Some may view black and white photography as the “old fashioned” kind of photography. However, black and white photography is just as valid in modern photography and a unique art form all its own.

In fact, the right image in black and white can be stunning and far more powerful than the same image in color. The absence of color can make the image less cluttered and there is less to distract the viewer. A skillful photographer can use black and white photography to draw the eye right where they want it to go.

Keep reading to learn more about what to look for in your compositions and how to make your black and white photos pop.

1. A Colorful Scene

Though it may seem counterintuitive, you should look for a colorful scene to shoot in black and white. The reason is that the wide range of colors will help ensure plenty of tonal contrast once the color is removed.

This option will not always be the case, but it is a good place to start. Look for scenes that contain many different color hues. When you remove the color, each hue will fall at a different point on the grayscale.

Once you get the photo into post-processing, you can play with color sliders to adjust the contrast and create more of an impact in the photo.

2. Color and RAW

Most cameras give you the option of shooting black and white images. For the best images, you really should not use this option.

Instead, shoot in color and shoot in RAW format. RAW gives you much more flexibility in post-processing. All the information in a scene is recorded and stored and you can adjust most things. You can lighten shadows and even bring back blown highlights (within reason, of course).

3. Clean Whites and Blacks

If you want your black and white photos to pop, you need cleans whites and clean blacks somewhere in the image. If your entire image is made up of shades of gray, the image can look muddy.

Even just a small amount of clean white and clean black will make a huge difference. If you feel like your black and white photos could use some more zing, this option may be the way to do it.

Even if your original photo does not have both clean blacks and whites, you can often create/add them in post-processing. That is the advantage of shooting in RAW. Do not be afraid to experiment and see what can happen!

4. The Right Exposure

Exposure can also have an impact on your black and white photos. Start thinking about how a scene would look underexposed and turned to black and white. This option can be hard to wrap your mind around at first but will come with practice.

Think about a bright scene, like a cool cloud formation on a sunny day. Now imagine photographing it in color. Accentuating that cloud may be difficult. However, if you underexpose and turn the photo into black and white, that cloud can make an impressive impact.

Long exposure also works well with black and white photos. Keep in mind that you may need a neutral density filter to darken the scene so nothing gets blown out.

Go Do Amazing Black and White Photography

Now get out there and start shooting. Apply these black and white photography tips and tricks and see what kind of amazing art you can create.

Once you are ready to start sharing your photography with the world, check out our website building resources. We have everything you need to get your photography website up and running easily.

MorePhotos offers online solutions that include professional websites and a powerful e-commerce shopping cart. With our friendly and knowledgeable staff, we can assist you in creating an online presence that will attract traffic to your photography website.

The last few years have seen an explosion in the popularity of long exposure photography.

Due to the surreal and otherworldly effects, long exposure photography is often considered to be fine art photography. All you need is a DSLR camera and a sturdy tripod to start taking these gorgeous shots.

When you hit the shutter button, a hole opens to allow your camera’s image sensor to get a glimpse of the scene you want to capture. The aperture that you select in advance will impact the size of the hole.

Simply put, when you have a smaller hole, there is less light. Depending on the scene and the details you want to capture, then you can choose the right f-stop for your image. F-stop is the measurement of the aperture. While long exposure is going to impact what you capture, the aperture is key to determining the right amount of light to achieve the effect you want.

Taking photos with long exposure isn’t easy–and there are a lot of ways you could go wrong. Here are 5 essential tips to help you master the technique of long exposure photography.

1. Balance Your Tripod

Having a well-balanced tripod is crucial for taking photos with long exposure. These exposures can go from several seconds to several minutes so it’s vital that your tripod is as sturdy as possible.

Make sure that your tripod is on firm ground. If the legs are on an uneven surface, take the time to adjust the length of each leg to guarantee the camera is steady.

Adding to the weight can also help your tripod maintain its position. Try hanging your camera bag from the tripod to weight it down. If you are worried about it unbalancing the camera, place a bag of uncooked rice on top of the camera.

2. Choose the Right Conditions

For your long exposure shots to work, you must shoot in ideal conditions.

For outdoor landscapes, choose a time when there are dappled clouds in the sky and a strong wind. Without clouds or winds, there won’t be any movement for your camera to catch. For urban shots, choose an area where there is a lot of movement from people or cars.

