In an attempt to get this one back on topic and answer a few questions I would suggest that you have a good look around at all the options ranging from single or multiple speedlights and
light modifiers developed specifically for them through to the other extreme of massively expensive studio oriented lighting set ups.
I have seen some excellent work done by users of both, a single $70.00 Chinese speedlight through to tens of thousands of dollars worth of pro foto lights.
The requirements for studio as opposed to outside lighting may be quite extreme in power levels needed. If you want to shoot subjects on a beach against the midday sun you will need a hell of a lot more power output from your lights compared to what you need in a smallish indoor and "dark" studio.
If you start off with enough capacity in your lights and healthy sized power power packs for outside work they can of course be used in a studio environment as well. That is a good thing. Being able to get the power level down enough using the same lights in the studio to work for the sort of shadowy creative images that you describe wanting to do may be problematical depending on the type ( expensive )
light set ups you have.
You then have to examine the
massive range of
light modifiers that are employed in various styles of shots ranging from simple reflective or shoot through umbrellas to full length gridded softboxes, that is a subject of a post on its own.
Don, have a look through
Studio Works for an idea of the range of gear available, Daniel stocks a wide variety and his lights are covered under a 3 year replacement warranty. That is a good thing if you are hesitant about quality and it won't leave you without a
light for the time taken to repair it if one fails.
Yes, most of his gear is Chinese but it isn't cheap crap. We have a few items from him now, the most recent being a pair of 400 ws Visico monoblocs, they are performing very well with consistent
light and colour output and very well manufactured.