“A headshot is a photograph of an individual with the simple purpose of showing what they look like”.
I am often asked about black & white headshots. I personally love black & white photos; they have a slightly timeless, classic feel to them.
This is because photography was originally all black & white & the shift to colour happened over a prolonged period. The first colour photo was produced in 1861, but it was expensive & colour only became prevalent in the 1960s & beyond.
Since then, with the rapid development of technology, the world and how we see things have become even more vibrant & colourful.
Have you ever thought about how you describe a person?
You mention their hair colour, the colour of their eyes & the colour of their clothes. The human eye is used to seeing in colour, it is appealing & it is an easy way to remember someone. Colour evokes a sense of warmth, approachability & happiness, giving a hint of someone’s personality.
Colour is an important communication tool. Every colour carries a subconscious meaning that subtly influences our emotions & behaviour, often in ways we don’t immediately recognise. Colour psychology explores how different colours impact human mood and actions.
You can read more about the use of colour in business photos in the below post.
Black & white emphasises tone, form & contrast, creating a dramatic look. Black & white photos can be flattering, particularly for women. They can mask & hide uneven skin tones & bring a hint of timeless artistic nostalgia to an image.
However, with black & white, you might need to guess a person’s hair colour, eye colour & the colour of their clothing. Would you get it right? Would you be able to describe someone accurately?
The world operates in full colour. So, is a black & white headshot an accurate representation?
Colour v’s Black & White headshot
Colour Headshots
Pros
・The world is in colour. Colour gives a more accurate representation of your skin tone, hair colour & appearance.
・Colour alludes to warmth & approachability, making you appear more welcoming & friendly – a key consideration for a business headshot.
Cons
・If clothing & backgrounds are not well chosen, clashing & contrasting colours can be distracting.
・People see colour in different ways. Not just in the natural world but also in the digital world. Screens, unless colour profiled correctly, can all project colours differently. The blue on your phone may be different to the blue on your laptop. It’s very hard to get an exact colour match.
Black & White headshots
Pros
・In a black & white headshot, the focus is on you. Attention is drawn to your features & your expression, not the colour you are wearing.
・Black & white can be more flattering by masking & softening uneven skin tones & imperfections.
・Black & white is timeless, classic & elegant & if it fits your brand, black & white creates an artistic image by emphasising form & texture.
Cons
・Black & white can lack the vibrancy & detail of a colour photo & can sometimes appear stark & cold. It lacks the warmth & approachability of a colour photo.
・It makes it difficult to know how to describe someone. What colour is their hair, their eyes or their clothing?
・A good quality black & white image requires good lighting to avoid harsh shadows & flat tones. It’s not as simple as desaturating a colour photo.
Conclusion
As a professional photographer, I always recommend having a colour business headshot for use on LinkedIn & your website. If its purpose is to show what you look like & to help people identify you, then colour is the most accurate & true representation.
I also provide black & white versions of your photos, allowing you to experiment & choose the best image for your needs. Black & white can sometimes work well in social media posts & alongside articles you write.
Professional colour & black & white headshot photography for all businesses in Croydon, London, Surrey & the South East.
With more than 12 years of experience within the corporate photography sphere, I photograph headshots for individuals & businesses of all sizes throughout Croydon, London, Surrey & the South East.