I bought my first strobe, Godox AD400 not long ago so I could finally use flash outdoors. I know normally this would be for one or two people. I will be doing those but I also want to do a group photo of around 8 people. I know it can't cover all of that but maybe it could add a little to their faces or something?
Should I use a soft box? I've never used the AD400 outside. I haven't had it long and I've done a few test with it indoors. Even if it only works well on the one person shots that is fine as well. ND filter and soft box or HSS?
Also, I plan on doing maybe 85 1.4 for the single people shot or couples, 35mm or 24mm 1.4 for the group photo.
I'm not sure what aperture I should really go for. I've rarely done group shots. I am a Landscape photographer, have also done a lot of videos before but just now really getting more into portraits.
This is my family so it's not like I got to worry about much.
I'll be using the Sony A7RIV, meaning 61 megapixels, I can crop in if needed. I also have two speed lights I could use, I think it's going to be cloudy so they might do something, even outside. I could wait until the evening before the sun goes down to do it as well.
I'll also be doing family video, for that I'll be using the A7IV because it has 10 bit video, 35 1.4 for most things with my DJI Ronin S mini 3, as I prefer it over my full size one. Rode video mic should be good.
I've never recorded a family event to this level. But it's becoming more important because I have moved countries and I wasn't here last year and that affected them. Also my parents are older now and it's really important that I capture this well.
I plan on doing some test shots the day before with my wife. I have heard that using an ND filter yields better results than HSS. However, if I do wait until it gets a little darker outside I may not have to worry about that.
I will be printing some of these on high quality prints. I'm not even sure what the best F stop would be for a group shot like that even without a strobe. Also, lenes have field curve of course. I don't need it to be razor sharp but sharp enough to crop in if needed.
Should I just focus on the person in the middle?
Yes, the first thing to do is put a flash on your camera but learn how to bounce it. Don't aim your flash at your subject. Put it on ISO 100, maybe ISO 200, 1/250th of a second, whatever your flash sync speed is. You can use TTL or manual. I'd use manual since you are learning. Point the flash at the ceiling. Notice what happens. Next time point it at the wall, etc. You'll start learning how light bounces around. Then you can take it off the camera put it on a stand put a soft box over it, etc and learn how that works.
The Godox V1's are really nice. I remember when I started it seemed intimidating but it's actually fairly easy and you figure it out pretty quick.
All of my indoor shots are at ISO 100, even if it's just of a cat. You can't tell I even used a flash, (unless you're a pro photographer,) it doesn't have that flash look to it. If the ceilings are too high you might have to bounce it off something else. Or you may have to just take it off camera.
Also, when looking into these things, don't discount just getting a strobe. I know starting out most people would say, "Why would you recommend a strobe and not a flash?" Well you can use strobes outside they are more powerful and Godox has strobes that are about the same price as a flash. Like the AD200's.
Of course that is for off camera though, but you can still bounce it, just got to put it on a stand. I have the AD400. For flash's I use two Godox V1's. All three of these devices also have modeling lamps. Sometimes you can just use that at night time. Especially on the AD400.
Basically, you learn your ambient light and your flash light. For example, if you want a complete black background and want to shoot an object, you can set an object on a table, make sure its not close to wall, stop down the aperture a good bit, maybe f/11, maybe more. And you'll have nothing but the light of the flash and you'll have a black background.
It's mostly about bouncing it around. Until you get it off camera and have soft boxes and things like that, then you can point it directly at the subject.
I like to bounce off the ceiling because I always get really sharp images of my pets and family, even in an older house with dim lighting. Because I can shoot at ISO 100. Since I learned this I haven't shot over ISO 400 in years.
If you buy flash's, I'd go ahead and buy two, because once you go off camera you'll probably find yourself wanting another one very soon. Although you can do A LOT with one flash.
I always shoot in full manual except when I bounce, I just let it be in ETTL mode and if it's not bright enough I turn the flash exposure comp up.