Create timeless black-and-white portraits of women this year with these professional tips on settings and lighting. Also learn why the latest SIRUI Aurora lens is ideal for such portraits.
Introduction:
Not every moment in life is best captured with black-and-white color correction. In fact, color photography is usually the better choice, as color brilliance and contrasts appeal to us more. So the question arises why we would even photograph black-and-white portraits of women in black and white this year.
The main reason is that such portraits show the soul of the person in a way that color photography may not allow. The viewer is not distracted and sees only what is important in a subdued or thoughtful atmosphere. That is why black-and-white shots, especially black-and-white portraits of women, are widespread nowadays.
To make such shots, you need to use several elements correctly. This helps you achieve the extra emotional depth that is often hard to capture in full color. The most important are:
Taking professional black-and-white portraits
1. Adjust the light
Since there are no colors here, the light does all the work with overexposed areas and shadows. The right setting is extremely important. For example, start with the direction. Side light can emphasize texture and, when used from above, model the face. Placed almost from above, it creates dramatic shadows, and when the main light is used as backlight, artistic silhouettes or edge separations arise.
The direction of the light also influences the depiction of wrinkles, pores, and other facial features in the portrait. Then you must consider the type of lighting. Common techniques include Rembrandt light, which creates a small light triangle under the eye on the shadow side. Other common techniques are strip light, butterfly light, loop light, split light, and light with diffusers. These black-and-white shots require much time to learn these skills and achieve better results.
2. Camera settings
Your images lack color, so here you can only influence contrast in terms of optical quality. Make sure your photos highlight and accentuate lines and shapes in the image.
First, set the aperture between f/4 and f/8 if you want to optimally focus more human features, such as the face and hand of a model. This also works well when photographing several women or moving persons.
Wide apertures between f/1.4 and f/2.8, on the other hand, are suitable for shallow depth of field and emphasizing a specific part of the image. Set the shutter speed to 1/125 – this is enough for portraits and faster for moving subjects. Keep the ISO value as low as possible if your camera performs well in low light.
3. Camera equipment for black and white
The choice of camera body and lenses significantly influences the quality of such portraits. Cameras like the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, the Sony α7 IV, and the Fujifilm GFX 50S II are excellent options for starting this year. As a lens, we recommend this year the SIRUI AURORA Series 85mm F1.4 full-frame autofocus lens because of its optical and mechanical advantages.
With a focal length of 85 mm (ideal for black-and-white portraits) and advanced aspherical optics, including ED and HRI glass, this lens delivers stunning portrait quality. The lens, weighing only 540 grams, features a super-fast aperture of f/1.4, which renders flattering facial proportions without distortion. It is a great lens this year for high-quality black-and-white portraits.
4. Tips for composition and post-processing
For such shots, the right composition is crucial, otherwise they can end in disaster. Ask the model to hold intense eye contact, as this can create a strong connection. This can be a direct, sideways, or slight glance. All are great as long as a visible connection exists. Do not overload the frame with unwanted background elements; use plain fabrics, simple chairs, and architecture.
In editing, crop more strongly to focus on the female model you are photographing. Also, be careful not to overexpose the highlights. Generally, the histogram should shift left for low-key shots and right for high-key shots. In any case, always shoot in raw mode for more flexibility in post-processing.
Summary:
Black-and-white portraits of women require much time to understand composition, lighting techniques, editing skills, and the importance of good camera equipment. The SIRUI Aurora lens was developed to create professional portraits with high contrast and sharpness while producing a pleasant, creamy background blur.
