Perhaps it's just me, but I've always gravitated toward darker, moodier portraiture. It's not that I didn't or don't like high-key, bright portraits, it's just I prefer a bit of a grittier aesthetic. I have found that when it comes to high-key portraiture, it's quite common that the results feel sterile, but they don't need to.
One of the best examples of the high-key look having more substance to it is a winter-themed shoot, and it's one of the few high-key looks that I have executed. I found that using a silver reflector under the subject can mimic the effect of snow on the ground, even if you live in England and seldom see it! In all honesty, I'm surprised how the simplicity of this shoot by Adorama yielded such excellent results; I'm quite sure if I tried to set up some white sheets as a backdrop, it would look like somebody trying to escape laundry.
What are your favorite types of high-key shots to take? When do you find high-key to be the most effective aesthetic?
