will you be in the picture? Make sure your spot is easily accessible. Etc.

Also, it’ll help if you manage your mother-in-law’s expectations.

Have fun🤪

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Just in case funds might be tight, look to see if you have bright flood lights in the garage or basement. If yes, you could mount them behind you, and point them to the ceiling. Another thought, push up the ISO on your camera. Today's DSLR do amazing jobs in ISOs that would have been unthought of years ago. Oh, since all those people are going to be moving, even when you tell them not to, take a half dozen shots or even more.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

My suggestion is to not be stingy with the number of shots you take. You may be surprised to discover that even when you tell folks to look at the camera, or you, or to hold still, and keep the eyes open...........you'll always get shots where some people either have moved or have their eyes closed. It just takes a blink.

Silverrails

If and when you buy a Flash, do your dilagent research, perfeably buy a Nikon Flash that will Sync properly with your Nikon Camera. Remember to bounce your light off the ceiling (if white), otherwise use a larger sizes Reflector disc.(sold online, eBay, Amazon, etc.) You will need an assistant to hold your Reflector, and try using it Right, left, high, low. Do not go " Cheap" on your Flash, that too can be purchased at a relatively reasonable price. Remember Quality will last longer.
But remember it is now December 11, 2019 so shipping may be affected by increased online shopping, so order soon.
Try B&H, Adorama, for a name brand Flash and quality service too.

Dannj

Great suggestion. Also, when I’ve done these family shots there is one person who wants to see all of them to check out how she looks. Try not to let this happen☹️

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

To enlarge on "tvhasben's" suggestions. I "borrowed" this from someone else and it works great! Instruct everyone to close their eyes and open them on the count of three-fire the shutter on the count of three. Since I started using that I've not had a problem with closed eyes and I take a group picture of our Bible Study class every year.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Floyd, That is genius!!!!

National Park

UHHers are the best! So many helpful suggestions. Thank you all!

National Park

UHHers are the best! So many helpful suggestions. Thank you all!

larryjphoto Loc: Phoenix

Use natural window light if available.... natural light is your friend! If not available, all the previous suggestions are good ones. Also, remember you can raise your ISO to give you better light capability.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

Google large group posing under a photography heading to see the most attractive way to pose your large group. The way you described the setting will not give a very pleasing look to a large group shot. Use chairs but have some sit in them and some sit on the arm of the chair, Pay attention to hand positions and be sure all heads are visible before you take your place in the group.

Cluster the oldest or most important family members in the centre of the grouping, usually on chairs for women and the elderly men sitting with them or standing, then build the rest around them. Little ones can be sat to one side on laps and some of the older children can be kneeling on their legs etc. rather than just sitting flat on the floor.

Have standing men with no where to put their hands, stick them in their trouser pockets to get rid of ugly hand syndrome in photos. I always do this with formal wedding groups shot on the alter, makes for a far more pleasing image, than a bunch of ugly white hands with all sorts of different finger spreads to distract the viewers eyes.

Finally, if the room size allows, do not put the group in front and covering the tree, that always looks dumb. Put them so that they cover part of the tree but the Christmas tree can still be shown partially but off to one side. Generally best to have it to the right of the image, so partially blocked by the people on the right side of the group (as you view it) but still letting some of the full tree be in view and be sure to have some gift even fake wrapped boxes showing at the base.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

godox flashes are sold under different names adorama brands it as flashpoint. If you are going to buy one I suggest one of the Li-on battery ones the battery allows the flash to recycle faster and doesn't fade. You can easily get over 500 full power flashes before needing to charge the battery. In addition it would be wise to buy a godox/flashpoint trigger so the flash can be triggered wirelessly while off camera. I know that Adorama has support and service for the flashpoint branding not sure what kind of support you can get from Amazon for the godox branding.. I heard the Li-on model normally 179 was on sale (not sure it still is), at adorama for about 120..... I own 3 flashpoint models and the pro trigger for my sony camera

photoman43

Here is what I would do. One warning, I do not have a Nikon D 5300 but use other Nikon bodies.

Using the built in flash, set flash synch to front curtain. This is done by pressing the lightning bolt on the left front of the camera, the same button pressed to open the built in flash. This means the flash will go off at the beginning of the exposure. I am assuming that ambient light is not that strong. This might be called Normal on your camera.

Set the Mode to P for Program mode. This means the camera will set the correct f stop and shutter speed. The shutter speed will likely be 1/60 sec, the default for flash. The power of the flash and ambient light present will determine the f stop.

Camera is mounted on a tripod.

Remove the lens hood from the lens as it may cast a shadow over a portion of the image.

Before the event take some test shots. If possible have one person in the test shot or use a stuffed animal the color of a person.

Look at the picture taken. If it looks too bright, set Flash exposure compensation on the camera to a minus 1.0 and retake. If till too bright, set minus 1.7. This done by pressing the lightning bolt button.

If the test pictures show that the pictures are underexposed, then you need to check out your settings.

If the test picture shows a shadow from the flash hitting the lens, you need a flash mounted to the flash shoe on the camera to raise the height of the flash. Look at your user manual to see the list of Nikon flashes compatible with the camera and get one that fits your needs. Being able to rotate the flash head for bounce flash is an added plus.

if ambient light is pretty good you could set the flash to rear curtain flash and try this too. Use Flash compensation if needed.

If you refer Aperture priority and you know how to use it with flash, you can use A mode instead of P mode.

Polock

Those 500W work lights from the HomeDepot make a lot of light cheap, for a one time deal