Black and white family photos, isn't that for photos from the 40s? Absolutely not, and if they were, so what! It looks cool. If it was good enough for an Oscar-winning film like The Artist, or modern greats like The Lighthouse, Mank, Roma and Sin City, it's definitely good for you.
Black & White photos have a raw aesthetic that just looks effortlessly timeless. A lot of experts like Fstoppers, ExpertPhotography & WeShootYou recommend using this if you want to create an elegant and artful look.
So from a photographer's point of view, why should you get black and white family photos?
Limits Distractions
The photos are about you and your family, and when documenting candid photos, things can get in the way, and it can be very distracting. For example, doing shoots on very bright green grass can be very distracting on the camera, and on the final image - but rendering the pictures black and white negates that problem, and brings the frame back on to you.
I mean don't get us wrong, the world is colourful, and we love that! But sometimes it can be too overwhelming, and you might want a nice photo of you and your family that is very easy on the eye and makes you the star of the show! And removing distractions does exactly that!
Helps The Photographers 'See Differently'
The great photographers of the last shot in black and white (for obvious reasons), the great Ansel Adams and Gordon Parks to name a few. Black and white create a lot of creative problems, as we are so used to looking at our lens in colour. This problem isn't a bad thing, this allows the photographer to think about light and texture in a whole different way, giving them an opportunity to work hard to give you beautifully composed pictures you as the client, and the photographer as the artist can enjoy.
The use of black and white photographers, and the mastery of it, truly allows the photographer to provide you photos that are deserving of being framed.
Black and White Adds Emotions And Mood
Look at the two pictures below, look at what happens when we take away the distraction, and focus on the face, they display feelings, and evoke your mood.
A good family photographer relies on capturing genuine moments, sadness, happiness, laughter and fun, should all be packaged beautifully into your album, and having it black and white really emphasises the raw essence of the emotions on your and your family's face!
Black and White Are Timeless
Colours and style change over time, what we wear and the colour scheme of the culture change as time changes. Think of the 60s groovy fashion versus the minimalist look of today. Fashion and colour always change. And this is what makes black and white photography so powerful, it locks your memories in a time capsule, and makes you feel like you're at that moment again. Black and white photos have been around for 100s of years, the only thing that has changed is the image quality, the timelessness is still there, and is here to stay for a very long time.
Black and white photos transcend reality, and give your pictures an anachronistic feel, making it a huge talking point for all family gatherings!
So please, if you are doing a family photoshoot, do consider black and white, and keep your memories lasting for a lifetime!
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