When was the last time a single photograph stopped you in your tracks and held your gaze without a single hint of colour?
Black and white portraits have a remarkable power to draw us in, inviting us to look deeper at the soul of the subject rather than the distractions of fashion or backdrop.
Choosing to strip back to monochrome brings a sense of purity and focus that still captures hearts and minds.
The first reason black and white portraits remain so powerful is their timeless quality.
A colour image can feel firmly rooted in the era of its fashion or the tone of its editing style. In contrast, a monochrome portrait feels as though it could have been taken fifty years ago or tomorrow.
That sense of timelessness connects our present to a broader human story.
When I shoot in Cranleigh or amid the rolling slopes of the Surrey Hills, I know that removing colour will allow my clients to carry their portraits into the future without fear of them looking dated.
At its core, a portrait is about emotion and connection. Colour sometimes competes with the small gestures, the fleeting look in a person’s eyes or the subtle curve of a smile.
By removing colour, every nuance of expression becomes more vivid. The viewer is free to focus on the way light plays across a cheek, the tension in a hand, or the quiet strength in someone’s stance.
In my portraits for local charities, I have found that supporters respond more readily when they see the raw emotion laid bare in black and white.
Light and shadow are the painter’s palette in monochrome. When you place a strong key light to one side of your subject’s face, the gradations from bright highlight to deep shadow create depth and drama. This interplay of tones leads the viewer’s eye around the image, emphasising features and contours in a way that colour simply cannot.
Composition matters more than ever when colour is absent. With no hue to draw attention, the shapes and lines in the photo carry the narrative.
I always look for strong leading lines close to hand. Sometimes it is the curve of a staircase, at other times it is the angle of a chair back or the curve of a jacket collar.
Guiding the eye in a black and white portrait ensures that the viewer arrives at the subject in the most direct way, making the connection between viewer and subject all the stronger.
In practical terms, shooting black and white does not require special equipment. A modern digital camera captures a wealth of detail in its RAW files, and converting to monochrome during post-processing allows complete control over contrast, brightness and grain.
I encourage anyone photographing portraits to experiment with the colour sliders when converting to black and white. Adjusting how different hues translate into greys can deepen contrast or smooth transitions, depending on the mood you wish to set.
Black and white portraits still have impact because they bring simplicity to complexity. They strip away the superficial and force us to engage with the essential.
Choosing monochrome is a deliberate decision to pause, observe and feel. It reminds us that photography at its best is about capturing the human spirit.
If you are seeking portraits that stand out, that invite genuine connection and carry a timeless elegance, black and white may be the perfect choice.
Whether you are an individual looking for a striking personal portrait, a small business aiming to convey authenticity, or a charity wishing to highlight heartfelt stories, the power of monochrome will serve your vision well.
To discuss your ideas or book a session in Cranleigh or the Surrey Hills, please get in touch. I would be delighted to help you create portraits that speak volumes without a single trace of colour.
