In case you have not figured it out Captain is actually a very talented professional photographer and I believe he also chairs the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep organization which is a highly respected organization of professional photographers that volunteer their services to parents who have lost their new born infants (I'm sure its a gut turning job, with small children at home I know I could not attempt this job).

Trying to blast him for telling a new photographer that there is more to getting professional looking image than simply taking your shiny new camera out of the box is like telling a 16 year old there is more to driving nascar than passing your learners permit test and borrowing dad's station wagon.

I'm sorry if you are offended, but think of it this way... every time some smuck gets a new camera and posts about opening business, charging people for crappy images and then asks questions about what settings to use, the professionals, like myself and Captain (who is well beyond me in knowledge and skill) are just as offended.

OK - as normsImages noted, your post indicated you wanted to to "Senior Portraits," not family stuff. HUGE difference. Here, senior portraits means high school seniors and is something that requires a level of skill well beyond that which is possessed by someone who has to ask, "...what settings."

So, to get back to your question on settings: it depends. You need to read up and study how a camera works and understand exposure. People here seem to like Bryan Peterson's book, "Understanding Exposure." The 85MM 1.4 lens is a wonderful portrait lens.