1) Thank you for taking the time to make your pics so clear. I love to look at the color palette you have used on your models and your ability to take good clear photos helps me see the detail so much better. Good job! Only thing is, I wish I could take better pics so my models would be as clear. I think after the holidays I'll experiment in getting more quality pics up in the old project log.
I have a decent mid-range digital camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3). After much experimentation, here's what I do. I use black poster board as a background (not sure if this helps or not but gives a uniform background). I use plenty of lighting (usually two desk lamps from 2 different directions). I also turn off the flash on the camera...flash=bad when it comes to mini pictures. And that's about it. I usually have to take 3-4 shots of the same pose and keep the best one. Sometimes its a struggle to get it to focus in on such small detail, but I just move the camera around a bit 'til it locks in.
2) I really like what you have done to the "gold" areas of the minis. Can you tell us how you went about doing that and what colors you used to get that "gold" look. Also, what colors did you use for the Vulture Clan Crossbowmen's gloves and capes? That looks like something I could use on some Wood Elves.
I use almost exclusively vallejo paints. I have the "suitcases" of both their Game Colors and Model colors. The green on the vulture's cloaks and gloves are an Olive Drab undercoat with Reflective Green highlighting (I rarely use more than 2 colors to provide depth). The gold metal on the swords and armor of the vultures is a base of German Cam Black Brown with a drybrush/light highlight of Old Gold. If you are talking about their shoulder pads and armor covering their chest, its 3 colors. Base of Earth, a wash of German Cam Black Brown to get in the small cracks, and some Old Gold highlights on the edges.