Family Portrait - I need HELP!!!

Hi All:

I just joined this website today and going through some of the forums, have found some truly incredible information.

This week I need to take a family portrait of my girlfriend's family. I will have four subjects in my shot and wanted some "quick tips" as this will be my first shooting session.

I have a three-point lighting system I will use (cost about $250) and will be using my Rebel xTi with either my kit lens or my 10-22mm wide angle lens. I will also be shooting against a black backdrop.

Can anyone give me some general tips about what I should do or specifically, what I should avoid doing?

Thanks!

Well, with that many people, you'll probably just use a light on each side, 45 to the side and up from the camera, about 8' from your subjects. The other will probably be a hair light, although I don't know if you have the headroom to put it far enough to cover all 4 people.

Rules in group photography. Do not have any head directly above or below another head (this is called stacking.) No two heads that are side by side should be at the same level. Turn all bodies at a 45 degree angle to the camera.

Black backgrounds are boring, and without a hair light dark hair tends to blend in with it. Why not photograph them in their (or your) living room posed around a big chair or maybe on the couch?

Benji