Start Up Studio- Portraits & Product photography

[TinySpark]

I want to buy some studio equipment to start me up, I've been asked to do a product photography shoot for a company, and I would love to be able to shoot portraits too.

Here's what I have at the minute- my Sony A100, Jessops 360 Flashgun and a studio back drop I bought off ebay last week.
I have also ordered a reflector from Ebay but it probably won't arrive for a few weeks (from China) and I need to shoot the products next week

So can you advise what I should invest in for my home studio? I haven't got the biggest budget, I'd only be looking to spend around £200. (exclusing another flash.)

I know I need:
some sort of flash triggering sytem to use the flash off camera
stand for flash
new tripod (my current one is quite small and not too sturdy)

Do I also need the likes of an umbrella, to diffuse the flash light? or what about these On-Camera Diffusers, are they worth buying?
Also I haven't got a stand for my backdrop, can you buy them separately somewhere?

If anyone knows anything about product photography and what I'll need too I'll appreciate it very much!
EDIT- products are of computer servers, hardrives etc..

If you are selling any of these items yourself please feel free to PM me!

 

[Garry Edwards]

You don't say what kind of product photography you want to do, just about every different kind of product photography requires different equipment and different techniques.

Maybe you're thinking that all you need is a light tent, and you can produce results with them, but then so can your client, without the need to pay you.

More info, and a realistic budget, is needed before anyone here can help you...

 

[TinySpark]

Thanks for the advice Garry, the products are of computer hard-drives and things, added that in there. So they won't fit into a light tent.
Well I didn't think the things I needed would really exceed £200 since I have already bought the backdrop, reflector and this price does include a extra flashgun, but i could be wrong! But if it's worth spending a bit more on better equipment then I'll consider it an investment!

 

[Garry Edwards]

I think your starting point should be knowledge rather than equipment, once you have the knowledge you'll understand the equipment issues better.

A good starting point will be to buy a copy of Light: Science & Magic (3rd) edition, or a copy of my own Still Life Lighting Tutorial, or a copy of my Still Life Lighting video (which includes a copy of the tutorial)

On the subject of equipment though, this is probably the minimum possible, just to get started with very simple shots.

 

[TinySpark]

Instead of constant lighting (which is considerably more expensive) can't I use a couple of flashguns?

 

[AliB]

Garry's link was to a flash system but studio flash rather than flash guns.

Have you got the right light modifiers for the flashguns?

Flashguns generally don't have the amount of control that studio flash has, they don't go down to the required power levels and the colour temp can also be a bit hit and miss.