HELP!!!

i am really looking to improve my photos and i just love how some people can get the eyes in their photos to stand out and are sooo sparkly. i read one suggestion about having the person on the edge of the shade and facing a bright area. are their any other suggestions. also what lens is the best for portaits and what settings would you put your camera on if its a sunny day compared to an overcast one. i am really just starting to branch out and take pics of people other then my own kids and would love some pointers. as of yet i don't have an external flashes. my camera is a 400D rebel xti. thanks!

I'm a rookie myself so I don't know how much my advice is worth but I like my 50mm 1.8... Try the reflector trick where you get a gold reflector and have someone bounce the sun into the person's face a bit to create that "catch light" in the persons eyes... If you don't want to spend the money on something like this you can get those dashboard visors for cars that reflect the sun out of the car, those work too.
I've also found that when the sun is low, there's more of a "sparkle" too

I would love the answer too! I try these things, and a few touches in PS, but can't seem to get it right....I'm with you.

This seems like a stupid suggestion, but it helps. Just turn the person around in a circle and look for the light in their eyes. When you find the place where you can really see the light reflected in their eyes, that's generally going to be the direction you want them looking when you shoot. Also, getting them to tip their chin up toward you a bit helps to get the sky reflected in their eyes.