One of the most useful link I use in many of my projects is without a doubt the 3 point lighting technique. 3 point lighting is a very simple and effective lighting technique that will light your subject without too much contrast and will separate it from the background. To achieve this, you'll basically need 3 lights, the "key" light, the "fill" light and the "back" light. The "key" light is the main source of light and will cast a shadow when pointed to your subject. It could be a lighting fixture or a natural source like the sun. The "fill" light will fill the shadows created by the "key" light and finally the "back" light will make your subject pop out from the background. The 3 point lighting is your starting point. Every situation is different so start from what you have and get creative!