Need advice for a shoot!

[A4wheelin]

Hey everyone. I have a large family portrait that I'm shooting in a couple weeks. It's going to be 7 adults and a dog. One of the adults is in a wheelchair as well. I'm hopefully (weather permitting) shooting at this really nice park in front of a pond. Plan B is going to be in their living room (I won't have the chance to see it ahead of time), but it's big I guess w/ a fireplace. How do I frame everyone while including the wheelchair without it looking awkward? I'll have to just keep it wide right and get the whole chair in? Also should I even worry about getting the dog's attention or just focus on the people? If I'm shooting indoors in their living room what should I do for light? I'll be using a 580EX flash but should I bring some lamps and such that I can use for fill? Sorry for all the questions but a shoot with this many people have me a little nervous. Thanks! :)

[Slapshotnerd]

I'd suggest 2 lights, one on each side of you (the photographer) and directed towards the crowd.

I'd put 4 people in the back, and 3 in front (2 in chairs + wheelchair). You could also put all 6 in back, and the dog and chair in front, it really depends. If it's a family portrait, you probably want to put certain people close to / next to each other (if there's husbands and wives, possibly put the wives in the chairs and the husband's behind them. If it's parents and children, group them accordingly, etc.

Getting the dog's attention would be best, but it depends on the dog and how trained he is.

As for getting the whole chair in... why wouldn't you? Do you frequently chop people off at the feet? ;)

I did a google image search for "group portrait", and got these 2 images:
http://images1.comstock.com/Imagewarehouse/RF/SITECS/NLWMCompingVersions/0080000/80500-80999/KS80997.jpg

http://www.cityofkingston.ca/img/photos/CouncilPortrait_314.jpg

2 different approaches... I think the 2nd one is less awkward, but both work well.

[A4wheelin]

Thanks alot for the response. Yeah think I'm going to buy one of those 500w worklight setups on a tripod and put a daylight bulb in it. Then use the 580EX to fill in the rest.

[Slapshotnerd]

you could rent strobes for $50 a day (or a weekend if you know how the rental schedule works ;) ).

[A4wheelin]

Yeah $50/day is kinda steep for me. Plus $50 can get me a couple of the worklight setups I was talking about. Thanks for the idea though! :tup2: