Why I Love Black & White Family Photography
Black and white suits any discipline of photography. It can reduce the distractions in a busy landscape scene; it can evoke more profound emotions from a portrait, and it can help narrow the viewer’s focus to intricate details. I find it most effective in family photography in capturing the essence of the subjects and plainly telling the story of the moment.
It’s authentic and honest.
There’s nowhere to hide, and that gives you better pictures. You want the images to capture you and your family exactly as they are; your personalities, your interactions, your genuine expressions and natural smiles.
It stands the test of time.
Trends come and go, yet black and white remains a constant. When you look back at your family photos, you don’t want to wince when you see your fashionable-at-the-time outfit; you want to be transported back to the moment when the photo was taken, reliving the feelings and emotions of the moment. The removal of colour from an image encourages this process.
It enhances the light.
Whether it’s a backlit silhouette, a bright and sunny scene or a soft overcast sky, black and white adds natural contrast to an image without over-saturating it. Shadows appear more meaningful, and the light-source itself becomes a component of the image.
It works all year round.
Whilst the vivid autumn oranges, clear blue skies of summer, and lush greens of spring are always a sight to behold, they’re not always there. When building a collection of family photos, the consistency of black and white means that you can photograph any day, any where and still capture stunning portraits.
The collection of images below were all taken on a rainy day in late-October. We were hoping for a vibrant backdrop of autumnal hues, but the overcast weather robbed us of those colours; however it did provide us with ultra-soft light for some delicate portraits.
It helps you to focus on the small things.
Black and white can enchant a simple detail shot, perfect for little ones.
These are just some of the reasons I love black-and-white photography; I could go on all day, and I hope I’ve convinced you that it’s perfect for family photography too. If you’re interested in my family photography, then you can check out my dedicated webpage or get in touch if you want to discuss booking in for a session.
