Messing Around with Studio Lighting

Ciara (B&W) (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 105mm, ISO 400, 1/25 sec at f/4.0, brolly reflected light from left and gold reflected flash light from right)

Self Portrait (B&W) (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 99mm, ISO 50, 1/8 sec at f/4.0, brolly reflected light and gold reflected flash light from left)

Ciara (Colour) (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 105mm, ISO 400, 1/25 sec at f/4.0, brolly reflected light from left and gold reflected flash light from right)

Self Portrait (Colour) (Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24-105mm lens at 99mm, ISO 50, 1/8 sec at f/4.0, brolly reflected light and gold reflected flash light from left)

I recently splashed ut on some very cheap studio lights and a backdrop frame from Ebay and thought I ought to try it out.  Due to the lack of willing models I decided to try and do some self portaiture, a big challenge.  However, I managed to persuade Ciara to sit for a few test shots as well.  The above photos are the best I managed, shown here in both black & white and colour for comparison.  When it comes to portaiture I am firmly in the B&W camp but would welcome feedback.

In Ciara's case I had a light mounted with a white brolley off to her left as you look at the photo and my camera mounted flash aiming off right to bounce off a gold reflector to provide a warmer glow from the right.  I think this worked quite well.  I also used the largest aperture and darkened down the backdrop in Lightroom since it came rather creased and despite my best efforts it remains so.  For the self portrait I had the same lighting but both from the left this time producing a shaddow and low-key effect on the right.  I tried lots fo shots but this was the only reasonable one, which will now become my profle picture on FB - I need a better model!!  Any volunteers?