A high-key self-portraitThis dead-simple high key portrait was achieved with a 60" umbrella and a couple of reflectors.   Black and white high-key self portraitBlack and white high-key self portrait using a 60" umbrella and a couple reflectors.

This is not an elaborate tutorial - you don't need a lot to accomplish this, and this post won't talk about editing or lightroom settings. 

If you have a large umbrella with a diffuser, you can accomplish a really decent high-key head shot portrait. in this self portrait, I'm using a 60" umbrella with a diffuser and a flashpoint studio 400, which is obscured by my body and head.  In front of me to the right is the silver side of a  5 in 1 reflector on a stand, and to the left, a rectangular piece of foam core on a stand, pictured here:

You can achieve some interesting catch-light effects depending on how close or far apart you put the reflectors.  You may want to try this with symmetrical reflectors - two rectangles or v-flats I think would be ideal.

Leave a message if you've used this method, or with other ideas.

Thanks for stopping by!