When seeking advice on how to get started in photography, you should be able to answer three questions.
1. Am I using what I have? (if yes, go to question 2)
2. Have I reached the limits of the equipment I own? (if yes, go to question 3)
3. How will I use this new equipment?
If you cannot answer yes and describe how you will use the new camera... take a serious pause. Cameras, lenses and accessories add up quickly and it takes many professions years to build up their equipment list. Like many, I bought my first expensive camera before answering any of these questions and it took several years before I used half the equipment that I purchased.
The following list is what I use for family photos. They represent a prioritization of use, cost and practicality. All of these cameras have been used to make pictures that our family enjoys and we have great prints from all of these as well.
Bodies
Nikon 1 AW1 - (mirrorless camera for travel, underwater and dirt/sand) - 14MP camera from 2013
Nikon D80 (for teaching the girls how to use a camera and for beach days) - 10MP camera from 2009
Nikon D5 (Great in low light, but overkill weatherproofing for most people who don’t shoot sports) - 21MP “professional” camera from 2016
Nikon Z6 (What I use most of the time and also great in low light. As a bonus, the camera is mirrorless and allows for “actually silent” shooting) - 24 MP camera from 2018
Lenses
Nikon 35mm F2 - Travel, small spaces and low light photography
Nikon 50mm F1.8 - Low light, fast subjects, shallow depth of field
Nikon 135mm F2 DC - Portrait and still life
Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR - For portraits, weddings, and sports
Nikon 16-35 F4 VR - Night sky and urban landscapes