From natural light to studio strobes: portrait lighting drills

[EvelynAG]

I'm a portrait photographer who has primarily worked with natural light, but I've invested in a basic two-light strobe setup to gain more control and consistency, especially for indoor client work. I understand the classic patterns like Rembrandt and loop lighting in theory, but I'm struggling to execute them cleanly—my shadows often look harsh or misplaced, and I can't seem to get that beautiful, three-dimensional separation from the background. For photographers who transitioned from natural to studio lighting, what were the most helpful portrait lighting techniques or practice drills for mastering placement and ratio? How do you approach modifying your key light with softboxes versus umbrellas for different skin tones and face shapes, and what's your go-to starting setup for a classic, flattering headshot that you can then build upon for more creative looks?