I could really use some advice and really really hoping I can get some here. I have a group shot of 23 people coming up and weather permitting, we'll be shooting outdoors. And if not, well indoors of course. I'll be using a 580EX and 420EX off camera with the ST-E2 (waiting for poppers to be offered to those of us who didn't have enough posts for the first shot at 'em!). I have omnibounces for both. I can use direct flash of course, but would I be better off using umbrellas, and if so, for a group that large should I use silver, or will I be ok with white?

I really appreciate any help and input!

Are you afraid it will be dark out? What about natural light? If you don't feel comfortable with them, I would use white umbrellas. Shoot through would make it softer. Forgive this Nikon user, but is the ST-E2 an infrared device? If so, have you used them in bright out door light before? If not I would suggest a test as soon as possible.

Oh and shoot a lot of exposures. Just think about how many images it takes to get 4 people with open eyes, looking at the camera...


Bill

23's not that big, so use your speedlights to fill eye sockets, etc. I'd not use any diffuser, but dial the flash down to just fill.

Thank you both for the suggestions, I really appreciate it!! Bill, yes, I'm using the ST-E2 to fire them and it does concern me..... I have tested them in bright light and it IS a problem... it fires the main consistently, but I have problems firing the 420 with it also... ugh. I'm hoping and praying for an overcast day!!!! I'm fine with natural light, I was just wanting to use the flash for alittle fill to avoid the dark eyes. I also plan to shoot as many exposures as I can get in! I'm on a tight time schedule unfortunately, we're also doing each individual family prior to the group shot. I have time for 10 min per family and then 20 min for a group of the 19 "grandchildren" (mostly teens and adults, one 18 mo. old) and then the entire group of 23 or so.

thank you again for your help!!