Thanks Wayne. Now for the best camera settings when taking a group picture inside. Up until now, My hobby has been kids sports and landscapes. i am very unsettled when this inside photos, especially, since this is of my 50 year classmates from high school. Only get this one chance--no pressure there!
I will be using a tripod with a hand remote, Nikon 18-140 3.5 ED VR lens. Shooting in RAW at Aperture priority and auto focus. Any suggestions.
No pressure, but yes, it certainly is a difficult assignment.
Esp a group of 60 people, and only one flash. You can't watch them all, so some of the people will have their heads hidden at the instant, or will be blinking or something. You said remote, so I assume you're in the group, not even watching anyway. So make sure they all understand they are to do their part, thinking about having their faces in the clear, in view of the camera, looking at the camera, and to not blink at the instant. Maybe don't tell them the exact instant though, some will choose to blink exactly then, so shoot slightly before the instant. Or slightly after. And certainly repeat a few times, multiple shots, varying this slightly, hoping one works out.
You will have multiple rows of people, which means some are blocked. Bleacher type steps to elevate the rear rows is good, but not commonly availanble. Camera as high as possible on the tripod, to see into the rear rows better (sometimes a step ladder is used). If there is any kind of stairs or upper balcony, consider it to elevate the camera.
And a stopped down aperture (like f/11 if your flash power allows) helps with depth of field to the rear rows. If you have like four rows, maybe focus on the second row (which will mean single point focus, not the dynamic "camera just find something" tries.)
Any practice you could get in first can only help. The actual photo is not the best time to first see any of this. You don't need 60 people, maybe only a couple (like one at first row center and one at last row end), but estimate the width and depth of the group, in similar room (height, etc).
With only one flash, I want to mention bounce flash, but not sure that's wise now, because a country club ceiling surely is high, and bounce on 12 foot ceiling with the Yongnuo would still need like f/4 at ISO 400, and 60 people will need more depth of field than f/4, etc, etc.
At least read some here:
large group photography - Google Search
Count the people in those sample groups, and compare the number to your 60.