No group placement relative to light.
Best light modifier for group shots.
45 degrees to window aperture.
A 5diii or d800 has no problem handling this.
For our family shot the sun had just set behind the mountain in front of us which left us with nice open shade and indirect light as we faced the setting sun.
But for a really big group i just use bare speed lights and spread them out lots of them as i have several 560 iii s and i d rather just set them up and position them to light everyone.
The following 5 modifiers are very reliable easy to use and they can bring dramatic results once you master the art of controlled lighting.
Indoors with clean window light.
Sometimes it s also great to place the group in their context like a sports team on the field hikers in the mountains or in our case the red mountains of southern utah symbolized.
In dark churches this may push your iso to 3 200 plus.
When i m using large modifiers for group i like to reflect off the modifier not shoot through shoot through has a hotter spot typically.
Bring your ambient light up to 1 stop under exposed.