High & Low key Lighting in the studio

High key lighting images are bright. They consist of light tones and whites. It also gets rid of harsh shadow.

Low key lighting images are almost pure black with some tonal qualities where the light hits the subjects creating dramatic images. Unlike high key which gets rid of harsh shadows low key lighting relies on the shadow created by the light.

Lighting equipment

• Flash head

• Snoot

• Reflective Hood

• Barn Doors

• Light Stand

• Soft Box

• Diffusive Umbrella

• Reflective Umbrella
• Reflectors
• Trigger and Receiver

• Light Meter

• Modelling Lamp

High key lighting

High key lighting set-up consists of 4 flash heads, 4 light stands but 2 is used on the white backdrop and 2 on the subject/subjects. Also needed is an of the accessory for each of the flash head (the preferred accessory is a soft box which gives shadows a blurred edge.) Then plug the receiver in to back of each flash head and the trigger on to top the camera. The camera also needs to be set up: ISO: 200 and a shutter speed of 1/60. Once the set-up is complete the light meter is the used to get the right f number on the camera, as the white sphere picks up how much light there is and the converts it in to what f number it is to produce the best picture. Then make sure every thing works like taking a picture.

Low key lighting
High key lighting set-up only needs 1 or 2 flash head and light stand depending on if you want the background to be lit up a bit. Again a soft box can be used to soften the edge of the shadows unless the image would look better if the shadows are sharp. Also a reflector can be used to bounce some light back in. the rest is the same as the high key lighting.

This piece is created by Jennifer Morrison

Health and safety

• After a few seconds the flash head heats up and becomes very hot so do not touch the bulb or flash head.
• Do not look at the light while it is flashing.
• Do not leave the wires from the light trailing as they can trip you up.