Welcome to the site, and good luck. $500-$1000 budget for the camera, a good lens, the proper lighting/backdrops... could be tight. Especially if you consider that a backup might be necessary for if/when the main equipment goes down. Then, unless there's an experienced photographer on site already, there will be the cost of education, editing software, post processing skills, etc.
Here's what you get when you're hiring the professional:
Hopefully, EXPERIENCE - to the point that you'll get what you're asking for in minimal time because the photographer has spent a lot of time refining his craft so that he's ready for any lighting condition, etc. PLUS the experience to create the lighting he needs to get the look you want. There's usually a lot of education regarding the "basics" that was involved in getting to this level, too.
TIME - it's not just the time he's on location doing the shoot. It's the correspondence, prep, travel, importing, sorting, post-processing (editing) that's all going into the creation of the product you're after.
CREATIVITY - Ok, let's just call it "the eye". Photography is much more than put it over there, point the camera, snap the pic. Sometimes the look of the shot, making it appeal to the casual customer walking by, is the difference maker for successful sales, and that all comes from someone who knows how to get the "look" in a shot. Even the artistically inclined have to practice/develop their skills to get this down.
GEAR - pro-level DSLR's run anywhere from $1100 to (guessing without looking) $7k? Then, the average "PRO" level lens is up over $1000.00 as well. Granted, a 35mm prime (or 50, or 85) can run much less, but even then, they're in the hundreds. Then there's the lighting to eliminate shadows, the stands and umbrellas etc. to get the right quality of light and the right angles, the backdrops to hide the clutter... you get the picture (no pun intended). Then you get redundancy. If a career photographer wants to keep his business flowing, and be able to ALWAYS deliver, he has to have back up equipment for when his main equipment fails. Then there's the editing software itself, and a reference back to TIME and EXPERIENCE for the skills to edit both quickly and amazingly to produce the quality of shots necessary to continue earning money.
I AM NOT trying to discourage you, but want ya to be aware that, for the quality of even the pics you posted above, it's gonna take more than just a camera. If you're gonna dive into the whole shebang, it may eventually cost your company less to utilize an employee with the proper equipment and skill set, but it's gonna take a bit to get that employee set up with that equipment and skill set.
WHY do I mention all of this? Because I used to be one of those "if I could just afford a good camera, I'll be a PRO!" kinda folks. It didn't take me long to discover that there was so much more involved.
Again, I wish ya luck! You've found a great place full of wonderful people, advice, shots and discussions!
