Lighting can make or break an image.  It not only sets the mood for a photo but can show your subject in unflattering ways if you have the wrong lighting.  The first lighting trick you should know is the difference between hard light and soft light. Hard lighting uses lighting and shape to create intense shadows and a dynamic photograph.  Soft lighting can be a lot more flattering in portraits and figures since it is diffused light that does not create harsh shadows.

This image is a great example of hard light.  The intense, sharp, ridged shadows give the subject an edgier look, which is why the hard lighting was used in this photo.  Generally, if you want to flatter a person, you would use a softer light, but the hard light was used here for the artistic effect and mood it creates and to add a contrast of edginess to the soft feminine features.  You can shoot with hard lighting on very sunny days, with minimal clouds, or in a contrasting light environment, with a dark atmosphere and hard lighting used within it.

This image is an example of soft light.  In this photo, the light is very soft and diffused across the subject.  Unlike the previous photo, there are no harsh lines and shadows. This gives the subject a very flattering appearance, which is why it tends to be favored in portrait photography.  An easy way to create a diffused atmosphere is to either shoot on a cloudy day or buy a lighting diffuser.

Light can also be manipulated through objects that distort it.  This can create interesting patterns, as seen in the photo below.

In this photo, the light was shown through different color filters to create the colored lighting effect.  The blue was shining through a basket that created the unique lighting effect across the subject’s face.  

Light can be a fun way to play with shadows, shapes, colors, tones, moods, and so much more.

Sources:

https://www.creativelive.com/photography-guides/lighting-for-beginners

https://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/lighting-for-photography/