I'm a cardiac surgery nurse, I can prob get you photos of clots if you'd like!

Ed you are da bomb! I have a giant roll of white paper and some bright LEDs, going to start working. I'll post my practice photos. Thanks so much for your generous help. V

Holy crap!! That's a beautiful picture!

Did I miss something?

Yow! I just spent the last few hours sponging up the commercial and industrial photog section. I'm beginning to grasp the very edge of the scope of what I don't know!

Yes, I think the table-top rig sounds like a good place for me to start if you have suggestions. I have no equipment except a strong LED light source that I use to sew with. I live in central Illinois, Decatur to be exact. In your opinion, should my items be photographed with staging materials? For instance, a passport wallet shot partially open with a much-stamped passport inside, or a carry-on bag shot with high-end sunglasses slipped over the pocket? When I think of taking pictures, this is where my brain goes. I know it's much more important to take a perfectly lighted and focused picture, but I know nothing about that at this point. Thank you again.

These aren't actually ready to photograph, they aren't pressed and stuffed etc. but it's an example of the types I make. They vary from small passport sized to airplane carry-on size. The colors and textures of the leather and fabrics vary a lot too. I can see that my lighting is really poor. The backdrop is just my dining room wall. Thanks for taking the time to help me!

You guys are wonderful. Your kindness/helpfulness make me wish I was a photog. Thank you

I hope the knowledge I need from you isn't offputting. I'm not actually interested in photography as a hobby. My love is making leather goods. I live and breathe patterns and combinations to make beautiful things from leather. What I hope you will help me with is determining what camera equipment to buy to photograph my leather goods. My budget is in the $400 to $500 range. I will be listing my creations for sale, so need an easily accessible way to move photos to the computer. Photos will be taken both outdoors in natural light and indoors with possibly added light. I don't want a plain white background, but realize what I'm marketing isn't the background, so composition suggestions would also be appreciated. I need to be able to photograph close-up shots showing a roughly 6x6 inch area, as well as pictures of a grouping of about 3x3 feet. The camera would also be used to take 'real life' pictures on vacations etc. I've looked at camera listings, but am hopelessly ignorant of what to buy. Thank you in advance for your help.