Advice with High Key?

[antyfullus]

Here are a couple of pics I took last week of a friends daughter. I just got some lighting (cool burning continuous) I do like the color when I get it right. I should tell you this so very new for me.

I could use any advice you could share. I'm using a rebel 350d xt with a sigma 70-300, or I'm trying out the Tamron 18-200. Could use advice on lenses too. Very small budget.

I have tried correcting the pictures of the pink dress in CS2 but can't seem to get it right.

Phyllis

[TRM]

the little shot with the ball looks correct. here's your other photo. i did four things in CS2, Removed a dust spot in the upper right, Auto Levels, 1 pass of Noise Reduction and a slight change to color balance to pull some of the magenta out of the white background.

Auto Levels having the biggest effect.

http://marsavius.net/fotografia/images/gratis_pp/Phyllis_Gina-in-Pink_TRM.jpg

[gonzophoto]

First thing is pull your subject away from the back. 6ft if you can.

[gonzophoto]

This is literally 8 seconds in photoshop. No real color correction, just levels and shadow highlights.

http://i13.tinypic.com/2q33jhz.jpg

[Rumrunner]

It's very important to try to avoid your shots from underexposing. It's very likely the white background is tricking the metering in your camera. Try dialing in some +EV to overcome this issue.

Here is some good reading http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml

Hope this helps

[Kristy]

I'm guessing this is the look you were trying to achieve? Can you tell us a lttle bit about your lighting set up... position of lights and how many you were using.. also camera settings.. shutter & aperature.

Then we can help you to reposition things to get the look you are striving for.. :)

Cute shots anyway.. :)

[antyfullus]

Exactly! I'll try and get a picture of the set up and the camera settings later this morning. Thanks Kristy!!!!

Phyllis

[tracybaugh]

The shot looks a bit underexposed to me. Once you get the exposure right on your subject, you can easily adjust the white in PS by adding a screen layer. Here's my play.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/TracyBaugh/Gina20in20Pink.jpg

I'm just starting to learn high key. It is definitely a challenge. Keep on trying. You'll get it right.

[portraitsbytracy]

How do you add a screen layer to make the background so much whiter/brighter? I'm trying to do the same thing to some photos that came out looking like I used a gray background instead of white.

[tracybaugh]

How do you add a screen layer to make the background so much whiter/brighter? I'm trying to do the same thing to some photos that came out looking like I used a gray background instead of white.

Add the screen layer, do a layer mask, adjust the opacity of the screen layer to get the background color the way you like, then use a soft brush to erase back your subject. ;)

[portraitsbytracy]

I'll have to try that...being a novice at PS, I'm not sure what you mean by using a soft brush to erase back the subject?