The million-dollar question…Should your professional headshots be in black & white or color? In some cultures, especially European, black and white photos are for something other than professional use. Black and white photos of a person are used as an obituary. They are used to announce that someone has passed away. With that out of the way, let’s continue.

As a professional headshot photographer, most of the business headshots we take are used in a color format. But that doesn’t mean that a black and white headshot isn’t a good fit for you.

Searching for a headshot photographer? Here are tips on how to choose a professional headshot photographer.

There are benefits to using black and white professional headshots. Headshots black and white can appear more timeless and less distracting if a solid backdrop isn’t being used. For example, if you take a portrait of someone in a busy area with things happening in the backdrop, if you make the photograph black and white it will eliminate the background noise.

Black and white photos are seen as purer because there are no distracting colors to take the attention away from anything but the face.

Black and white corporate headshots can be more forgiving if the lighting is unflattering, or florescent lighting contamination is in the photo. If that is the case, please hire a professional headshot photographer to give you the headshots you deserve. Ok, enough photography sarcasm.

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So, let’s dive in and figure out are black-and-white professional headshots okay to use?

Are Black-And-White Headshots Professional?

When considering between black and white or color headshots, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

Is it a fit for the industry that you are in? If you are mostly working in a fast-paced environment and want to look approachable, color would be your best option. If you are in an industry that represents sophistication and timelessness, then you could go with a black and white headshot. Learn more about the importance of a good corporate headshot.
Do you want your headshot to be timeless? Stripping color away from the photo instantly makes it more classic and nostalgic. On the contrary, you can also have a timeless backdrop on a clean canvas backdrop in studio.
Is the photo less distracting in black-and-white? If your headshot is in a distracting environment, turning it from color to black and white will make it more about you.
Is it a professional headshot or is it semi-professional with bad lighting? We do not recommend using a headshot that was not professionally taken. An unprofessional headshot doesn’t have a good first impression for your clients or coworkers. If the lighting in your headshot is not flattering, one way to rescue it is changing it into black and white and seeing how the colors look after adjusting the contrast, shadows, and highlights.
Keep in mind who your audience is and the cultures you are working with. The purpose of a professional headshot is to attract the clients you want to work with and how professional you look in your own industry. Do you want to communicate that you are an expert in your field or just be someone that is taking their job day by day with minimal passion?

So, this takes us back to the original question, are black and white headshots professional?

The simple answer is, if they are taken by a professional headshot photographer then they should be professional.

Whether a black and white headshot is good for you to use in your profession is a personal decision to be made based from your gut feeling and what you think will work best in your industry.

Tips for Black-And-White Headshots

Here are important factors to take into consideration when planning for your black and white headshots:

Will the photos be taken in studio or on location? When taking headshots in studio, there is more control with the photographers lighting and backdrop options. It is also more consistent if you are planning to have your team have their headshots in the same style. If your black and white corporate headshots will be taken on location, make sure to communicate your vision with the photographer in advance. Details to consider like the environment the photo will be taken in and whether you want a backdrop is crucial to figure out ahead of time.
Determine the mood you want your headshot to convey. There are high key and low key headshots. High key headshots have a lighter or completely white backdrop with a softer feel. Low key headshots feel more dramatic and have more contrast to them. You can try out the two different styles and decide what works best for your needs.
What you wear is important. Avoid any patterns. Solid colors are best for black and white photos. You want as little distraction away from your face as possible. If you are wearing white, please make sure to bring some layering items like a blazer or button-down sweater. Especially if your headshot will be on a white backdrop, you don’t want to blend in. We have two guides specifically for women and men and it covers what kind of clothing to choose. Still wondering what to wear for your professional headshots? Check out this blog on what to wear for your headshot.

Below is an example of a high key headshot on the white backdrop very brightly lit.

Same person as above but in a low key headshot that has a darker and more dramatic feel to it.

The simpler you keep your clothing choices, the more timeless and less distracting your headshot will look.

Are you getting an idea of when to use black and white portraits and whether it is a good fit for your profession?

Why do people use black and white portraits?

As we mentioned in the intro, in some cultures, a black and white photo is used as an obituary announcement. Luckily, this isn’t the only reason for black and white portraits.

According to Digital Photography School, the lack of color in a photograph can help bring extra attention to the subject without having other distracting information present to the person viewing the photograph.

In some professions, such as acting, it is recommended to have a variety of color and black-and-white headshots. Actors use both color and black and white portraits for their call cards. Black and white portraits can add some drama and mystery to a person. Having a variety of different types of headshots on your casting card will give the casting directors a better idea if you could be a potential fit for the role.

Some people consider black and white images fine art or high-end, while for others it can be the right fit for their branding colors and looks, or purely for personal aesthetic reasons.

Do you know what your branding colors are? Decide the kind of message you want to convey to your audience through the overall look of your brand.

What do you wear to black and white headshot?

When you are preparing outfits for black and white headshots, it’s important to keep these details in mind:

Avoid any patterns or logos on clothing. It will be distracting from your face.
Choose solid color options. Add more depth through layering your clothing. For example, you can wear a lighter color shirt and pair it with a darker blazer for contrast.
Avoid wearing any accessories like earrings, necklaces, or scarves. You want as minimal distractions as possible. Additional accessories draw the attention away from your face and the other things that are in your portrait.

Now that you have an idea of what to wear and what to avoid for your headshot, let’s get to our final topic for black and white photos.

Is black and white photo ok for LinkedIn?

The easy answer is you are free to use any kind of photograph you like for your profile picture on LinkedIn. The real question is, will a black and white photo make you stand out on LinkedIn?

Take a moment of your time to scroll through your own LinkedIn. What kind of profiles caught your attention? For us personally, whether the photo was in black or white or in color, what really stood out is if it was a professional photo versus a cropped on.

Some of the profiles we came across had distractions in the background and that didn’t look credible to our eye. Cropping your head from an event or family portrait is bad. It doesn’t look professional. What does that communicate to your peers?

The photos that had good colors, contrast and emotions are the ones that stood out the most.

We are slightly biased but as professional photographers; we enjoy photos what are vibrant and have good colors that are that are eye catching. That doesn’t mean that having a black and white headshot is wrong.

A good takeaway from this blog post is, yes you can use black and white headshots for professional use. Do your research on using a professional photographer that can create a beautiful black and white headshot or portrait that will make you stand out.

We’ll leave you with this quote from Paul Outerbridge, “In black-and-white you suggest, in color you state. Much can be implied by suggestion, but statement demands certainty.”

We would love to hear your opinion on what you think about professional black and white headshots. Contact us for any additional questions you have for black and white headshots and portraits.

The Ultimate Business Headshot Guide