Winter season lights and summer season lights are usually very strong, with (too) much contrast, the difference between the shadows and the lights is way too big and usually causes over or under exposure, even with a digital camera which cannot cover all the exposure range.
Concerning the location, outside is preferable, especially grass, for some reason, if a car is in good condition or all “shiny”, this gives a kind of a very classy touch to the picture.
Inside, with artifificial lights, the flash is often “mandatory” unless you have a tripod, and this kills perpectives and increases the contrasts between shadows and lights.
Inside, it is much better to use a digital camera as it chooses the corresponding type of light automatically which cannot be done with a regular SLR with films unless you choose “artificial light dedicated films”.
The 3/4 position means that the picture is neither a full profile (left or right), nor a front picture, but an image in between.
For example, your avatar picture is a 3/4 portrait picture.
The same level as the object means that for example, when you take a picture of a child, if you stand with all your height, you “squeeze” the perpective not being the same size as the child is.
If you kneel, then you face your subject, being in an equal position which is way better to take good images. icon_wink.gif thumbsup.gif