If you are interested in CG lighting, build a solid foundation in traditional media, photography or film. This will help you understand lighting, colour and composition in a practical way. Learn to apply these skills in a computer graphics medium and always work towards a stand-out showreel.

Try to work on collaborative projects to get a feel for working in a team and being open to the exchange of suggestions and critique. This is something you will be doing daily at a VFX studio.