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I equip purpose-driven entrepreneurs and photographers to turn their story into connection—and their gifts into lasting impact.

hey friends, i'm katelyn

You guys are in for a TREAT today! I’m sharing a little piece of education from the KJ Consistency Course!! The KJ Consistency Course WILL be open for enrollment again in the next couple of months! We promise!! If you’re interested in being in the next class of the Consistency Course, we have a little place to join the waiting list included below this post! If you’re already in the course, I apologize for the repetitive info!!

One lesson in the course is dedicated to Black and Whites! While I can’t share how I edit my Black and Whites today, I CAN tell you how I filter which images should be black and white and which should remain in color!! I love black and white images!! I’m known for my COLOR and POP but every now and then I come across an image that just HAS to be Black and White!! So how do you know when to make an image black and white and when to keep it color?! I think it may help to have a FILTERING SYSTEM!!

Our filtering system for our Black and Whites looks like this:

– Would the emotion of this image be more prominent without color?
– Does this image have distracting colors that would de-value my work and throw off the flow of the color theme in my blog post?
– Will this image work as a Black and White technically? Is it really busy with a lot of tiny detail in the foreground and background?

Below is an example of two images that are almost identical. One is in color and one is in black and white. I think it’s safe to say that the black and white image is striking and captures you more than the color image does. The color is almost a distraction from the JOY of the bride!!!

editing black and whites_7915

Here’s an example of an image that probably shouldn’t have been a black and white. This first look location was in the shade when I first scouted it out but then at 1pm the sun had crept out and we had a spotty light situation and the black and white just emphasized the spots!!

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The BEST black and whites are simple, clean and are often filled with emotion!! That isn’t ALWAYS the case but it’s usually true for my black and whites!! So, I hope this is helpful!!

Happy Monday Friends!

Here are some other examples of Black and Whites that we ran through our filter system while we were editing!!

editing black and whites_7928editing black and whites_7927editing black and whites_7926editing black and whites_7925editing black and whites_7924editing black and whites_7923editing black and whites_7922editing black and whites_7921editing black and whites_7920editing black and whites_7919editing black and whites_7918editing black and whites_7917View More: http://katelynjames.passgallery.com/event/LVfS61063173 Reasons to Edit in Black & White by Katelyn James Photography

Click Here to view other posts in the Ask Anything Series!

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To learn more about the Consistency Course click HERE!

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I’m a photography educator, business builder, podcaster, and entrepreneurial cheerleader, I equip entrepreneurs to create a business and life they love—all while being a wife and momma to four, plus one in heaven.

Hi, I'm Katelyn

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