Amazon has some great home studio essential packs I guess for lack of a better word - There are lighting packs that include lights, umbrellas etc they are a couple of hundred dollars and there are a few brands (ebay may have them even cheaper)
Reflector packs which are also important to have eg gold will add warmth, white and silver will bounce more light back up to faces
A good tripod that reaches a height you can work at comfortably
This is a very simple article recommending what and why you need certain equipment
http://www.cnet.com.au/digitalcamera...0062280,00.htm