perfectlyGoodInk
Aperture lesson
The first few times I tried shooting events, I didn't have any posed shots. Just tried to get candids, and thus left the flash off to keep the camera inobtrusive as possible, which means using a fast lens and opening the aperture wide open. This narrows the depth of field, but when you're getting candids, you're typically focussing on just one person at a time, so it doesn't matter.
With a posed group shot with flash, you have enough light to not need a wide aperture -- and narrow depth of field is a no-no.
Live and learn.
Aperture lesson
The first few times I tried shooting events, I didn't have any posed shots. Just tried to get candids, and thus left the flash off to keep the camera inobtrusive as possible, which means using a fast lens and opening the aperture wide open. This narrows the depth of field, but when you're getting candids, you're typically focussing on just one person at a time, so it doesn't matter.
With a posed group shot with flash, you have enough light to not need a wide aperture -- and narrow depth of field is a no-no.
Live and learn.