Setup for shooting garmet product shots

[PhilN]

I have a project to do for a friend, who has a clothing shop, taking product shots of garments, tshirts, jeans etc. Its not going to be too hard but because there will be 1000 approx shots I need to get the setup right, and reduce post processing to a minimum.
Straight on shots are required, no models, so it’s a simple set up with garments on the floor on a white background with camera set up over it, probably using a wide lens to get the length of jeans in.
What Im trying to achieve is something like this:
http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/men/casual/2/ (http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/men/casual/2/)
or this
http://xml.riverisland.com/flash/content.php (http://xml.riverisland.com/flash/content.php)

It’s the lighting that is a puzzle. I have options but not sure which is the best way to go:

I have a 580EX11, but on its own it will be too harsh and will create shadows. So could I use it off shoe as a master, get another flash, a 430 as a slave, and maybe 400D with popup flash for fill? I don’t think the pop up flash will fire.
Im not sure if just using 580 flash unit on its own will do the job. Perhaps if I use the diffuser I have that slots over the end and bounce it off a reflector, and maybe use a sync cable so I can have it off camera.
Any tips for how to use a single flash, or two?

The other option is a studio lighting kit. The cheapest I can find because I don’t want to spend a lot is this:
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1025920 (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=1025920)
It has two light heads with a soft box and an umbrella, which would both provide the right light and eliminate shadows?

Any tips would really be appreciated.

Phil

[Wilt]

The photos at next.co.uk appear to have been photographed with a large ring light (studio flash), as evidenced by the shadow which surronnds the entire outer edge of the garment.

[sfaust]

You definitely want at least two strobes, but better would be three. I typically shoot something like this with 4 strobes. 2 are typically used as main and fill, or even double mains. The other 2 are used when needed for accent lights to bring out the texture in the materials. The main/fill or main/main, usually won't need to be moved around much. Bt the two accent lights are the key to making the image pop and bringing out the textures in the clothing. Carefully balancing the light levels from all 4 sources is critical as well.

Have you worked out styling the clothing. There are tricks to making work so it looks good as in those images. If you plan no just lying them flat on the ground, you might not be very happy with the results. It just doesn't look as nice as what you saw in the example images you showed. Hiring a stylist is well worth the effort.

Not only will you be able to shoot faster making more money in less time, with 1,000 pieces the cost of the stylist will probably pay for itself. And, you'll have much nicer images to boot. You will also be able to concentrate completely on the photography, while she/he deals with the product.

I would also shoot tethered so you have a good size image to evaluate on the monitor, rather than relying on the LCD. If you rely on the LCD, you will find images that you need to re-shoot because you missed something. With a 15" laptop monitor for example, you are less likely to miss it, and can 're-shoot' it immediately with a second touch of the shutter button being the only effort expended.

Hope that helps somewhat.