I picked out a really nice and very heavy tripod too.

I had some umbrellas about the same size..little bit bigger i had used fairly often. I know softboxes have a little more directional control, like feathering the light. Also, I think that it will just LOOK BETTER to others than an umbrella. I mean more pro looking carrying it around.

I plan to use it mainly for 1-2 people only...head and shoulder shots and no more than that. Any more people, and i'll switch to bounce or something else.

Can i hear other's experiences with a softbox, which size do you use? I also just bought a couple of 36" brolly umbrellas about 2 weeks ago and am trying to send it back for refund. I just find that the flash unit rides to much OFF CENTER of the thing. I also think it's too shallow of an area to bounce inside before exiting.

Has it ever struck you as somewhat odd, that in the US (soon all over the world), there seems to be no upper limit for what is deemed to be a suitable focal lenght for portraits? A 200mm+ lens certainly will give you enough background blur, but also hefty compression of the perspective of the face itself (flattening not flattering). I`m new to the forum, maybe this has been discussed before and let me tell you I`m Not in the business of telling others how to frame their pictures! Any comments?

OK.... I'm starting to find them.

Found them all.... Now I can't see the frog.

I like Mandrake's of center composition. 

1. Find a nice location. Maybe there is a locations which is connected to your family somehow.

2. Wardrobe. You can discuss with them beforehand, what everybody is going to wear.
I am not a huge fun of everybody wearing black t-shirt and jeans like they just come out of the incubator, but try to choose something which looks good together and fits the locations you choose.

3. If you are photographing outside, avoid the direct sun into their eye, otherwise you’ll have a shot full of squinting faces. Find the shade. Overcast is also good. It will give you even defused light. Light is also better in the morning and before sunset, rather then in the middle of the day.

4. If it is a group photo, visualize beforehand how you are going to arrange them. It all depends on the size of the group. Think about relationships between family member. Also you want to keep them as much on the same plane as possible, since people who are further from the camera will look smaller when the once which are closer. It may be necessary to have the older members of the family seated, so place them at the centre of the image with the family around them. Take your time arranging. Make sure you see everyone's face clearly. Introduce some interaction. Maybe partners can hold hand or which arms around each other. Kids can be on somebodies lap. Think about the hight. Taller people can be on the back for example.

5. For a group photo try to find an aperture, which gets everybody in focus, but still will keep background blurry. Once again keep them as much on the same plane as you can. Take a few test shoot with different aperture, if you are not sure. Take more shots when you need, since kids might not cooperate in every picture and somebody will close their eyes on some photos for sure.
You can also have your camera on the tripod and take a few of the same shots. If somebody messed up you can always replace the head in photoshop, lol. I will make video about it one day.

6. Try to be funny to get everybody smile naturally.

I want to do a portrait photography of my family.
Appreciate if you could guide me on this.

-- Srimaya