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Photographing black and white couple

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Gennadi

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Hi guys,


I've been asked by some good friends of mine to take couples photos of them. I would like to do a great job.

The man is African and very dark. You can hardly see any of his facial details in most facebook snapshot photographs of him. The woman is quite white.

I would like to produce the best photo of them anyone has delivered. Are there any suggestions any of you might have?

I don't have a flash unfortunately. I am thinking of using golden hour in some picturesque location. I will position him closer to whatever light source I find.

Any suggestions re: metering?

Any other suggestions?
 
Gennadi said:
Hi guys,

I've been asked by some good friends of mine to take couples photos of them. I would like to do a great job.

The man is African and very dark. You can hardly see any of his facial details in most facebook snapshot photographs of him. The woman is quite white.
I would like to produce the best photo of them anyone has delivered. Are there any suggestions any of you might have?
I don't have a flash unfortunately. I am thinking of using golden hour in some picturesque location. I will position him closer to whatever light source I find.
Any suggestions re: metering?
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
--Bracket mode?
***************************************************************************
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but these are the only times you'll get.
***************************************************************************
 
Expose to the white. :D
 
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I've photographed zebras, cats with black and white spots, Holstein cows, and many other bicolor objects. Single shot. No bracketing required. Just brought up shadows in post.

Of course, if you've got a crippled Canon, you'll have to resort to other measures (e.g., light fixtures, bracketing).
 
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From the sounds of your post, this is just a "couples session" as opposed to a formal event like a wedding. If so, your ability to control your environment is GREATLY improved!

As others have said, open shade, an overcast day, or a combo of the two will provide nice, even, diffused light. Additionally, I'd get at least a couple of images with them relaxing, perhaps the two of them sitting with her between his legs and her back to his chest with his arms around her, and them looking slightly up (especially in open shade with them looking towards the sky as opposed to whatever is casting the shade - this will put those catchlights in their eyes that everyone likes). This will cast even light on their faces, get rid of shadows, expose them well and depending on how you compose it, provide for an extremely intimate image.

I'll echo what has been said elsewhere regarding clothing selection... dress conservatively (color wise). Avoid black and white if possible - as main colors at least. Shoot in RAW, and don't go too crazy with PP.
 
Below is my Friend and my wife.
Very different skin color but when comes to high key.
no difference.







 
Gennadi said:
Hi guys,

I've been asked by some good friends of mine to take couples photos of them. I would like to do a great job.

The man is African and very dark. You can hardly see any of his facial details in most facebook snapshot photographs of him. The woman is quite white.
I would like to produce the best photo of them anyone has delivered. Are there any suggestions any of you might have?
I don't have a flash unfortunately. I am thinking of using golden hour in some picturesque location. I will position him closer to whatever light source I find.
Any suggestions re: metering?
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Golden hours are good. The light near dawn/dusk, under overcast skies or in shade is softer, with a more compressed dynamic range that's easier for cameras to capture. I assume that you probably already know this.

Although the 5D Mk II's sensor doesn't have quite the dynamic range of Nikon's current sensors it should be more than adequate for the task. Suggestions for the photos would be to have the background darker rather than lighter which should help to keep the man from being too underexposed and to use the lowest ISO possible to maximize the camera's dynamic range.

According to this article (which has several wonderful photos) let his darkness work for you and to the photo's advantage.
Gennadi said:
A True Picture of Black Skin

...

This exploration of the possibilities of dark gray would be interesting in any photographer, but DeCarava did it time and again specifically as a photographer of black skin. Instead of trying to brighten blackness, he went against expectation and darkened it further. What is dark is neither blank nor empty. It is in fact full of wise light which, with patient seeing, can open out into glories.

