Best Cam & Lens for newbie, for portrait photography?

I was thinking on these cameras
- Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B0012YA85A/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I13SUKAJK3U8HS&colid=SC5FYNJJT4RI

or
- Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T2i-Digital-3-0-Inch-18-55mm/dp/B0035FZJHQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1SWC1LR6XR2LW&colid=SC5FYNJJT4RI

but which lens should I also buy with one of those cams?

What other equipment is the bare minimum for portrait photography, basic lighting kit right? what else?

I have the T2i and like it alot. But you’re going to need a better lens.

You can use a macro lens for portraits. For about $500 you can get the non-IS 100MM macro lens. It’s about half the price of the IS version.

As for lights, check into "The Strobist" website. There’s tons to learn about taking pics with flash. I would recomend taking pics for a year before you add flash.

One technique Art Wolfe uses is taking pics of people in doorways. That way the background is dark and they are well lit.

Those are my thoughts. Hope they help.

Julia