A Guide to Low-Key Photography

Low key photography with and without a flash

Low key photography places a mysterious emphasis on special contours in the dark.

Everyone knows them: those beautiful, dark photos in which only the subject is lit. They create a unique atmosphere and are an absolute must-try for many photographers. But what is the ideal low key photography studio setup? Which settings do you need, and how do you shoot low key photography without a flash?

Low key photography tips

In such a beautifully mysterious image, we see only a glimpse of your subject. Low key photography delivers a minimalistic image, but the execution is anything but simple. Especially as a beginning photographer, it often takes some tweaking to get the light just right. How do you show exactly what you want to highlight? Additionally, in low key photography you don’t have a visible background. Whatever you photograph, only a small part of the object or person is lit. Do you want to light only the background instead of the object? Working with contours is also an option in low key photography.

With this type of photography, we work with a special play of shadows. It’s a bit of a strange sensation, because the most stunning low key photos are actually underexposed. That takes some getting used to, but with a bit of practice, you can do it too!

What is low key photography?

Our description above already hints at it: in low key photography, you shoot in the dark. Has that not quite worked out so far? Don’t worry! Wipe the nervous sweat off your forehead and switch off the light. You too can create noise-free photos with very little light.

Before you begin, set your camera to manual mode (M) and determine your light source. Do you have a good flash, do you prefer using lamps, or will you rely on natural outdoor light? All of that works! We’re happy to explain how.

Settings

For low key photography, you’ll first need a good DSLR camera. Always set this camera manually! That way you ensure the photo looks exactly how you want it to, and you immediately prevent noise in the dark. Read more below about the settings we recommend.

DSLR cameras

Below are a few DSLR cameras that appear in our top 10.

Studio setup

For ideal, beautiful low key photos, the studio setup requires some attention. You don’t want too much light entering the scene, but you do want the subject to remain visible. In fact, you don’t need artificial lighting or a studio at all. What you do need is control over the light. Decide how a subject will be lit, choose the right contrasts, and choose the direction of the light.

Low key photography is essentially possible anywhere, as long as the background is not illuminated. For example, place a lamp or flash at an angle to the subject, or manipulate outdoor light with cardboard or paper.

Low key photography without a flash

You may often hear that a flash is essential for low key photography. Nothing could be further from the truth! Low key photography is absolutely possible with special, natural light as well. Think of beams of light shining through a hole in the wall of a dark ruin, for example. A movable light source does make things easier, of course, but there are plenty of possibilities without a flash.

Focusing in the dark

Have you set all your settings perfectly and is the light falling on the subject just as you want it? Then one challenge remains. Focusing is no picnic with so little light. By focusing manually, you give your camera a helping hand. Use live view and zoom in to check sharpness. And if focusing really doesn’t work? Simply switching on the light first will help too.