This confidence in “playing in the dark” (to borrow a phrase of Toni Morrison’s) intensified the emotional content of DeCarava’s pictures. The viewer’s eye might at first protest, seeking more conventional contrasts, wanting more obvious lighting. But, gradually, there comes an acceptance of the photograph and its subtle implications: that there’s more there than we might think at first glance, but also that when we are looking at others, we might come to the understanding that they don’t have to give themselves up to us. They are allowed to stay in the shadows if they wish.

...
Click to expand...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/magazine/a-true-picture-of-black-skin.html?_r=0
 
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Gennadi said:
Hi guys,

I've been asked by some good friends of mine to take couples photos of them. I would like to do a great job.

The man is African and very dark. You can hardly see any of his facial details in most facebook snapshot photographs of him. The woman is quite white.
I would like to produce the best photo of them anyone has delivered. Are there any suggestions any of you might have?
I don't have a flash unfortunately. I am thinking of using golden hour in some picturesque location. I will position him closer to whatever light source I find.
Any suggestions re: metering?
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Good call about positioning the dark man closer to the light source when possible.

As already suggested, try using a histogram overlay and expose to the right for the maximum brightness without clipping the whites. This should get optimum exposure for the white woman.

In Lightroom, you can bring up the shadows which should improve exposure of the black man.

In Photoshop, you can use a LAYER > NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER > LEVELS adjustment to adjust exposure for the black man. But that affects exposure for the entire picture so the white woman will be overexposed. Then use the "GRADIENT TOOL with the linear gradient" on the levels' layer mask to bring most the woman's side of the picture back to the original exposure while retaining most of the levels exposure of the man. Be subtle with the adjustments and they should be unnoticeable.

If you don't have Photoshop, your graphics editing program may be able to do the same thing.

$.02,
Sky
 
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After all the responses, no one suggested the Shadow Highlight filter. First reset the filter default to zero for shadow. It's the only photoshop filter that does something just opening it and that's confusing. Just a touch of the Shadow Highlight filter will put a little more detail in the darker areas of the image. You might have to do a feathered selection to make it look natural.
 
Gennadi said:
Hi guys,

I've been asked by some good friends of mine to take couples photos of them. I would like to do a great job.

The man is African and very dark. You can hardly see any of his facial details in most facebook snapshot photographs of him. The woman is quite white.
I would like to produce the best photo of them anyone has delivered. Are there any suggestions any of you might have?
I don't have a flash unfortunately. I am thinking of using golden hour in some picturesque location. I will position him closer to whatever light source I find.
Any suggestions re: metering?
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
A bright light on the black guy, and place the woman in shadow. Done.
 
I would like to thank everybody who responded to my question. What a great community!

A summary of suggestions for those of you who might face a similar shoot in the future:

1. Shoot manual.

2. Shoot raw.

3. Shoot bracket mode.

4. Shoot outdoor on an overcast day. Or open shade.

5. Lowest ISO possible.

6. Bracket mode.

7. Take incidental light readings.

8. Try HDR

9. Try high key shots

10. Use histogram overlay

11. Expose to the right

12. Take ambient light readings (not reflective readings)

13. Bring up shadows/bring down highlights in PP

14. Have couple dress conservatively

15. Try light vs dark backgrounds

16. Further PP suggestions in comments above.

17. Have fun ;)
 
Gennadi said:
I would like to thank everybody who responded to my question. What a great community!
A summary of suggestions for those of you who might face a similar shoot in the future:

1. Shoot manual.

2. Shoot raw.

3. Shoot bracket mode.

4. Shoot outdoor on an overcast day. Or open shade.

5. Lowest ISO possible.

6. Bracket mode.

7. Take incidental light readings.

8. Try HDR

9. Try high key shots

10. Use histogram overlay

11. Expose to the right

12. Take ambient light readings (not reflective readings)

13. Bring up shadows/bring down highlights in PP

14. Have couple dress conservatively

15. Try light vs dark backgrounds

16. Further PP suggestions in comments above.

17. Have fun ;)
Click to expand...
You forgot buybuybuy's suggestion. :P
 
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