Why do clients prefer B&W? - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

11/01/2006 08:32:26 PM · #1

I've often tried to figure this out, but WHY do my clients (mostly women) prefer B&W images of themselves?

Is it because they considerthem more artistic? Less "realistic"? Any thoughts?

It suits me. I'd much rather work in B&W. A lot less issues with color management :-)

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

11/01/2006 08:33:35 PM · #2

Hide the grey hairs their husbands give them?

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

11/01/2006 08:45:17 PM · #3

Originally posted by MrEd:

Hide the grey hairs their husbands give them?

LOL... I dunno... maybe. Or the bad hair-dye jobs they do on themselves. Noone heard me say that, right?

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

11/01/2006 08:46:43 PM · #4

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by MrEd:
Hide the grey hairs their husbands give them?

LOL... I dunno... maybe. Or the bad hair-dye jobs they do on themselves. Noone heard me say that, right?

LOL, I almost hit 'post' before the word 'their'. But, I didn't want to get into deep doodoo.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/01/2006 08:52:21 PM · #5

People tend to look at B&W work as more professional and more artsy because it isn't something they see much of. When they get their family snaps printed at the wal-mart they're always in color. They spend most of their lives seeing only color (and terrible) pics of themselves. A B&W shot, by a pro even, strikes them as stunning and unique in their experience.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/01/2006 08:57:34 PM · #6

What Idnic said. FWIW, a visit to the DPC site favorites page usually reveals a disproportionate number of B&W and sepia images.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

11/01/2006 09:04:19 PM · #7

classy.....every woman looks better in black and white

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/01/2006 09:07:46 PM · #8

Timeless.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/01/2006 09:12:00 PM · #9

Who wouldn't like to see herself as a beautful starlet? They don't call it the SILVER screen for nothing!

Tamron AF 55-200mm F4-5.6 LD Di-II for Canon

11/01/2006 09:14:17 PM · #10

Originally posted by scalvert:

Who wouldn't like to see herself as a beautful starlet? They don't call it the SILVER screen for nothing!

You know, I think you've hit on something there.

Wildcard

Canon EOS-20D

11/01/2006 09:18:16 PM · #11

I prefer B&W because it puts thefocus on the subject rather than on the colour. In colour portraits you take in the hair and eye colour, the background, in B&W the expression is the subject.

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

11/01/2006 09:20:02 PM · #12

B&W does wonders for skin tones as well...

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

11/01/2006 09:32:13 PM · #13

Originally posted by tryals15:

B&W does wonders for skin tones as well...

I hear IR does even better, but then slow shutter speeds may put most people off.

petrakka

11/01/2006 09:34:03 PM · #14

If the color isn't an important part of the photograph, doesn't contribute to the composition or the mood, the photo probably works better in b/w anyways.

To me, most photos (with substance...we're not talking your stock flower shot) in general I've ever seen look better in b/w...because it takes away the clutter of color.

breadfan35

Nikon D3

11/01/2006 09:50:25 PM · #15

B & W > Color

;-)

talmy

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

11/01/2006 09:51:01 PM · #16

Originally posted by crayon:

Originally posted by tryals15:
B&W does wonders for skin tones as well...

I hear IR does even better, but then slow shutter speeds may put most people off.

IR is horrible for portraits (at least Caucasians).

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/01/2006 09:58:24 PM · #17

Originally posted by talmy:

IR is horrible for portraits (at least Caucasians).

That kinda depends upon how hot your model is. ;-)

11/01/2006 10:15:51 PM · #18

Originally posted by talmy:

Originally posted by crayon:

Originally posted by tryals15:
B&W does wonders for skin tones as well...

I hear IR does even better, but then slow shutter speeds may put most people off.

IR is horrible for portraits (at least Caucasians).

Actually, B&W IR films (especially some of the Ilford lines) were quite well known for producing nice tones for "white" (read REALY CAUCASIAN) models. They were/are more often used for artistic purposes rather than commercial ones though.

Originally posted by scalvert:

That kinda depends upon how hot your model is. ;-)

Boo HISS :-P

Message edited by author 2006-11-01 22:16:52.

11/01/2006 10:22:20 PM · #19

Originally posted by talmy:

Originally posted by crayon:
I hear IR does even better, but then slow shutter speeds may put most people off.

IR is horrible for portraits (at least Caucasians).

I didn't even know there is an issue about skin types or colours when captured through IR. Maybe Any Caucasians (pretty ladies) would be my model? hehe... :p

11/01/2006 10:34:25 PM · #20

Originally posted by crayon:

Any Caucasians (pretty ladies) would be my model? hehe... :p

Crayon, if ya really want models, it's quite easy. Just offer free photo shoots, just because you like them... it works *hint hint*

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

11/01/2006 10:41:53 PM · #21

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by crayon:
Any Caucasians (pretty ladies) would be my model? hehe... :p

Crayon, if ya really want models, it's quite easy. Just offer free photo shoots, just because you like them... it works *hint hint*

Leroy, I've always envied your seemingly abundance of models (FEMALES!) to shoot. Are they posing for free? What do you offer in return? Most Asian women are rather conservative, and they sometimes may even take you as a pervert if you ask them to model for nudes, no kidding. But lets share how you get them to model for you, and I'll try to kaizen them to work :)

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

11/01/2006 11:06:37 PM · #22

I don't know. But I prefer them too. Timeless, classic, sophisticated.

11/01/2006 11:13:44 PM · #23

Originally posted by crayon:

OK man, here ya go :-)

Yes, my models model for free. I offer them CDs of the pics (often low res) for trade. I can get away with low res images because most of them only want them for thier web profiles anyway.

The Southern US is also quite conservative and quite frankly you'd run into the same "pervert" statements here if you were to just approach a lady and ask her to pose nude. Quite frankly, that would be borderline "sexual harassment" for someone that is not into being a model.

Instead, offer to do casual portrait shoots. Do a good job with them and act professionally (do NOT ogle your models LOL). Before you can get to the nude stuff, you will need to develop a working relationship with the models built upon mutual trust and respect. I never make any sexual advances on a model and keep comments about her looks at a professional level.

You're going to make your job of getting portrait sessions with models easier when you have a decent portfolio to show them. Start with some of your female friends (and thier friends) to build your portfolio. As your portfolio gets better, your job of recruiting models will become easier.

Have confidence in yourself. If you come at a girl stuttering and mumbling, you're not going to get her to model for you. Women respond well to confidence, but NOT cockiness. Demonstrate what you can do for her, but don't talk about how good you are.

Lastly, once you establish a relationship with your model, talk to her about what she feels is appropriate. IF you can get her to pose nude for you, don't breach her expectations of appropriate. Let's take for instance that she thinks "side boob" is acceptible, but not nipple shots. If you shoot a side boob shot and accidentally get a nip slip, discard that image. Break her trust and you've lost that model.

Hope that helps. And why do I have a feeling that this post sounds a LOT like relationship advice? LOL