The key light is most often placed in front of your subject, at an angle, and thus illuminates one section of your subject. Whether or not the scene utilizes low-key, medium-key, or high-key lighting is based on the use of fill lights or reflectors to expose a subject’s shadow side or side not exposed by the key light.

Where should key lights be placed?

The most common vertical position for the key light is at a 30-degree angle, slightly above the eye line, but cinematographers place the key light higher or lower to produce different effects. Natural or ambient light is normally overhead, so when positioned low, the key light appears to distort the actor’s features.

When would you use a key light?

The key light is the first and usually most important light that a photographer, cinematographer, lighting cameraman, or other scene composer will use in a lighting setup. The purpose of the key light is to highlight the form and dimension of the subject.