Of course I like using dim lights and candle lights. I think I can say that 100% of the providers I have worked with have preferred working with low lights. Not only is it romantic but it's more flattering. A big majority of clients prefer it as well. Once in a while someone wants more lights and if someone wants a video I have LED lights in the garage that I can bring in for a professional level of lighting.
That being said, I always take a good look (and smell) of a penis before I do my thing. I've noticed that not all men take the time to really take a look at me in good light.
Even though we all need to take responsibility for our own safety in the hobby, I do feel that it is especially the responsibility of the provider to be familiar with the different STDs, what the signs and symptoms are, how to avoid them and how to treat them if someone is exposed.
These statistics might have changes, but a few years ago 1 out of 4 ladies and one out of 8 guys had herpes (simplex one or two I don't know). It's suspected that more women have a contracted herpes because if you were men are willing to abstain from sex when they know they might be getting a lesion or have a lesion already.
It seems like we are all learning to speak up about what we like. We might only have one hour to get to know each other. So, in order to have the best possible session we might say, "harder, softer, faster ,slower,", etc. For the sake of our safety we should also learn to say, "let me take a look at you before we turn the lights down.