Silhouettes in photography have been around since the first cameras took pictures in the early 1800’s, and they remained popular throughout the 1900’s, especially in the ‘70s and ‘80s. In more recent years, their appeal has ebbed and flowed, but today, when silhouettes are made with craftsmanship and purpose, they remain compelling and fresh. Understanding how to create them well is valuable for all photographers, no matter what genre or style they are working in. We believe silhouettes should not be forced but when the opportunity presents itself, sometimes it’s is the best or only solution. Here, we go through some of our tips on how to do silhouette photography well.

WHEN TO MAKE A SILHOUETTE

So how do you know when the conditions simply BEG for a silhouette? The simplest answer is: sunset. One of the best times of day to get a clear, powerful silhouette is between sunset and the blue hour right afterwards. There are other opportunities that are not so obvious and ways to create them with off-camera lighting. The main thing you need to be present is a background that’s light enough to render the subjects dark.

[Read: How to Master Chiaroscuro Photography for More Atmospheric Scenes]

Our team will often add in a silhouette to a scene after we have exhausted all the typical and expected photographs. Of course, we capture the moments big and small, and we’re always improvising and finding ways to go beyond the ordinary to surprise our clients. If we can place the couple against a light backdrop, we can easily add a flash behind them, point it towards the wall, take a few steps back and have the couple face each other. That gives us the chance to add a silhouette in just seconds after their portrait is done, and the couple never has to move. The mom is happy, and now the couple is happy because they have a photograph that isn’t expected, with them as the focal point of a frameable work of art.

HOW TO EXPOSE FOR A SILHOUETTE

Using natural light at sunset, you’ll want to underexpose so the colors of the sky pop and your couple goes dark, so dark that they are only black shapes against the background. Start with your lowest ISO, then play with your settings from there to get the best exposure. Just don’t go so dark that your sky becomes muddy. You want your subject shapes to pop out against the colors of the sky. Great photography happens when you know how to break the rules and push the extremes, and we find that exposing for the highlights, or for shadows, is a good way to make the magic happen.

[Read: 5 Tips to Photographing Elopements in Breathtaking Landscapes]

HOW TO POSE COUPLES

The key to posing couples for a silhouette is to have them face one another. Without foreheads, noses and chins, you have no silhouette that’s worth anything. Think of the silhouette cutouts that artists make and do some research to get inspired. You’ll notice how they highlight profiles only because otherwise the faces are just ovals with no definition. 

• Face one another: Our cue to the couple is always “go nose to nose but don’t touch.” 
• Incorporate hands: Instead of the two people embracing with arms around each other’s backs, have one of them use their fingers to gracefully pull the other’s face toward theirs. The shape of the hands and fingers adds an extra dimension to your silhouette. 
• Walking: Silhouettes don’t have to be still. Have your couple move. When you have them walk, they will be walking parallel to you, rather than towards you, so you can see their profiles. Have them hold hands and separate so you can see both people’s profiles separately. If they walk side by side, they will mush together into a blob. The best walking silhouette photo will show each person’s legs separated in an inverted V rather than the in-between moment where the legs come together. Think of their whole bodies from head to toe to get your shapes!
• Dancing: They can twirl each other, or dance any way that comes natural to them. The act of dancing is fun, and your couple will show their happiness as they move.
• Jumping: While jumping can be cliché, when it is done from a unique perspective it can be a fun way to create interesting shapes. So if you’re out of ideas, try it!
  
  

HOW TO BRING OUT EMOTION

It’s not enough to simply have your couple look at each other. You’re showing shapes, yes, but you have to elevate your silhouette into something compelling. Bring out the same emotion in your subjects in a silhouette that you would bring out in a photo where you can see their faces. 

• Laughter: Laughter is a great cue because they will throw their heads back and open their mouths more, and you can just feel the laughter even if you can’t see their eyes. 
• Romance: Have them go in for a slow kiss. One of them will cock their head slightly, and you will feel the longing between them. You can feel the energy between two people who are about to kiss and capture it.
• Connection: When having your couple walk for a silhouette, have the person in front look back at the other person, as if leading and guiding them. This creates a connection between them. They’re not simply on a hike; they are in this together, looking out for one another. Even though you can’t see their actual expressions, you can still feel the connection between them. 
  

SILHOUETTES: THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE!

• Animals: Dogs, cats, birds and especially horses are amazing subjects when it comes to doing silhouette photography. But the same compositional rules apply—you must photograph their profiles, not straight-on faces. The viewer needs to see right away what kind of animal it is in order for it to be a compelling photo. 
• Houses and buildings: These also work as silhouettes, but only when the shapes are really interesting. Try posing your couple in the open doorway of a building so they are encapsulated in the rectangle, or use arches and spires at churches and cathedrals to add other dimensions to your photographs. 
• Vehicles: We love using bicycles and motorcycles as shapes, especially unique vehicles like Volkswagen Bugs, vintage VW mini buses and classic convertibles. Your best bet is to pose the couple (or dog!) off to the side, using the vehicle as an extra shape in your frame. 
• Uniquely shaped objects: Any immediately recognizable shapes such as tennis rackets, wine glasses, flowers, hats, palm trees, etc. can be used to add interest. Just be sure the share makes them immediately recognizable to the viewer’s eye. 
  
  

EXTRA TIPS TO DO SILHOUETTE PHOTOGRAPHY UNIQUELY

• When photographing couples at sunset, make sure to position yourself low enough that the couple is completely in the sky (as much as possible), rather than cut off at the waist by the horizon. When you get low, it pushes your subjects higher. 
• If there are clouds in the sky, compose your couple between the clouds rather than overlapping them, again, in order to see the complete shapes of the faces without distraction. 
• Look out for passing objects that could elevate your photo into something extraordinary. Birds flying, ships cruising past, people walking by can all be used as elements. Sometimes you have to ask your couple to be a bit patient as you wait for the extra object to come into your frame. Once it enters, don’t stop shooting until it’s completely out of your frame. You’ll need lots of photos to make sure you get at least one good one, because moving objects can be tricky to capture.
• And last but definitely not least, don’t be afraid to fail! Keep trying, and don’t click the shutter once and be happy with the result. Keep adjusting, keep moving, keep looking for extreme angles and exposures. The joy is in the journey and you have to work hard to get photographs you’re proud of.
  

We hope you have fun with the experimentation and the process, and that you’ll keep pushing the boundaries of your skill to do silhouette photography the way you and your clients envision it.

Ben and Erin Chrisman are the co-owners of Chrisman Studios, comprised of a team of photographers based in Charleston, San Francisco and Italy. Well-known for their documentary, destination wedding style, and their impact on the art of wedding photojournalism, they offer mentoring to other photographers looking to improve their craft and welcome artists at all levels.