I am new to working this side of the camera, and must say it is MUCH harder than it looks in the movies.  I am lucky to have access to a basic studio where I can use lights, set backdrops, listen to music, and control the environment a little.  I started this project about a year ago and early shots were taken with a Nikon D300 and I now use a Canon 5D Mark III with a 20-70 Canon L series and a Canon 70-200 L series lens.  I know it's not necessarily the most Art School Purist thing to say, but nice equipment does help -- and having more pixels to work with in post is an ego save for someone who can't seem to keep backdrop creases out of a shot.