What kind of camera is best for taking pictures of people?

I have a Nikon d5100 but I'm thinking about upgrading cameras… Or should I just buy a new better lens? Because i'm only currently using the kit lens…

^ Those are the kind of pictures I wanna take.

Any suggestions?

Added (1). @Taylor, price range doesn't really matter to me, just the quality.

Keep the D5100 - it's a great camera. A price range would be helpful… Check out the 50mm 1.8 AF-S and 55-200 VR.

The Nikon d5100 is a very solid camera. I would spend your money on a good lens (or three!).

For portraits, you want a lens that is a little longer then average. 50mm is a good starting point for 3/4 portraits. Shorter then this and you have to get right in you subject's face and start getting the bulging fish-eye distortions.

To capture photos like your examples, you will need some control over the aperture and zoom. This will let you control the depth of field and angle of view, which are different in each of those shots.

Do you have a toilet? Then take your money you are planning to spend on another camera and flush it all away. Another camera will do NOTHING to create better portraits over what you already have. You DO need a far better lens than that horrid kit lens. Spend your money on a good 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 prime lens to bring your portraits up many levels above where they are now.

Oh yes, you need to upgrade… Spend your money on a phase 1 or leaf… Those cameras will get you that kind of quality…

and if you believe that, then you really need to have someone check you out…

it isn't the camera BUT the talent behind equipment that counts.

learn to use the camera properly… Learn about how to use light…

waste your money on that rather than a new camera…

Keep your camera! Buy a 50mm 1.8 or 1.2 or something lens for it