High key Family Portrait Inspiration

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Archive 2009 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

JohnBrose
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p.2 #1 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

High Key is any picture where the subject is darker than the background/surrounding. Low Key is the opposite where the subject is lighter than the surrounding/background. It doesn't have to be all white/all black. People should be more helpfull and less critical.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:14 AM

pawlowski6132
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p.2 #2 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

??

This wasn't very helpful.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:15 AM

gilead
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p.2 #3 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

Whew! Now I know why I'm afraid to ask any questions on here. Like standing in front of a firing squad.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:32 AM

Pfiltz
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p.2 #4 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

gilead wrote:
Whew! Now I know why I'm afraid to ask any questions on here. Like standing in front of a firing squad.

Really? Hmmm?

I just learned a 'definition' or an 'opinion' of High Key....

Learn sump'n everyday.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:52 AM

Steve Wylie
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p.2 #5 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

To bring this back to the OP's actual question, you can try this:

http://www.naphoto.com/ClaysGroups.html

Clay Blackmore is a great portrait photographer.

Nov 20, 2009 at 04:46 AM

j.curtis
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p.2 #6 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

JohnBrose wrote:
High Key is any picture where the subject is darker than the background/surrounding. Low Key is the opposite where the subject is lighter than the surrounding/background. It doesn't have to be all white/all black. People should be more helpfull and less critical.

People shouldn't make statements of fact when they are indeed not fact.

Pfiltz wrote:

I just learned a 'definition' or an 'opinion' of High Key....

You learned an opinion of what High Key is.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:16 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.2 #7 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

FWIW, here's my idea of what a Highkey portrait is.

Look at #18 & #19.

BTW, some NSFW fotos here.

Nov 20, 2009 at 03:03 PM

dmacmillan
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p.2 #8 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

Marcus,

I wish you much success.

If you've rented a church hall, it sounds like you'll have plenty of room. Are you going to use white seamless paper? If so, roll it out so you can get as much room as possible between your subjects and the background. This will give you more control.

If possible, make some clothing recommendations to your families. I prefer lighter clothing with subtle colors for high key. Since the families have young children, be all set and ready to go. If you get ten minutes of attention span, consider yourself lucky.

You didn't mention props or posing stools or chairs. If these are relaxed, informal portraits, get everyone down on the floor. I think closeness and interaction trumps "correct" posing. I don't have any samples available, but you should be able to find plenty by searching.

Most of all, have fun and make it fun for your families!

Nov 20, 2009 at 04:36 PM

SJMD
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p.2 #9 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

Steve Wylie wrote:
To bring this back to the OP's actual question, you can try this:

http://www.naphoto.com/ClaysGroups.html

Clay Blackmore is a great portrait photographer.

Way to stay on subject

I learned from the link.

As for the Hi Key battle - start you own thread

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:52 PM

rhyder
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p.2 #10 · High key Family Portrait Inspiration

From Photographica
"When you hear "That is a High Key or That is a Low Key print" it would help to know what they are talking about.
When they say "High Key" what they mean is that the print is prodominantly with light tones. When they say "Low Key" they mean that the picture has prodominantly dark tones.

If you are trying to make a "High Key" or a "Low Key" print you have to have the correct background and subject. If you are taking a picture of a white dog and you would like to make a High Key print you would use some type of light background. You would not use a black background. The same thing if you would like to take a picture of a dark brown dog and you would like to make a Low Key Print, you would use some type of dark background. You would not use a black background as the black or dark brown dog would not show.

For a High Key effect your light must be full and soft. Fill lights on the shadows should be as strong as the key light. Backgrounds must have their own lights otherwise they will be too dark. For a Low Key effect do the opposite."

Nov 21, 2009 at 04:22 AM

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