large family portraits - show me

i am doing a family shoot next week, the group is larger than the typical nuclear family but not unmanageable. i'm looking for new ideas to incorporate so please share away any interesting shots you have done or seen.

the shoot is two adults their kids and the their significant others and one is bringing their child.

Rely on the basics and you should please them with your work: nailed exposure, even illumination across the faces, no shadowed eyes (use fill light), no blinks, all looking at the camera, pleasantly arranged in a relaxed manner.

Mike, you didn't indicate approximately how many individuals - this will determine part of the grouping/tiers perhaps, as well as FL and/or lens selection.

im still waiting on a confirmation of the actual number.

its a man and his wife (age 50's), their kids and their significant others (age 20-30's), im still waiting to hear if they plan to their kids. the individual groups will be easy enough, i'm looking for ideas for the whole group.

i plan to use my 28 for the group and wide shots and jump to the 85 for smaller pairings, i may leave the 135L in the bag unless i want some really tight portraits with solid separation. i'm thinking the 85 will do well enough there though.

i do have a large reflector but it may not be large enough for the group. so i may bring my umbrellas along.