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?