High Key Lighting Technique | Swade Studios | Kansas City Newborn Photographer

I have been asked quite a bit about how I achieve my high key lighting. Well I am finally getting around to posting some info! There is more than 1 way to achieve this look, this is just how I personally do it and have been doing it since I started my business 4 1/2 years ago. When I first started my business the high key lighting look was in. I was working all on location so I decided to invest in a Lastolite HiLite. I used it for a short while and then it was put away for a couple years. I pulled it back out last summer to start playing with it again. Now I use it a lot again in my home studio for newborn and maternity sessions. It is great and easy to use!

This is what it looks like in it’s bag –

It comes in this nice carrying/storage bag

This is what it looks like when you pull it out before unfolding it –

It folds out like a reflector, just much larger! You unfold it and use the 4 poles in each corner, then stand it up. Here it is laying down all ready to stand up. It is about 19 inches deep, 6 feet x 7 feet.

Here is the Lastolite standing up and ready to use. It stands up on it’s own, no background stand or wall needed.

You simply put your light into the side and zip it. You can use it either with the wide side down or up, so 7 foot tall or wide. My ceilings are low so unless I know I have a tall client coming in I usually use it like this, 7 foot wide and 6 feet tall. There are smaller ones available, but I like this one since I can get a full body shot of an adult with it.

Here is a close up of the light –

You can use 1 light on one side or 2 lights, one for both sides. I just use one and find it works well. Depending on the look I am going for sometimes I use a main light to light up my subject from the front, or I use it just for backlighting. I also have used it as a huge soft box for newborn sessions. It has a very soft natural look I think.

Here is the latest shot I did for a newborn session. I used 1 light in the Lastolite and one main light to light up the baby from the front. My main light is also an Einstein with a Westcott softbox. Lighting settings depend on what look you are going for and your subjects. You just have to play around to see what works.

Here are a few maternity session photos –

Here is an example of using it as a soft box with a newborn –

Hope this is helpful!! It is a great tool to have if you have a smaller space to work in or want to travel with it. Here is the link again below for the lastolite. The price has dropped a lot since I bought it, good for you, not so much for me, lol.

Lastolite HiLite

Thanks!

Sarah Swade