Advice needed for shooting multiple subjects

[RMBPhotos]

I am having difficulty taking pictures of mutiple subjects and getting both subjects focused in a picture. I take children portraits, therefore I have to stay in auto focus mode. Working with one kid is noooo problem, but having two subjects in an image is my problem. My auto focus will only focus on one face leaving the other subject blurry which ruins the shot. I can move my focal point around the camera, yet it won't point on two subjects. So I'm in the dark. I'm using a Canon 30D camera and a 50mm 1.8F fixed lens. I try to shoot within 100-250ISO for best clearity. Could I have my f-stop to narrow to capture both subjects? I try to get the most blurred depth of field so the children pop in an image. ANY advice would be great!!!

Thank you

[Scatterbrain]

I'm no expert on photographing groups as I also tend to shoot children on their own. I have read, however, that it's best to stick with f8+ where you have more than one person for the best chance of getting both sets of eyes in focus. I guess it depends what effect you're going for, but it seems as good a place to start as any.

I'll be doing my first family group shoot in a couple of weeks so I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread.

Scatterbrain

[Jim Poor]

If you are posing the subjects, you need to put them on a plane the same distance from the sensor.

If you have a them at different distances, then you need be in the f8 and higher range depending on how far apart (in terms of distance from sensor to subject) they are, what your focal length is, and what your total distance to subject is.

If you want to be able to use smaller apertures, but maintain a pleasing background bokeh, then you need to position your subjects farther away from the background.