Miranda, having said what I thought in some directions, looking at what you have done you do not have the edginess I find displeasing...not at all.  Your touch is more gentle and true to the image.  The first two you posted seem to have more emphasis on small detail than the later ones.  The three just above of your son are quite pleasing in lighting. The first to me is simply a different mood than the next two which seem to "feel" like they are in the same mood or in the same room of emotion while the first is darker and projects a different view altogether somewhat more distant from the person there. Oh my, hush my ramblings!.  

I am glad you are experimenting here..I will learn something and maybe draq out my two studio lights, a reflector or two and maybe add a backlight...some time when there is actually room to do that here properly.  Please keep this up and let us know your sets with the lighting, good and bad, joys and frustrations.            Go for it.      Tom.