How to Emphasize Emotion in a Black and White Portrait
Black and white photography has always been known for conveying emotions well. Because it strips the distraction of color away, it leads us to focus more on the details. With portraits, that means seeing the way someone’s mouth tilts, the look in their eyes, the position of their hands, and so on.
A black and white portrait will usually evoke nostalgia and will make people think of the image as timeless. However, there is so much more you can do beyond that in your black and white photography.
These next five tips will help you truly emphasize emotion in your black and white portraits. When you photograph your next subject, try to implement these and see how the results change. And, if you’re in need of some inspiration for black and white photoshoots, check out my portfolio.
5 Ways to Bring Out Emotion in a Black and White Portrait
If you plan on taking emotive black and white photos of people but aren’t sure what adjustments to make to get the best results, these tips are for you.
1. Highlight the Eyes
As cliche as it sounds, the eyes are the window to emotion. They are the most expressive feature in a portrait – whatever emotion they show is what emotion your final image will express.
Always make sure they are in focus and properly highlighted. Using catchlights — small reflections of light in the eyes — can bring them to life, even in a monochrome setting. Position your subject to face the light source or use a reflector to illuminate the eyes without overpowering other features.
Because there won’t be any color, the viewer will focus more on the intensity of the gaze. Whether the subject shows joy, sadness, frustration, or anything else, it can’t be missed if the eyes take center stage.
2. Play with Dramatic Lighting
Just because there is no color, doesn’t mean there are no contrasts in black and white portrait photography. When playing with dramatic lighting, you can create an effect that is even more striking than the one in color portraits.
Dramatic lighting, such as Rembrandt, split, or low-key setups, enhances shadows and highlights, creating a sense of mystery or intensity. These lighting styles can emphasize facial contours, drawing out emotions through stark contrasts.
Position the light source to one side or at an angle to create depth, allowing shadows to add intrigue. Experiment with soft or hard light depending on the emotion you want to convey—soft light for tenderness, hard light for drama.
3. Emphasize Textures
Texture is especially easy to spot in black and white portraits. The skin, wrinkles, scars, and fabric folds, are all elements of texture that tell a story. And where there is a narrative, there is emotion alongside it. Don’t shy away from capturing your subject’s “imperfections”, embrace them, because they hold their life experiences.
Use a higher contrast setting to accentuate these details, making them more pronounced. A shallow depth of field can also help isolate the textures while keeping the background soft.
4. Simplify the Background
A cluttered background can distract from the emotion you want to highlight in a black and white portrait. Simplify the scene by using a solid backdrop, a shallow depth of field, or negative space. Monochrome photography thrives on simplicity, allowing the subject’s emotions to take center stage.
When the background is blurred or muted, we can place more of our focus on the subject and read their emotions better. It amplifies the connection the viewer has with the subject because it creates a sense of isolation.
5. Direct Your Subject
Your only job during a portrait photoshoot isn’t just to take the photos and edit them. It’s also to help the subject give you what you need for your images. First and foremost, make them feel comfortable, so you don’t risk having rigid and unexpressive results.
Build rapport by engaging them in conversation or asking meaningful questions that evoke genuine emotions. Instead of forced poses, encourage them to recall personal experiences or focus on specific thoughts. Subtle prompts, like “Think of someone you miss,” can inspire authentic expressions.
If your subject is completely relaxed and allows themselves to truly think about your questions and engage in deeper conversation, you will get the chance to capture subtle changes in their facial expressions and body language.
It’s Time to Take Emotive Black and White Portraits
These five tips are the best starting point for planning and executing your black and white portrait photoshoot. The person you’re photographing has a great capacity for emotional expression. All you have to do is figure out how to bring that out and capture it with your camera.
When such a portrait is done right, it will feel to the viewer like they are witnessing a truly personal moment from the subject. And, if you think about it, they are. Your image is a still of a moment when the person photographed was feeling something deep and real. That is the beauty of emotive portrait photography.
Which type of emotion do you find most powerful in black and white portraits — joy, sadness, anger, or something else? Let me know in the comments below.