Beginner

[Light Artisan]

Here's what I would do, save up a little more and get something like the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 HSM Macro, it's pretty fast glass and great for portraits and closeups.

Otherwise the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 would be an incredible starting point for portraits. I don't like the 35mm for portrait work, you're far too close to the person which generally makes them uncomfortable.

 

[sobolik]

Thank you everyone for your help,

Would it make any sense for me to get her a 50mm 1.8 and a 18-55 3.5-5.6 AFS DX VR. Will this suffice her learning for now? Or would it make more sense to get her a 70-300 4-5.6 with one of these two? Are the 18-55 and 50mm not that much different?

First a warning:
I have 30 years of SLR's behind me. I get very tired of the habitual repeating that "fast glass" is the way to go. My opinion that all the advisers think since fast is usually expensive then it must be good.

What does "fast glass" i.e. 1.8 etc get you?
1) Mostly it gets you and opportunity to shoot in very dim light and frustrated rather than shooting in acceptable light.
2) Lousy depth of field but maybe good Bokeh.
3) Less money to invest in other gear.

To beginners beware of the fast glass habitual recommendations.

That out of the way let me continue.

"Are the 18-55 and 50mm not that much different?"
Huge difference. Always choose a zoom over a non zoom unless you must have the non zoom prime for a reason. The versatility difference is enormous.

"Or would it make more sense to get her a 70-300 4-5.6 with one of these two?"
I have my 70-300 and It is for sale on eBay right now. I bought it for my kid to take to Costa Rica and compliment my 18-105. Before they left I came to my senses and bought the 18-200 instead. I no longer need either the 18-105 or the 70-300.
70 on a digital is like a is 105 on film and that focal length is not very versatile for wide angle views of life thus requiring switching lenses. The switching of lenses gets old very fast. Long short, long short. Beginners getting annoyed is probably not a good plan for continued enjoyment. So no that is a bad plan for a beginner to have 2 lenses as you suggest. The worst combination is the 50mm and the 70-300. Some might be able to tolerate the 18-55 and the 70-300 but not me. Over 200mm indroduces extra difficulties.
I suggest that you get the best deal used zoom 18-? lens to learn with. The 18-105 is a very good GP lens. I'm sure that I could not tolerate the 18-55 for very long.

 

[Light Artisan]

Fast glass isn't just for poor lighting and bokeh, I appreciate fast glass for 'less than perfect' lighting when I need faster shutter speeds for moving subjects like my kids in sports and birds in flight for example. The lighting isn't necessarily dark and there's nothing I can do to add light in these situations other than bump the ISO and accept grainy photos, so faster glass than f/3.5 of worse, f/5.6 on the long end is definitely usable and a good recommendation in my opinion.

Really depends on the usage.

 

[brendanstl]

I just picked up a used 55-200 on ebay and I think it may have been a good choice, we will have to see. On the other hand I would like to get her another lens to use as well and I'm not sure what to get her, just wish I understood this whole lens thing a bit more than just reading about them for the past week.

 

[rpm]

How about a combination of the 50 1.8 and 18-105, or the 50 1.8 and the 55-200 with VR?

id go with the former option, gives her a great prime (best way to learn about apertures and DoF imo) and a rounded walk-about lens...the 55-200 is a great option too though however i dont know whether she'd need the wideness offered by the 18-105. but i guess a little foot work isnt really all that bad...

 

[brendanstl]

I think since I have already gotten her the 55-200 I will get her the 50 1.8 next and then lastly pick up the 18-105 with hopes that these will last her a year or so of learning photography or hopefully a few years.