Settings for Large Group??

[JoanieA]

I am going to be taking pictures of a group of about 20. It's supposed to be sunny, but we will be in the shade of a barn in the evening. Does anyone have any suggestions for the best settings, especially aperture?? A lot of the family shots I have taken turn out less sharp than I would like and I'm wondering how to get a nice sharp image of this many people. What's the best place to meter?? I'm thinking someone's face, is that best? And where exactly should my focal point be? I'm guessing right in the middle as long as the aperture is set right. Any other suggestions would be great. I'm using a Nikon D90 with a portrait lens.

[NicoleScraps]

For a large group, I typically set my aperture like a landscape photo, around f8 maybe f11 depending on the size and depth of the group.