Let’s be honest — black and white isn’t just an Instagram trend or a way to fix bad lighting (even if sometimes, yes, it saves the day). In concert photography, it can be one of the most powerful tools to highlight emotion. But it only works when it works.
So when should you go monochrome instead of color? Here's when black and white isn't just a fix — it's the right choice.
When the Lighting Is Trash (but the Emotion Isn’t)
You nailed the moment. The band is killing it, the crowd’s screaming, the singer’s face says everything… but the lighting is full of weird green and purple tones that make it look like a zombie musical. 😵💫 Enter: black and white.
Removing color can bring the viewer back to what matters.
When You Want to Create a Timeless Feel
There’s something about black and white that feels classic. If the moment is powerful enough to stand on its own — no color needed — monochrome helps it feel timeless. Tour documentary vibes? Intimate backstage moments? Studio sessions? Perfect places to lean into it.
When Color Is Distracting From the Subject
Sometimes the stage lights are just doing too much. Maybe the artist is backlit in red and blue, but their face is in shadow and the skin tone’s a disaster. In black and white, you can balance the tones, bring the focus back to the expression, and skip the hours of HSL battle.
When You Want to Focus on Light, Contrast, and Shape
Black and white forces the eye to look differently. If your composition is strong, and the lighting creates interesting shadows or silhouettes, going B&W enhances the structure of the image.
This works great for:
Drummers half-lit behind cymbals
Crowd hands raised in shadow
Singer shots with sharp contrast
When You Just Feel It
Sometimes you look at an image and just know it needs to be in black and white. You can’t explain it — it just feels more honest that way. That’s valid too.
Trust your gut. Your editing style is part of your voice.
Black and white can make an ordinary shot feel iconic. But don’t use it to hide every mistake. Use it to elevate the photo.
And if you're stuck in Lightroom debating “color or not?” — try both. Compare. Zoom out. See which one speaks louder
Want to try it yourself?
Grab my free black and white preset — made for concert lighting and raw energy. [Download it here]