Comments on: White Background Colourful Kids – Ideas for High Key Studio Photography

By: Steve Smith

Steve Smith — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:24 +0000

Thanks so much for your tips, i gave the whole write up a thorough looking over and had my first ever studio sitting today. Following your guidelines made me feel very comfortable and in control whilst maintaining the important fun factor!

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:02:13 +0000

trying to upload an image….bear with me.

EF 70-200MM

By: jonathan

jonathan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:11:55 +0000

Thanks Jerry
I get it now.
cheers

By: Gerry Coe

Gerry Coe — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:15:42 +0000

Last attempt, photo hopefully now attached.

By: Gerry Coe

Gerry Coe — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:01:29 +0000

My photo did not load, will try again."

By: Gerry Coe

Gerry Coe — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:46:54 +0000

Johnathon, This is not the sort of subject that can be called “High Key” and lightening the child will not help.
My advice would be, No shoes or socks, a plain light coloured or white PLAIN t shirt and possibly lighter trousers. and then you could lighten the the subjects tones a bit. See my attached photo.

By: jonathan

jonathan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:45:33 +0000

Would you call the attached photo high key or is the child`s skin tones not blown enough?"

By: irene jones

irene jones — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:28:03 +0000

Not a bad bit of advice. I love the ball idea, what fun that must have been to shoot. I recently wrote a blog post on my website along the same lines it has tips for both parents and photographers about how to make a session go smoothly. Check it out :
http://irenejonesphoto365.blogspot.com

By: Sime

Sime — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:23:11 +0000

Simon, Don’t follow…?

Sime

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:03:49 +0000

@Josh. I know you’ve been told before DON’T shoot a wedding without a back up camera. “Can’t afford it” is not a valid excuse, put your price up enough to cover the cost and RENT IT. I pay between $80 and $150 to rent a Nikon D3 for a day or weekend. Shooting a one-time event with a single camera is irresponsible, and unfair to yourself, your bride, and the profession as a whole. (sorry for being off topic

@Mattias, @Sime, you are certainly correct that many people use technical or semi-technical terms in a variety of confusing ways these days, and it doesn’t help newcomers when this happens. However, I’m slightly surprised at your dogmatic attitude to the term “high key”. It’s pretty much standard to use that term to describe “generally bright” images. In particular I note two references. FIrst, in “Photography” London, et al. (Pearson/Prentice Hall) which is generally accepted as the “standard” text in the U.S. at least, the term High Key does not occur in the glossary nor in the index, and I’m darned if I can find it in the body of the text. Second, In “Lighting Techniques for High Key Portrait Photography”, Norman Phillips (Amherst Media), the author defines high key as follows:

“High Key is the term used to describe photographs with white or bright backgrounds, and usually with bright lighting situations that render subjects in a light tone similar to that of the background.”

On that basis, I think you’ve expressed personal opinion, rather than some almost-universally accepted judgment.

$0.02,
Simon