Portable High-Key Setup

[mgk1966]

<p>Does anybody have a good method for shooting portraits with a high-key backdrop and portable lighting? I have a number of backdrops that I use on location with speedlights and umbrellas, but the white cloth one always gives me troubles. I have a hard time blowing it out and not contaminating the subject. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.<br>

<br />Thanks,<br />Matt</p>

[b_christopher]

<p>Allow more distance between the subject and background, if possible. If you have means to mount softboxes with grids on background lights(instead of umbrellas), it will help. Gobos/flags, strategically placed, will also reduce light spill.</p>

[awilliamsphoto]

<p>Outside of a studio space (weather permitting), I enjoy shooting high key work using only a white backdrop and natural light. I try to find good open shade, then place my backdrop and subject(s) as illustrated below. If you can place your backdrop further away from the subject, and in slightly brighter light, you will have an easier time blowing it to white (creating good separation).</p>

<p><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad220/themodernportrait/high_key_ex.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad220/themodernportrait/high_key-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

<p>If you're shooting with portable strobes or speedlights you probably want a setup similar to the one below. Obviously, the aperture values listed can change, but you probably don't want your background lights more than one-and-a-half stops brighter than your main light. If the aperture on your subject is 5.6, and your aperture on the background is 10 or 11, then you're likely to have too much light blowing back from behind.</p>

<p><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad220/themodernportrait/High_Key_strobes.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>

[mgk1966]

Awesome! Thank you both for the detailed help.

 

Matt