5 ways to ensure your black and white photos are timeless

Black and white photos are known to have a timeless feel, but some are better than others.

If you feel like your black and white images don’t feel they way you want them to, here are some tips.

Consider composition.
Without color, a particularly busy image might get lost with a black and white edit. Choose images with strong composition like unique framing, symmetry, leading lines, and empty space.

Don’t forget about light.
Black and white photos rely heavily on light. Use light to bring focus to a particular moment or detail. The harsher the light, the higher the contrast will be in black and white.

Keep it simple.
Images that have a timeless quality are not tied to a specific time period. A simple portrait of your couple, the landscape, or a small detail shot will stand the test of time much longer than something trendy.

Master your editing style.
There is a surprising variety in how you can edit your black and white images. High contrast, soft shadows, bright whites, etc. Each style provokes a different feeling in the image. Experiment with different depths in your shadows and highlights to achieve a look that feels timeless to you.

Shoot with film.
Film has a very timeless quality. Black and white film is on a whole other level. If you’ve never tried shooting a black and white roll on your dusty old film camera, try it.