> consider myself very good with soldering but have never attempted SMT.
Then you'll have no problem with SMTs once you get a bit of practice.

> What equipment is required to start out?
I'd say: (cause that's what I use)
two hands
a soldering iron
a reasonably clean tip (doesn't need to be small)
flux
63/37 flux-core solder
probably a magnifying glass/lamp combo, best is a binocular microscope.
If you only do some 0603, you won't need those lenses except maybe a few
times to really see what's happenning. But if you want to do any kind 
of SMD ICs (TSSOP, PQFP, TQPF, whateverQFP) that have a lead pitch < 0.05"
you Will need an optical device.
> What techniques and skill does one need?
You should read the doc suggested by Jinx, and read anything you can
find on-line. I don't know about books, but you might check out some
App-notes from manufacturers. I don't have any in mind right now, but
you might check out TI, NationalSemi, Fairchild Semi, maybe (?) Panasonic
(the Panasonic/ECG division which makes discretes).

Best of all, of course, is to practice.

Good Luck,
Christian

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist