What are some tips for shooting black and white photography in a commercial context?

If B&W images fit the detailed brief from your client then they will be perfect for your client. Don’t get caught up in the creativity side of B&W images if they have nothing to do with your clients end vision for the photographs in the first place.

The most important thing to know about black and white photography — it’s BLACK AND WHITE. No colors are involved. So, you can’t emphasize your composition with vibrant red, calming blue or joyful yellow — black and white, first of all, is about geometry. If it’s something new for you, I suggest to turn your camera to the black and white preview mode. This way you’ll see the approximate result right after pressing the button. Of course, later you have to use proper black and white conversion and this is completely different subject, but first — check the geometry.

My thoughts on shooting black & white for a commercial purpose would be dependent on the subject, needs, and purpose of the shoot. If it’s for a product shot, consider the item and its best view with the most flattering connection to the light source. Then be sure to understand your clients brand, aesthetics and delivery. If we are hired for our own ‘style’ a review of images might be a great start. Best lesson: Listen and take it from there.

Make sure the subject will look better in black and white than color. Subjects with interesting patterns, textures and contrast lend themselves to black and white. However, if color is a key element of the design, black and white may not serve it well. If you are shooting digital, it is still best to shoot in color and change it to black and white in post production. You can truly enhance black and white by "dodging and burning" areas. Expertise in photoshop is helpful to enhance your images. If you are using natural light, select a time when the light is more contrasty than flat. Shoot for the highlight areas. You can always lighten a darker area, but if you have not recorded enough data you cannot put detail in an area that is too light.

Imagine the negative space filled with text. Frame the subject to create the flow for the eye to move naturally across the finished image.

Something I've found useful is: Choose a suitable subject, such as portraits, architecture, fashion, or products. Set your camera to landscape or portrait mode. Utilize natural or artificial lighting to create distinctive and detailed images. Pay attention to small details and use macro lenses for close-up shots. Adjust contrast and white balance to achieve a natural and balanced look. Shoot in RAW format to maximize post-processing capabilities. Enhance the image using editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom for optimal black-and-white conversion, detail enhancement, and corrections.

To ace black and white pics: play with light and shadows, look for interesting shapes, and keep it simple. Shadows add mystery, and early morning or late afternoon light gives a timeless vibe. Adjust brightness in your camera settings and shoot in RAW for flexibility. Details matter - focus on small stuff. Don't clutter your shot; simplicity is key. Use computer tools to fine-tune later. Black and white photos tell stories through simplicity, shadows, and striking details.

As a photographer, graphic designer, or in general a person who wants to communicate visualy, it is all about contrast. There are 7 different types of contrasts. For a balanced composition with a clear focus you want to balance every contrast inbetween overwhelming and boring the viewer. Keep some things simple for the eye to make other areas stand out more. Talking about b/w you cut some things as colour or temperature contrast out of the equasion. So make sure to make the best out of the ones still given. Two could be texture and brightness. As a beginner I would always start with one. Set yourself a goal for your shoot. (Today it is all about brightness, next time i will fokus on textures, etc). After that you can combine.

Research your shoot planning. Environments, time of day, models, clothing, etc. There is a huge swing when shooting B&W elements. Many great photos will still be post processed. Even before photoshop, Ansel Adams would place 12-25 dodge & burn notes on his photos.

Select subjects and settings that translate well into black and white. Look for strong contrasts, interesting textures, and compelling compositions that will stand out without color.

It is really pretty simple…shoot color and post process. If that doesn’t float your boat, then shoot film…nothing beats actual film for black and white.

I always make fine tuned adjustments to my camera and always in manual mode. I never use the metering in my camera for the purpose of setting exposure, but instead rely on my handheld meter to check my lighting. Additionally, when shooting for black and white output, I employ my knowledge of the zone system and use my handheld meter to read the luminosity of the set or scene, as I have done for years while shooting film. I only use filters for shooting film, which I develop in my personal darkroom.

