A friend of mine frequently makes pcbs for smd devices. His technique is to use pre-coated board (Kinsten methinks) ,print the negative using a laser printer and expose to UV. Then you etch.

My technique for soldering SMD devices is to use flux gell from a syringe. The flux gell forces the solder to stick to the pins. firstly, locate the smd device (we're assuming ics here) on the pcb, tag the corner pins and adjust if necessary. Apply flux gell around the pins then using the soldering iron, wipe the solder ball across the pins. If you get a bridge, try to work the solder with the iron or get some solderwick (soderwick!) to clean it up. With a little practice you can solder the high density parts quickly. Patience and a magnifying glass are essential. The flux gell is the secret! Clean up with flux cleaner and it will look like it was done professionally.