High Key

High-key photography refers to images that are predominantly bright, with minimal shadows and reduced contrast. This style features a light, airy aesthetic with tones that fall mostly in the upper end of the tonal range. High-key images often convey a sense of optimism, cleanliness, and simplicity. While traditionally achieved through careful lighting setups with multiple light sources to eliminate shadows, the term now also refers to the resulting bright aesthetic, regardless of how it was created. This style is popular in fashion, product, and portrait photography, where it creates a clean, minimalist look that emphasizes shapes and contours rather than dramatic shadows.