There are three basic, essential steps for setting up studio photography lighting properly. You will always be certain that you are on the right path to getting a successful shot after you have mastered this simple approach. The most basic of these setups includes the main lights, a fill light and the background light.
We will begin our setup with the main light, which will usually be a floodlight. Depending on the effect you are looking for will depend on this light's final location. Try starting with an angle of around 45 degrees to the side of your subject and slightly higher. Placement of this light will establish the basic lighting mood for your photo. You can then try moving the light around until you are satisfied with the results.
The next light we will deal with is the fill light. The main light will cast deep shadows so it is necessary to open these dark areas to reveal some detail. Shadows appear darker in a photograph than they do in real life which is the reason for using this light. Your subject will appear more natural and not as harsh. You will want to experiment with the location and intensity of your fill light. You can achieve dramatically different looks.
Finally, a background light may be considered depending on the circumstances. The background light is aimed at the area behind your subject. This light helps to add separation between the subject and the area behind them. Background lighting can produce radically different effects depending on the fixture, location and intensity. You can try changing all of the variables to see which works the best.
Are these three lights needed every time you shoot? Chances are that they probably won't be necessary every time but it gives you a mental checklist you can use. Depending the final image desired, by experimenting and understanding how each of these lights affects the scene, you can come up with the package the is best suited to your meet those requirements.