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Depending on the camera a Halo/Ring light works great for close ups. I used to have to have one for my medium format cameras back when I was doing photography full time. They are a bit expensive though. Are you going to buy a DSLR or a point and shoot? I try and take pics out side in good light and use bounce cards or mirrors to fill a photo with light. Anytime you use incandescent lighting you'll get the yellow shade they do sell bulbs at the photo shop that will give you better light. I bought cheap aluminum work lights at Home Depot they have clamps so you can mount them just about anywhere. It's about the cheapest way to light a subject otherwise you have to shell out big bucks for equipment. Also if your using a point and shoot camera you can tone down the flash like your doing by holding a piece of white paper over the flash or put a small piece of the thin white tape for bandages over the flash as a diffuser. For model photography you can make less expensive choices instead of paying a load of dough. When I went to New England School of Photography (NESOP) a lot of students didn't have much money and they were very resourceful I learned a lot about substitute items that could save you dough. Another way to get photos to look better is with photoshop. I take a lot of pics for bands and the lighting usually causes a lot of pics to favor red. I use the color balance to make the pics look more natural.

Ring Lights: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/649/Camera_Flashes_Macro_Ringlight_Flashes.html

B&H is a great source for camera equipment but a lot of the time you can go Ebay or Craigs list for stuff.

I use a Fuji S5200 it's a cross between a point and shoot and a DSLR there are some options you can use almost like a DSLR but there is no hot shoe for a flash so your stuck using the built in. All in all it's a great inexpensive camera I got on sale at Micro Center $225.00 and they tossed in a 2 gig mem card.

I plan on going with a good Cannon or Nike DSLR but the ones I want are expensive. I have been saving but I have had to dip into the camera funs a few times.

No rush for the close ups when ever you get a chance.