A studio need not be expensive. Even a light or two – affordable strobes – and a few reflectors and a backdrop will do it.
This is a setup I often take on the road:
- Two or three strobes with stands
- A reflector with stand
- One softbox and one umbrella
- Two pocketwizards
- A tripod
- A backdrop with stands, and a roll of grey paper.
Easier than it seems and this results in good pictures. Even, sometimes, when you use just one light and a reflector.
And instead of the light meter, consider using the histogram.