Monochrome photography: Tips and insights

I’m Larry Moskowitz, professional photographer. Here’s the one thing about stock photography – it can get incredibly boring. I find that to be a good thing though because I get to flex my creative juices to keep myself from being bored. I find time to experiment as much as I can.

Image source: bhphotovideo.com

 For a few years now, I’ve been mixing in a bit of monochrome photography into my work. While stock photography mainly uses colored images, taking them in black and white helps me with learning how to take monochrome shots. I think of it as good practice for my hobby, which is all other sorts of photography.

And by golly, have I learned a lot.

Image source: bhphotovideo.com

First, always shoot in RAW. That format can be modified as easily as any other format, but the quality of the image stays the same. Photographers who usually take black and white shots know the value of RAW. And so should you.

Next, mind your shapes. Stock photography has helped me with this a lot since the products I shoot come in all shapes and textures. I simply imagine how they would look like on a newspaper printed in black and white. It need not be boring.

Finally, don’t go for subjects that rely on their color. Yes, there are some images that need color, such as flowers and the sunset. Instead, look for images that can tell a story in monochrome.
If you have more monochrome tips, feel free to share them with me, Larry Moskowitz in the comments section below.

Larry Moskowitz is a professional photographer focused on stock photos for sale as well as nature photography. He is married and has a son and a daughter, and they recently went on a holiday in the Virgin Islands. For more on Larry, click here.