Martina -
I think the usual convention is this:
.----------------------------------- background
.
.
................Model
.....................+
.....................+
.....................+
.....................+
.....45'..........+...........45'
.....................+
.....................+
.....................+
............photographer
(Sorry for all the periods, but the system here doesn't seem to like empty spaces. Likewise, the angles look OK when I enter them, but seem to be wrong in the post - the text sizes change. Again, sorry.)
in other words, an imaginary line between the model and the photographer (actually, between the model and the camera) is taken as the central axis, and angles are specified relative to that line. The lights are USUALLY pointed at the model.
Fill, key, hairlight, background - those terms describe the purposes of the light.
I, too, recommend you pick up a reference book or two to learn the lingo - not that I really know it myself. However, a couple of afternoons reading at Borders will probably suffice. And, as others have said, you can learn a lot by carefully reading the Tips section here.
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