John,
If you poke around on the LAF or Cool Minis or Not websites you can find some good tutorials on how to take good photos....but since you asked...here is my breakdown.
My system is painfully simple....I place the figure on a blue to white gradient card that I have printed out on card stock...this is tapped with the white end on the desk and curves up to the wall where the blue end is taped (this eliminates and "horizon" from the picture). For light I use 3 lights total. two desk lamps...the type with bendy necks...and I put 25w compact florescent DAYLIGHT bulbs in them. These I place on either side, and slightly forward of the figure. My third lamp is another desk lamp...but it is one of the ones that has a long bulb in it...like this:
This is what the whole unit looks like
This one I hold up above my camera...a light source that is coming from the same place that the picture is taken...particularly if it is a long light source like this lamp...reduces the amount of shadows dramatically. (In fact if I'm in a hurry or taking casual WIP photos I can get away with this lamp alone)
The camera I have mounted on a tripod...I use a full size one...but if your situation demands it one of those mini tripods would be good too. here is a picture of my whole set up
If you can get a remote shutter release for your camera that would be good...otherwise use the timer function so that your hand pushing the button doesnt move your camera and blur your photo...yes...it does make a difference.
If your camera has a "Macro" setting...use it...this is usually designated with a small flower icon...it tells the camera to focus on things close to the lens...which your figure should be.
Then...snap away...remember you are using digital so rake as many pictures as you want and delete the ones you don't like. If you get some pictures you like...then the task turns to post-processing the images....that is a whole other ball of wax...and we can discuss that if you want once you get your photo setup rolling along.
Here are links to a couple of gradient cards I made if you need one
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/ ... kdrop1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/ ... kdrop2.jpg
I hope that helps...
Cheers,
Blue