Which lenses to use?

[graphics12]

Photo Jo let's start with you giving us what equipment you will have to use, and if you will buy more equipment, and if so how much are you willing to spend. Proper advice to help you will depend on the equipment you have or can/will buy.

[Photog]

You might want to look at getting a hold of 28mm or so lens for those group shots. Unless you're in a really big auditorium. If you can, you might want to go the day before with some color print / 1 hour film and check your lighting setups and exposures. Groups can be tough because of shadows if your not careful.

[NJMurphy]

Get a 28mm lens for the group shots.<BR>
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Utilize risers or chairs, keep the groups tight, that means have them stand (and kneel and sit) close together. Also keep the group tight within your frame. A 28-135 zoom is ideal for this.<BR>
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You don't say how many in each group, but a good rule of thumb is five rows of kids with two rows of chairs. (e.g.: 10 standing on chairs, 8 or 9 standing in in front of them, 7 or 8 sitting in chairs, 6 or 7 kneeling in front of them, 5 or 6 sitting on the floor in the first row. That way you shoot 40 kids in five rows with only 19 chairs.) Fewer kids, fewer chairs, proportionatly. Always have more in the back rows than in the front. <BR>
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I shoot a lot of groups for school yearbooks, this is how I learned.

[davebcamera]

Hi Photo Jo,<BR>
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First, you may really may need more than two flash units for the group shots, unless you can talk them into smaller groups. In any event, use large umbrellas. I also recommend you get/have a flash meter--a real must have for this. With the group shots, you are going to have quite a bit of light fall off from front to back. So, you will have to meter from both the front and back of the groups.<BR>
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Second, if this is ballet, I recommend a non- reflecting black background if at all possible.<BR>
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Third, have your dance instructor do all the posing for you. Also, try to keep all the other parents away from your shooting area if at all possible. You are looking at a difficult task, and you want as little interference as possible.<BR>
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Fourth, do a trial run at home with your flashes, background, and your daughter/son/friends as a subject(s) and have the film developed prior to the actual event.<BR>
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Someone mentioned using a 28-135 zoom. This would be fine, but you must remember that zooms of this type have variable apertures and you are not going to be using TTL flash. You will have to manually compensate for the aperture.<BR>
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Good luck.