So what are the two different type of lighting?

Why is this important?

During my time I've have always wondered why would one person's lighting come out the way it did and why mine came out the way it did. Then I realized something; you are dealing with two types of shooters in lighting.

1. Is the aesthetics lighting. For this person showing every inch of the subject is the most important thing.

2. Is the mood lighting. For those who feel like setting a mood might be important.

So what is aesthetics lighting?  Example A Example B.

This is not the best example but I'm really not an aesthetics shooter.

For an aesthetics type shooter every bit of the subject must be lit so that the audience he's targeting can see all the nooks and crannies. This shooter normally does still life, commercial item shoots, clothing design shoots and even out door. A lot of times there is no story behind it just the harsh reality of the subject. This type of shooter by the way wants very little shadows. And uses more 3 or more light sources. 

In ex. A. I used the ambient light around us, reflection light and I also had a fill flash to expose the model. This was done like this so that we can make it look like a commercial from Forever 21.

In ex. B. I used three light sources to achieve the desired look. This was more of a product/ Items shoot. (I know, I should have added another light source but what you gonna do.)

The MOOD lighting shooter. 

Example A.

Example B.

The mood lighting shooter usually wants his lighting to tell the story, set a mood and seeing every bit of the subject is not important.

This is more me. One source of light. Two at the most. Ambient light is our lover.  In ex A, I demonstrated the desired effect by catching the ambient light coming through the bay windows in Grand Central Terminal bouncing off this woman by the information booth. This light source only lights the top of her up and darkens every other area.  It puts the mood fear and confusion in your head. Or at least my head. Ex B, One light source is used. I'm trying to hide her body parts and accentuate other part of her body.

So, why is this so important to me?

It's important to know what of type of lighting shooter you are to know where you fall into. I have experienced a time when I tried to fit myself to something I'm not in order to get a JOB and wonder why I didn't get the job or the desired effect.