Playing with Studio Lighting

I love natural lighting and being outdoors, so it was inevitable that when I started experimenting with photography, I gravitated more towards natural lighting.  However, I feel as an artist that I shouldn't be too comfortable with a specific style or technique, and that trying out new methods is a must in my creative journey. In my small but quaint art studio, I designated a modest area for a photography space where I could experiment with studio lighting and portraits.  I didn't purchase any fancy lighting equipment, just a simple soft box in combination with some natural lighting from my window.  I still have lots more to learn about studio lighting but find it fun and challenging to experiment with.  The examples below are from a recent photo shoot of my not-so-camera-shy daughter.  These images are from the same photoshoot, so continue reading to find out some tips I learned during this shoot to achieve the different light tones.  

In the above image, titled, "Messy Hair," I placed the softbox opposite of the window, and noticed how beautifully striking the artificial and natural light surrounded my subject.

For the image above, titled, "Gotcha," I placed the softbox next to the window and had my subject pose below it in order to get a darker image. I really like the contrast and value from this approach.  I was happy to have captured her just as she turned her head to look at me.

After post production editing, I'm eager to continue to explore studio lighting with different subjects.  Maybe my next efforts will be food photography.  Stay tune and Happy Clickin'!