First Family Portrait

I'll be doing family portraits this year cause I have an "awesome camera". Haha.. As to not disappoint, can you tell me what you all would recommend me getting for equipment? The setting will be in a family room, its fairly lit up there but this will be around the xmas time so who know's what the lighting situation will be. Without breaking the bank, what would you suggest for a lens and should I get or do I need a flash?.. There will be about 18 nieces and nephews.. yes. 18.

Also, any tips/advice? Poses? Some professional insight?

Well, what equipment do you have now?

How big is the bank you don't want to break?

Tamron 28-75 f2.8 - $330
Canon 430EX - $230
Alien Bees B800 kit - $360

Is a 430EX enough for that many people?

Probably marginal but better than none. Using a good diffuser or getting a good bounce surface would help, that's for sure. Posing will also help. If they are all standing next to each other then no, it won't be enough. Grouped together it would work.

Basically I only want to buy the necessity? Is that a good answer for the bank question? I can't really set a price, but I'm also not looking to spend 500 dollars either.. From the past photos, some are sitting in chairs or on a couch, some kids on the floor and some sitters holding the younger ones in their lap. As for the diffuser and bounce surface, I need to do more research on that..

What equipment do you have?? Unless you want to spend money, you should be required to spend hundred of $ to take family pictures this holiday season because you have a good camera. Many P&S cameras can do the trick if you know what settings to put the camera in.

Unless you really want to impress someone, I wouldn't buy anything extra unless it is something you've been wanting to buy anyways. Just shoot RAW and that will be one big help and I'm sure your result will be more than acceptable for your family.