B+W photographs are timeless and elegant. I find that they produce a more emotive image, because you are drawn to the expressions, not the accouterments. Personality speaks more boldly, family connects more vibrantly, and those little moments are all the more refined.

Here are three key themes to keep in mind when selecting wardrobe: Tones, Texture, and Simplicity. These wardrobe themes dovetail to make a great b+w. And to pull all three together, don’t forget your own authenticity.

TONES

In color theory a tone is produced either by mixing a color with grey, or by both tinting and shading. Mixing a color with any neutral color (including black, gray, and white) reduces the chroma, or colorfulness, while the hue (the relative mixture of red, yellow, green, etc. So tones are kind of like the intensity of a color. Reds can be darker reds, like deep ruby to lighter pastel pinks. Blue can exist in a tonal range from dark navy to light cornflower.

I’m going to divide this section into two parts—one for white backgrounds and one for gray or darker backgrounds. In both cases, everyone should not focus on wearing the same color, but wearing similar tones. Even if you decide that you would prefer pastel tones with a gray background or vibrant jewel tones with a white background, the most important thing to remember is to keep the tones together.

For white backgrounds: look for soft pastels that are lighter than your skin or earthen tones. This ensures that the tonal focus will be on you and your family. Cornflower blues, especially for men’s oxford shirts, are a good selection. Other pastels like oatmeals or light grays are a neutral color for any family member. Light pinks or lavenders work well for a more feminine touch. In the earthen tones, you may try ochre (a rusty orange) or olive greens.

For black backgrounds: choose jewel-toned hues like sapphire, ruby, or emerald. Earthen tones like mustard and maroon are also great. These colors are in the same tonal range as a darker background, and so also blend to ensure that you are the focus.

I’m going to share the color and black and whites of each of these images so that you can see how tones affect the overall photo:

As you can see, tones have a great effect on these photos. Charmaine and June are wearing earthen and jewel tones which add richness to complement the dark gray background. Sid’s sapphire shirt similarly contributes to the depth of the photo, while my mustard shirt, a complementary color to the navy backdrop, adds contrast without overpowering the scene. Tiffany and Travis show that earth tones and the texture of a chambray shirt complement perfectly with a white background.

A word of caution: you know what tones work best for your skin tone. If you feel uncomfortable in a certain tone, it may not be for you. Trust yourself with your fashion choices and if you have a concern, don’t hesitate to reach out to me to discuss!

TEXTURE

What gives visual interest to a black and white photo, insofar as clothing, is the texture of the clothing. For instance, crochet, linen or lace in the spring and summer or rich wool and in the winter make for visual interest that does not overly distract from you.

SIMPLICITY

Look for clothing that is simple, both in its structure and in pattern.

Busy patterns will distract away from the subject, as will clothing that is overly fussy. Clean lines and pressed linens. Avoid large prints, plaids, and stripes. Avoid logos as all too often they become dated. This also keeps the photographs about you, your family, and your life.

For a selection of brands, check out the www.beeandbearphoto.com/portrait-session-guide

Ensure that the clothing you select is not prone to wrinkles, or iron before your session. This ensures no wrinkles become a distraction.

AUTHENTICITY

Whatever you decide to wear, make sure that it is in your natural style. Selecting clothing that you are comfortable in will ensure that you are also confident in yourself. And if you break a rule or two along the way, that just adds to your own authenticity.