Everyone’s familiar with the phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Whether you’re a brand, business, blogger, influencer, or something in between, this saying couldn’t be closer to the truth! Finding the perfect pic to represent who you are and what you do is crucial. Monochromatic photos could be the missing piece in your journey to blogging, influencing, advertising, or otherwise.
A picture that’s monochromatic is one that only contains one color, including all of its hues. One well-known example of monochromatic photography is the “sepia” effect used on phone cameras, Instagram, and other social media.
Like any other photography style, monochrome serves a special purpose. Although, before you start using this style for all your photos, you’ll need to know how to utilize monochromatic pictures to maximize their impact. Let’s get started!
1. Keep it simple
Monochromatic pictures are great to use for simpler designs. Therefore, it’s a handy tool to have if you’re crafting a complicated graphic.
Imagine some detailed infographics, art, and patterns you’ve seen before. Oftentimes, the more details something has, the fewer colors the designer uses. This is because taking away colors immediately simplifies a design. Alternatively, adding colors adds complexity.
2. Communicate an emotion
The main purpose for using monochromatic color is to evoke a mood. It influences people to perceive certain ideas and situations. Before you decide to go monochrome, decide what you want the viewer to feel when they look at the photo.
That being said, you’ll need to pick a color that suits the emotion you’re trying to convey. Here are some examples of colors and the ideas and feelings we generally attach to them:
- Red – attention, anger, passion, power, arousal
- Orange – encouragement, warmth, sunset
- Yellow – joy, excitement, tension, sunshine
- Green – nature, wealth, calm, growth, enlightenment
- Blue – sadness, relaxation, harmony, emotion
- Purple – health, luxury, peace, creativity
- Pink – love, sensitivity, kindness, femininity
3. Choose a subject
Color is obviously important when you’re trying to communicate a message, but what about the subject of your picture? It’s easier to figure out in portrait photography, but in other cases, it might not be as clear.
You might like the scene and color sometimes but not have a subject. With monochromatic photography, you have a bit more freedom. The color is going to speak volumes no matter what you pick.
Nevertheless, you’ll want to have something for the viewer to see – something the color draws attention to.
4. Adjust the contrast
To make a single-color pic pop, the range of tones in the image will need to be spot-on. You can use editing tools to adjust the contrast of your pictures.
A great way to keep your monochrome pictures interesting is to take advantage of textures and patterns wherever you find them. Angles, shapes, and lines all form areas of contrast that add to an image. These things are what will stay noticeable after the color data is taken out.
If you can successfully apply the right picture at the right time, the monochromatic look can add a really unique style to your images and most importantly, what you stand for!
Is monochromatic color always the best choice for your photos? Not exactly. However, these tips will help you utilize monochromatic pictures that’ll be sure to impress and engage viewers.
Best of luck!
Additional articles you might be interested in:
- How To Build Your Personal Brand
- How To Start An Online Business
- 10 Steps To Becoming An Influencer In Your Industry
- How To Post Consistent Quality Pictures On Instagram
- How To Get Started With Social Media: A Guide For Startups
- The Best Free Apps For Editing Instagram Photos
- How To Take Great Photos On Your Phone
- 4 Steps To Taking Instagram Worthy Photos
Bridget Baltazar is a blogging intern at LadyBossBlogger. She currently attends the University of Iowa and is studying communication studies, human relations, and environmental sustainability.
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