What equipment do I need for Portrait Photography

[macrogirl]

Hi All
I have an online jewellery store and want to enhace it with model shots, waist up.
The focus will be on jewellery (necklaces, rings, bangles, brooches and earrings).
I have a DSLR Camera (Canon 450D), macro lens, 55m lens, tripod, and I already have three kuhl lights with 5000K daylight color High CRI CFL Bulbs

I need to find out what are the essentials for an indoor photoshoot, I am trying to keep my budget to around $500 for the equipment and note that you can get this gear on ebay in bundles:

Can you please advise of what of the following I need and what type you would recommend
-backdrop and stand - white - anything in particular to look for paper versus muslin
-stobe flash - is this essential - what type - how many (see last question below too0
-umbrella lights - how many
-reflectors - how many - gold and silver?
-soft boxes - why do I need these?
-do I need more lights, what type and how many
-have I missed anything

Just one more question will a strobe light improve macro photography of products - I currently use continuous lighting. Can i get a strobe that will multifunction for macro and portrait?

Looking forward to hearing your tips and advice. Thanks!

[Rajah Sulayman]

A brief breakdown of my "studio"

I've got two lights and a white wall. That's it. In fact, in the first few shots with Jorge were mono-lit. But when I do use two lights, one sits behind the model and blows out the wall, the other sits in front at the top of a clamshell.

I use a beauty dish and a reflector, but you could sub the dish for a brolly or soft box no problem.

This head shot is one of the most recent I took in that setup. Dish+reflector clamshell and a diffused strobe right behind her to blow out the wall. Easy peasy.