Tried out my new 50mm f/1.4 on my four-year old son. Said "pose for me" and this is what I got. I know the left side is a little blown. Is it too distracting? :dunno
The blown highlights aren't too bad, it's still a nice snapshot with a good expression.
But it's not high key.
Although everyone seems to have a different definition of "high key," what it does not mean is an over exposed photo, or just a portrait with a white background. My favorite definition is "a photo where the subject's skin tones are the darkest tones in the image" (with the possible exception of dark hair). So you'd want a very light or white background, clothes, and anything else that might be in the shot, while the skin tones of the subject are either properly exposed or in some cases over exposed (but the overexposure isn't what makes it high key).
Comments
But it's not high key.
Although everyone seems to have a different definition of "high key," what it does not mean is an over exposed photo, or just a portrait with a white background. My favorite definition is "a photo where the subject's skin tones are the darkest tones in the image" (with the possible exception of dark hair). So you'd want a very light or white background, clothes, and anything else that might be in the shot, while the skin tones of the subject are either properly exposed or in some cases over exposed (but the overexposure isn't what makes it high key).
http://blog.timkphotography.com