I know what you mean about lighting, Jano. I've had a chance to use some studio lighting in the photo class I'm taking, and it makes an incredible difference in portraits. Sometimes you can get by on the cheap with relatively inexpensive shop lights from Home Depot or Lowes plus a reflector. Not as good as the real thing, but it might be worth a try, esp. if you want light with some direction to add drama.
--Mary Anne