Black-and-white portraits
When everything else is gone, you're the one who remains
A black-and-white portrait is different. It demands more attention. It forces you to look—not at the color, not at the background, not at what you’re wearing—but at you: your gaze, your posture, your face.
Black-and-white portraits eliminate all distractions. What remains is honest, timeless, and powerful.
Why Black and White?
Color says a lot. Sometimes too much. It draws attention, provides context, and evokes associations. And that can be wonderful. But sometimes it gets in the way.
Black-and-white portrait photography strips an image down to its essence. No distracting colors, no walls telling a story that might not be yours. Just light, shadow, and your face. That makes a portrait direct, intimate, and clear.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about authenticity. Black-and-white photography reveals wrinkles, freckles, lines, and scars without judgment. It shows you as human, not polished. And that’s exactly where its power lies.
Who Benefits from Black-and-White Portraits
A black-and-white portrait is perfect for people who want the image to be about them, not about anything else. It works for creators, writers, entrepreneurs, and artists—for people who don’t need glossy backgrounds or colorful accents, but rather a photo that transcends time.
It also works if you feel that a color is too busy, says too much, or, conversely, not enough. If you’re looking for a sense of calm in an image. For something that sticks with you.
I often take black-and-white photos for my Pause sessions, because it matches the tone of that conversation: reflective, honest, serene. But black-and-white portraits can also be powerful—even dynamic. It depends on what you radiate and what we’re looking for together.
I also regularly shoot in black and white for the “PLAY ” mini-shoots for theater professionals and musicians. And, of course, black-and-white photography is an option for all regular portrait sessions, both in the studio and on location.
Read more or scroll down to view examples of my work.
How It Works
We always start with a sense of calm. No rush, no pressure to perform. We talk, observe, and figure out what works. I’ll guide you through the session, help you with your posture and gaze, and make sure you feel at ease.
When shooting a black-and-white portrait, I pay extra attention to light—how it falls, where it intensifies, and where it softens. Light is everything in black-and-white photography. It determines the mood, the emotion, and the power of the image.
After the shoot, you’ll make a broad selection of our photos, and it’s only once you’re back home that you’ll really narrow down your choices (in an online album). Together, we’ll choose the images that feel right. These will be minimally edited, with attention to detail, contrast, and tone. The result is a portrait that shows you just as you are, without any embellishment.
Timeless and sustainable
A black-and-white portrait never goes out of style. It doesn’t become dated due to color trends or styling choices. It remains relevant, year after year. That makes it ideal for books, websites, press materials, or as a fine-art print on the wall.
It’s an investment in an image that will endure. Not because it’s beautiful, but because it’s true. A genuine snapshot.
In the studio or on location
Black-and-white portraits can be taken anywhere. I enjoy working from my cozy studio in Wijchen (near Nijmegen), with controlled lighting and a neutral background. But of course, a portrait can also be taken at a location that suits you: your workspace, your home, or outdoors in a scenic setting.
The place matters, but it's not everything. It's about what we find there. It's about how the light falls there, how you stand there, how it feels.
Studio location
Bijsterhuizen 2414
6604 LL Wijchen
Directions
What You'll Get
I approach every portrait shoot with the same level of care. You won't just get photos—you'll get images created with time, attention, and an eye for what works.
Various Options for Black-and-White Portraits
✔️ 30–45-minute photo shoot
✔️ An hour and a half, including coffee/tea
✔️ Up to 1 outfit change
✔️ Select photos on the spot
✔️ Includes 5 edited photos
During a relaxed half-day session, we'll aim to capture a natural photo of you. We'll have coffee or tea, a good chat, and most importantly, no pressure, so you end up with a photo that truly shows who you are,
✔️ One-and-a-half-hour photo shoot
✔️ Maximum of one outfit change
✔️ Select photos immediately
✔️ Includes 8 edited photos
When Black-and-White Portraits Are the Right Choice
If you're torn between color and black-and-white, ask yourself: where should the focus be? If the answer is "on me, on my gaze, on who I am," then black-and-white portraits are often the best choice.
Black-and-white portrait photography works well for:
Fine-art portraits that are meant to be timeless
Personal portraits with depth
Editorial portraits that focus on the person
Portraits That Focus on Emotion
Images for books, interviews , or publications
It doesn't work as well when context is important, when color is essential to your work, or when you're specifically looking for a vibrant, colorful image.
Let's get to know each other
If this resonates with you, if you feel that a black-and-white portrait is right for you, then I’d love to invite you to chat. We can start with coffee at the studio, a phone call, or an email. Then we’ll figure out together what works best.
Every portrait begins with listening—to what you're looking for, to what you need, to who you are. The rest will follow naturally.
You're welcome.
Contact us today to discuss the options. You can reach us by phone at 06-263 263 16 or by email at mail@michielheijmans.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-and-White Portraits
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In black-and-white portraits, all distractions caused by color are eliminated. The focus is entirely on you: your face, your gaze, your posture. Color can be beautiful, but it sometimes draws attention to things that don’t matter. Black-and-white makes a portrait timeless and honest.
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No, the price is the same. For every portrait shoot, you can choose between all black-and-white, all color, or a mix of both. Editing black-and-white photos does require extra precision, but that’s already included in the price.
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Yes, that's possible. After the shoot, we'll review the images together and decide what works best for each photo. Some portraits call for color, others for black-and-white. I'll always deliver the best results, regardless of the color choice.
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My studio is located at Wijchen, near Nijmegen. For on-location shoots, I’m happy to come to you. I work throughout the Netherlands, from Amsterdam to Maastricht. Travel expenses are 50 cents per kilometer.
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That depends on the session you choose. The PLAY mini-shoot lasts about 30 minutes of photography. A regular portrait shoot lasts an hour and a half. The Pause session takes up a whole half-day: about 4 hours of conversation and photography combined.
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Not at all. Most people who come to me have little to no experience. I’ll guide you gently through the session and help you with your posture and gaze. You don’t need to know how to do anything—just be yourself.
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Within a few business days after the shoot, I'll send you a selection from which you can choose your photos. You'll receive the final, edited images in high quality shortly thereafter—usually within a week of the shoot.
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No, it doesn't work the other way around. I always shoot in black-and-white, but I keep the color during the shoot. Once the images have been edited and delivered, they're either in color or black-and-white. If you're unsure, we can always do a mix: some photos in color, others in black-and-white.
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Absolutely. Black-and-white portraits work exceptionally well for websites, social media, press materials, and publications. They grab attention and leave a lasting impression more than standard color portraits. You’ll receive all images in high quality, ready for use on the web.
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Wear something you feel comfortable in. With black and white, bright colors 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’ll look at them together.