To develop this skill, try to work backwards. Look through magazines and find pictures that you like. Take these pictures and try to to figure out how the picture was taken.
How many lights were used?
Where was the main light?
Was a fill light used?
What was the lighting ratio?
Why is this composition so appealing?
What backdrop or background did they use, and why did they use it?
Did they purposely use a small or large depth of field?
What was the position of the camera in relationship to the subject?
Was the exposure of the background different than that of the subject?
