What is a high-key portrait? Does it have to have a pure white background? Do the shadows need to be washed out? Can you keep a splash of color or must it have muted tones? The answer to all of the above is the same… It’s up to you.
High key like its opposite style (low key) isn’t a set of rules and as photographer Gavin Hoey explains, there’s more than one way to achieve the look. But as a general guide, a high portrait will have a mostly light range of tones though out.
Starting with the classic pure white background, Gavin shows you why getting it right is a two (or more) light setup. He then goes on to add some very simple styling in the form of white fabric over his model. That one prop helps to push the image even further toward the high key look with a light but detailed portrait.
Next Gavin switches to a more challenging style of high key, one where he keeps detail in the highlights and opens up the shadows. Once again it’s a surprisingly simple two-light set-up that does the trick and as Gavin shows, it minimizes the need for Lightroom or Photoshop post-processing.
Your First High Key Portrait Session
0:00 Intro
1:03 Preparing for high key portraits
1:43 White background looks grey
2:35 Lighting a pure white background
5:08 Pure white background photo session
6:30 Lighting an almost white background
7:24 Open up shadows with a fill light
8:47 High key near white portrait session
10:03 Conclusions and Subscribe
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Manfrotto 5×6′ Collapsible Reversible Background, Black/White
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Flashpoint 10’ C-Stand and Grip Arm
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Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket
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Sekonic L-308 Flash Meter
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#beginnerphotography #portraitphotography #adorama
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Follow Gavin on
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Model: Chloe Kerley
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