How to Achieve a High Key Look in Photoshop

If you’re looking to get a brighter-looking, soft high-key look in your sessions, here’s how Michelle McClafferty of  Michelle McClafferty Photography achieved this look. To start, she used a white backdrop and what fabric.

She used her Nikon D610 with the 35mm 1.8 lens.  Her settings were: ISO 100, f/4.5, SS 1/100.

She did some hand-editing using levels and curves to adjust the lighting, and then used liquifying and cloning to shape the fabric and to get rid of certain objects like the foot and other distractions.

Then she used Newborn Necessities Photoshop Actions to convert to a bright black and white image and to add pop and sharpness. Here is a list of the specific actions used to accomplish this look:
Pick Me Up

• Baby Bottle
• Paint Light
• Paint Dark
• Baby Lotion,
• Sharp Eyelashes,
• BW Vinette,
• Frosted Vignette,
• Bedtime BW