I am wanting to buy some lighting to take some family pictures of my family and the in-laws families. The groups would be anywhere from 2 people up to 16 people. It is very, very cold here during the winter, so outdoor shots are not an option. I've used Alien Bees before and I really liked them. I would like to do this as cheaply as possible, but still have it look nice. Suggestions on which Alien Bees, which stands, light modifiers, etc? I'll be shooting with a 30D fwiw. I appreciate the advice in advance.

Check out Chuck Gardner's site for lots of info on how to do this well and at reasonable expense

http://super.nova.org/DPR/

<Chas>

How about 2 Alien Bee AB800 flash units, 2 umbrellas, and 2 heavy duty stands. The AB stands are decent, but I prefer Photoflex umbrellas and softboxes.