Let's pretend you don't have a camera yet and have an infinite budget to buy one. Let's start from the top: 1. Get a Leica M11 Monochrom. It shoots only B&W and does exceptionally well thanks to the sensor dedicated only to light, no color. Check Alan Schaller's work, for example. 2. Get any other digital camera. Since you don't care about color, sometimes worse is better :) Turn some B&W preview mode to see the result right away. Or shoot in color and then convert to the B&W using Nik Software?–?Analog Efex Pro or Silver Efex Pro. 3. Shoot on film. Kodak TriX 400 is the best B&W film, IMO. It's on a market since 1957, Henry Cartier-Bresson has used this film. It helps you to see how the film conversion works.

This is tricky as there are a lot of variable depending on the camera. As an art director, you will want to communicate with your photographer on what you want and let them decide how to technically achieve it. You don't want to over process the imagery - you should get the best spectrum of bw 'detail'. There is something called a grey card, which should be used to accurately collect the best range of grays for the image as subject matter is photographed.

Set your camera to shoot in black and white mode or capture images in color and convert them to black and white during post-processing. Pay attention to exposure, contrast, and sharpness to achieve the desired effect.

Every image will need post production, but the effort needs to go into making the images look like a balanced cohesive set. Start with consistency, then look at the detail of the images to enhance them.

For better and faster B&W conversion I love using Nik Software?–?Analog Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro. It helps to tweak all necessary settings easily and quickly, save certain presets, and get quite impressive results. It is also able to imitate different kinds of film, although I would recommend trying a real film to understand how the B&W conversion works in analog photography.

Very rarely will photo need no re-touching. Assume your approach and plan on what photo decision can be made on location and what will happen in image editing. For example: Shoot an image without a subject or object for easier layering in editing. Make a diagram of the shoot scene. Camera position, angle, time of day, sun and shadow angles. Note photo grain if any. Consider a 'chrome ball' if any 3D additions to photography may be added.

When presenting BW in the color world, remember a lot of judgement will be based on color or lack of it. Remind your audience WHY and WHAT the goals of BW use were - While you were planning, shooting and editing, your client/team has been busy and may have forgotten the goals of BW imagery for their project. Attempt to control the focus as much as possible. Typically, I will add a large black (or white) border to enhance the focus of the photo. If the image will be printed in BW, I will show how the image will look to the print dot pattern. If printing, you will want to research dot-pattern applications or lean in to the print application approach. Some designers will under-print a grey ink and cheat the effect of black and white printing.

La composition est essentielle en photographie, mais elle est particulièrement importante en noir et blanc ou les couleurs ne peuvent pas êtres utilisées pour attirer l'attention. Utilisez des compositions fortes et équilibrées pour captiver le spectateur.

In a commercial context, understanding the vision and requirements of the project is paramount when shooting black and white photography. This often involves collaboration with a layout designer and an art director who provide guidance and direction for the shoot. Effective communication is essential to ensure that the photographer's vision aligns with the creative direction of the project, ultimately leading to the delivery of the desired results. However, when photographers have the autonomy to make creative decisions, they can explore various elements to enhance the visual impact of their black and white images. Experimenting higher ISO can add a vintage or gritty aesthetic to the images, imbuing them with character and depth.

When shooting black and white photos for commercial use, focus on the emotional impact and storytelling. Black and white can emphasize form, texture, and contrast, highlighting details that color might obscure. Research both historical and contemporary uses in commercial photography to understand its effective application. Consider how removing color can draw attention to the essence of your subject, using the medium's timeless quality to enhance your narrative or product features. Explore the psychological effects of black and white imagery to better convey brand stories or product details.

Two things to consider with black and white. 1. A digital camera uses 4 pixels to make a color image where as a black and white sensor does not need a color filter array. Each pixel can perform optimally. A black and white sensor gives a more pleasing image. 2. Some scenarios are live events under bright color LED lights. Finding a good white balance is difficult so black and white is ideal for these circumstances. The look is far more natural and pleasing than color.