5 Essential Tips for Black and White Portrait Photography
- When is Black and White Portrait Photography Preferred Over Color?
- Black and White Portrait Photography Should Have a Simple Composition
- Prioritize High-Quality Lighting for Black and White Portrait Photography
- Let the Subject's Emotional Expression Be the Highlight of the Portrait
- A High-Quality Print Brings It All Together for Black and White Portrait Photography
- Recommended Photography Gear
- A Step-by-Step Metal Print Guide: 5 Tips for a Beautiful Print
- Color Photography: How to Maximize the Impact of Colors in Your Photos
- Golden Hour Photography: Capturing the Magic of Natural Light
- How to Become a Photographer Without a Degree
Photo by DisobeyArt via iStock
If you are a portrait photographer looking to spice up your portfolio, have you considered experimenting with black and white portrait photography? It’s a creative form of photography that has witnessed a rapid resurgence in popularity over the last few years thanks to its unique and beautiful look.
In this article, we’ll share five essential black and white photography tips that will help improve your results. They cover topics ranging from when it’s better to shoot photos without color and the importance of composition and lighting to partnering with a company that delivers high-quality black and white prints.
Keep reading to discover how you can enhance the quality of your black and white photography in five simple steps!
Check out the video above by John Gress to learn the six secrets to black and white portrait photography.
Jamie Windsor for more composition tips that will help you take better photos.
Table of Contents
When is Black and White Portrait Photography Preferred Over Color?
Photo by Sauce Reques via iStock
People usually choose black and white portrait photography over color portraits for one of three reasons. The first is that they want to create a specific old-school look. Black and white photography was the industry standard for over 100 years before the first color film was invented, and shooting in black and white is a great way to channel the spirit of the past.
Another time people prefer black and white portraits over those with color is when they want to highlight or accentuate certain features. Black and white images have greater contrast, making them more visually appealing to viewers in some circumstances.
Lastly, photographers use black and white portrait photography to “fix” photos that don’t look like they wanted. Anyone with photo editing software (like Adobe Lightroom) can easily transform their photos from color to black and white in a second with the push of a button. We recommend playing around with this if you’ve never done it before. The results can shock you!
Black and White Portrait Photography Should Have a Simple Composition
Photo by Georgeijevic via iStock
Black and white portrait photography is well-regarded because of its simplicity, so try not to overcomplicate the composition of your pictures. In short, the simpler your composition is, the better. There are three things to focus on regarding black and white photography composition: negative space, tonal contrast, and texture.
Negative space is excellent for drawing attention to and highlighting your subjects when used correctly. Moreover, you can manipulate tonal contrast by changing the background and clothes of your models. Textures of skin, backgrounds, and clothes can also greatly affect how you decide to compose your frames.
Learn More:
Prioritize High-Quality Lighting for Black and White Portrait Photography
Photo by sruilk via iStock
Like all photography, nothing is more important than light in black and white portrait photography. That’s why prioritizing high-quality light is critical when shooting black and white pictures. That won’t change whether you are working with natural or artificial light sources.
One thing you really want to master is how to control shadows. Depending on how you use them, they can either be your best friend or your biggest enemy. Front lighting is ideal for eliminating shadows (especially on the face), while backlighting can create stunning silhouettes in your portraits.
Let the Subject's Emotional Expression Be the Highlight of the Portrait
Photo by Gerville via iStock
Without the instant attraction of bold and vibrant colors in black and white portrait photography, you must rely on something else to grab people’s attention—enter emotional expressions! Facial expressions make all the difference in black and white photography and can help turn a bland photo into an award-winning masterpiece.
This rings true in both group and individual portraits. That said, it’s even more important in individual portraits since they are the sole focus of the picture. One crucial tip is to always try and capture natural, genuine emotions. The audience can usually tell if they are forced, which lessens a photo's visual impact.
A High-Quality Print Brings It All Together for Black and White Portrait Photography
Black and white portrait photography looks OK on screens, but we recommend printing your images to make them truly shine. Paper, canvas, and acrylic are all solid mediums for black and white photos, but in our experience, they look best when printed on metal. That’s because metal prints naturally add definition and contrast to images.
Where can you buy a high-quality metal print? We have ordered them from many different printers over the years, and our favorite place is unquestionably Shiny Prints. Not only is the quality of their products amazing, but their prices are super affordable, too!
What makes them stand out compared to other printing companies is that Shiny Prints only makes metal prints. This specialization allows them to invest 100% of their time and money into delivering the best metal prints on the market. Additionally, they offer outdoor metal prints and allow you to customize your print's surface, mount, and shape/size.
Recommended Photography Gear
Disclaimer: A quick heads-up: If you snag something through our affiliate links or check out our sponsored content, we might earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But fear not, we're all about recommending stuff we're truly stoked about!
