In a black and white portrait every distraction caused by colour falls away. The focus is entirely on you: your face, your expression, your posture. Colour can be beautiful, but it sometimes draws attention to things that do not matter. Black and white makes a portrait timeless and honest.
Black and white portraits
When everything falls away, you remain
A portrait in black and white is different. It asks for more attention. It makes you look. Not at colour, not at the background, not at what you are wearing. But at you. At your expression, your posture, your face.
Black and white portraits take every distraction away. What is left is honest, timeless and strong.
Why black and white
Colour says a lot. Sometimes too much. It draws attention, gives context, calls up associations. And that can be beautiful. But sometimes it gets in the way.
Black and white portrait photography reduces an image to its core. No colours to distract, no walls telling a story that may not be yours. Only light, shadow and your face. That makes a portrait direct, intimate and clear.
It is not about perfection. It is about honesty. Black and white shows lines, freckles, wrinkles and scars without judgement. It makes you human, not polished. And that is exactly where its strength lies.
Who black and white portraits work for
A black and white portrait suits people who want the image to be about them, not about the rest. It works for makers, writers, entrepreneurs, performers. For people who have no need of shiny backgrounds or coloured accents, but of a photo that outlasts its moment.
It also works when colour feels too busy, says too much, or too little. When you are looking for calm in an image. For something that stays with people.
I often photograph in black and white for my PAUSE sessions, because it suits the tone of that conversation: reflective, honest, still. But black and white portraits can be strong and dynamic too. It depends on what you convey and what we look for together.
For the PLAY mini shoots for performers and musicians I regularly work in black and white as well. And of course black and white is possible in all regular portrait sessions, in the studio and on location.
Read on or scroll down to see examples of my work.
How it works
We always start calmly. No hurry, no pressure to perform. We talk, we look, we find what works. I guide you through the session, help you with posture and expression, and make sure you feel at ease.
In a black and white portrait I pay extra attention to light. How it falls, where it strengthens, where it softens. Light is everything in black and white photography. It sets the mood, the emotion, the power of the image.
After the shoot you make a broad selection from our photos, and the real choosing happens at home, in an online album. Together we pick the images that ring true. Those are edited with a light touch, with attention to detail, contrast and tone. The result is a portrait that shows you as you are, without embellishment.
Timeless and lasting
A black and white portrait does not age. It is not dated by colour trends or styling choices. It stays relevant, year after year. That makes it suitable for books, websites, press material or as a fine art print on the wall.
It is an investment in an image that lasts. Not because it is pretty, but because it rings true. An honest moment.
Studio or on location
Black and white portraits can be made anywhere. I like working from my studio in Wijchen (near Nijmegen), with controlled light and a neutral background. But of course a portrait can just as well be made somewhere that suits you: your workspace, your home, outside in a landscape.
The place matters, but not everything. It is about what we find there. About how the light falls, how you stand, how it feels.
Studio address
Bijsterhuizen 2414
6604 LL Wijchen
Directions
What you get
I work with the same care in every portrait session. You do not just get photos, but images made with time, attention and a feeling for what works.
When black and white portraits are the right choice
If you are torn between colour and black and white, ask yourself: where should the emphasis lie? If the answer is “on me, on my expression, on who I am”, then black and white is usually the better choice.
Black and white portrait photography works well for:
Fine art portraits that need to be timeless
Personal portraits with depth
Editorial portraits where the focus is on the person
Portraits that put emotion first
Images for books, interviews or publications
It works less well when context matters, when colour is essential to your work, or when you are after a lively, colourful image.
Let us meet
If this resonates, if you feel a black and white portrait suits you, I would be glad to invite you for a conversation. We can start with coffee in the studio, a phone call or an email. After that we look together at what works best.
Every portrait starts with listening. To what you are after, to what you need, to who you are. The rest follows on its own.
You are welcome.
Get in touch today to talk through the possibilities. By phone on +31 6 263 263 16 or by email at mail@michielheijmans.com.
Frequently asked questions about black and white portraits
What is the difference between a black and white portrait and a colour portrait?
Can I also get a mix of colour and black and white photos?
Yes, that is possible. After the shoot we look at the images together and decide per photo what works best. Some portraits ask for colour, others for black and white. You always get the best result from me, whichever you choose.
How long does a black and white portrait session take?
That depends on the session you choose. The PLAY mini shoot is around 30 minutes of photography. A regular portrait session is an hour and a half. The PAUSE session takes half a day: roughly four hours of conversation and photography together.
When do I receive my black and white portraits?
Within a few working days after the shoot I send a selection for you to choose from. You get the final edited images in high quality shortly afterwards. Usually within a week of the shoot.
Are black and white portraits suitable for my website?
Absolutely. Black and white portraits work very well for websites, social media, press material and publications. They draw attention and stay with people longer than a standard colour portrait. You receive all images in high quality, ready for use online.
Are black and white portraits more expensive than colour?
No, the price is the same. In every portrait session you can choose entirely black and white, entirely colour, or a mix of both. Editing black and white does ask for extra precision, but that is already in the price.
Where in the Netherlands do you photograph black and white portraits?
My studio is in Wijchen, near Nijmegen. For shoots on location I am happy to come to you. I work throughout the Netherlands, from Amsterdam to Maastricht. Travel costs are 50 cents per kilometre.
Do I need experience in front of the camera?
Not at all. Most people who come to me have little or no experience. I guide you calmly through the session and help you with posture and expression. You do not have to be able to do anything, only to be yourself.
Can I convert black and white portraits to colour later?
No, it does not work the other way round. I always photograph with black and white in mind, but the colour is kept during the shoot. Once the images are edited and delivered they are colour or black and white. If you are unsure, we can always make a mix: some photos in colour, others in black and white.
What should I wear for a black and white portrait?
Wear something you feel comfortable in. In black and white, bright colours or busy patterns stand out less, but the most important thing is that your clothes suit you. Neutral tones often work well. Not sure? Bring two options and we will look together.
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