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How to Build a High Key Backdrop

High key lighting in photography is where bright white light is shone on the subject, usually with a white background. High key in photography is most typically used with portraits of people or closeups of people or items. High key lighting removes most of the natural shadows expected with photrography of this nature, ensuring that a lot more of the shot is in focus and lit than usual. While expensive high key backdrops can be bought, you can build a basic one yourself.

Things You'll Need

Thick white material
Some type of structure to attach it to

Instructions

- 1
  Spread your large white material so it fills the backdrop of the image. This material can be anything as long as it is clean and white. The thicker the material, the better, as if it is too thin the light can flash through it. This needs to be white to reflect the light properly.
- 2
  Attach the material to the top of your structure. This can be almost anything that will hold the material, such as a wall, a door frame, an easel, or a self-constructed frame that can be made from light wood or PVC pipe. Attach the material with nails, glue or clamps.
- 3
  Attach the material to the bottom of your structure. Pull the material is taut across the frame. If it has fold or crease marks in it, then these will darken with shadows in the photographs.

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