Shooting high key

What do I do to take a high key photograph?

As I understand it so far I need:

Good overall lighting not strong directional lighting
Avoid deep shadows
Exposure - that's a bit I definitely don't get. Do I basically over expose but then the whites will blow out which I don't want. I want a delicate touch.

I have found techniques in PS that will assist in creating a high key effect but I suspect that's not the same as shooting high key.

All advice welcomed!

Mike

Taking a portrait, light skinned model, blond hair, white background, nice overall lighting without deep shadows, and you have high key.

The exposure still has to be correct, so aim for exposure compensation maybe of +1 (experiment for best effect) and keep just a tinge of detail in the highlights.

In terms of the Zone System I'd aim for Zone VIII for the lightest tones, but on digital you would not usually need the +3 stops exposure compensation that it implies.

Thanks John it's for a still life but the same rules apply no doubt.

So it's basically down to getting the lighting and key elements of the subject right rather than any complex and fancy techniques?

Mike

Yes, high key really refers to the lighting style, Lots of light tones and not many dark ones.

The opposite, low key, brings to mind male portraits deep with shadows and with black backgrounds.

Portraits are just an easy example though, and for still life you could have a light, airy subect that's lit accordingly that would be just as much high key.

to get a high key (eg white) background looking good without causing lensflare you need to have it about 2 stops brighter than your subject.

To shoot white subjects (eg white clothes) you want the light to be directional and not coming from the front.

skin can be slightly over exposed, but should be able to recover detial from RAW file in post.

one simple set-up might entail:
white seamless paper background.
two lights with umbrellas (softboxes better) aimed hit background....
two large reflectors (eg styrofoam sheets or white painted bifold doors) on either side of subject.
gobos where needed to control flare.

exposure set to over expose subjects skin a half stop.

another method, is to place subject in shadow, with large bright (sky) background, use reflectors on subject expose to slightly over expose skin (1/2 stop or less overexposure on skin)