3. Using ND Filters

Using an ND (neutral density) filter can help enhance your photo and capture all the positives of long exposure photography. One downside to these filters is that they don’t allow a lot of light to come through unless the conditions are especially bright. Using this filter means that the auto-focus function on your camera might not work right away.

Start off by composing and focusing your shot without the filter. Then switch to manual focus and attach the filter.

4. Selecting the Exposure

The exposure that you choose depends a lot on the lighting. If there is an adequate amount of ambient light, then select a shorter shutter speed. If you are shooting somewhere dark, then the shutter speed needs to be longer.

Other factors include the environment that you are shooting. For example, if you are trying to capture light trails on a busy street, the shutter speed will depend on how fast the cars are going.

The more you practice, the easier it will be to estimate the exposure you need for the landscape you are shooting and the effect you want to capture.

5. Switching to BULB Mode

If you are using an exposure of 30 to 60 seconds or more, you will need to use the BULB function on your camera. Switching to BULB mode will enable you to open the shutter for as long as you choose, which allows you to shoot photos with very long exposures.

You will likely need a remote shutter to take shots with this long exposure. Even a gentle touch to the camera could cause the photo to blur.

The Bottom Line: Long Exposure Photography

Whether you are taking urban or landscape shots, using a long exposure can create stunning photographs with a soft, ethereal quality.

The technique of long exposure photography is a difficult one to master. With practice and a lot of careful planning, you can capture the beauty of this technique and reap the reward of breathtaking shots.

Looking to find more photo-taking tips and tricks? Check out our blog!

MorePhotos offers online solutions that include professional websites and a powerful e-commerce shopping cart. With our friendly and knowledgeable staff, we can assist you in creating an online presence that will attract traffic to your photography website.

In the age of digital photography and continuously improving cell phone cameras, people will take millions of photos without picking up a digital camera. With the added convenience of uploading images from a phone to social media, you need to find a way to stand out and show your customers that they get more than just beautiful photos when working with a professional photographer.

One way to do this is by adding value to your services, thus giving your customers a unique opportunity to capture a memory of a moment in time that stands out from the cell phone images. What are some ways that you can add value to your services? Here are 3 key ways to increase your offerings and make you stand out to potential clients.

Create Framing Options

For many of your clients, sitting for photos also means taking the prints and trying to find frames that match their décor. Your work could end up in a pile of photos that they will try to get to later but are eventually forgotten. By offering your clients different framing choices, you create an opportunity to increase your sales, but also give your clients added convenience. Those beautiful photos are likely to end up on their walls sooner, which creates talking points that allow your name to come up.

Offering multiple sizes, various colors, and different matting options allow you to meet everyone’s taste. Giving your clients a framing option can also give your marketing and word-of-mouth business opportunities.

Offer Gift Options

Your photos are capturing your clients in a beautiful way, but it does not have to be available only in a standard framed photo. Your work could become a quality personalized gift for a family member to mark an anniversary, a special time in a sport’s career or even as a birthday present.

Consider offering options that allow them to make something unique out of your photos, such as a shadow box. Using a framing company that allows you to access wholesale framing can help you expand your offerings without increasing your inventory.

Your clients will appreciate the added touch that personalizes their gift while creating a wonderful memory in the process.

Build a Network

When it comes to offering more value, the key can often be in buying wholesale. However, you might not want to purchase a large inventory just to receive the benefits of wholesale pricing. Instead, consider building a network with other photographers in your area and then use that network to take advantage of wholesale pricing. You can also use that network to create a large order for framing and matting, allowing you to pass savings onto your clients while also providing a nice value-added service.

If you want to offer framing or these other options, it is important to partner with a company that has experience in canvas stretching and using a variety of matting and framing selections, at the same time still delivering a quality product. They also need to provide a quick turnaround, allowing you to meet your clients’ needs in record time.

Framemaker II, MorePhotos newest integrated partner, offers photographers a variety of framing possibilities that can be used to create beautiful photos for display with any décor or as gifts for any occasion. Contact us to see how together we can help you expand your offerings to your clients.

MorePhotos offers online solutions that include professional websites and a powerful e-commerce shopping cart. With our friendly and knowledgeable staff, we can assist you in creating an online presence that will attract traffic to your photography website.