Dramatic side light
Create a black and white portrait of the same man with hard side light, half his face in shadow, plain black background. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. High contrast, sharp detail.
10 tested prompts for striking black and white photos: dramatic studio light, fashion editorials, couples and street style. Copy one, or run it on your photo.
10 prompts · every result made with the exact prompt shown · updated Nov 2026
Create a black and white portrait of the same man with hard side light, half his face in shadow, plain black background. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. High contrast, sharp detail.
Create a soft black and white portrait of the same woman by a window, gentle shadows, calm expression. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Fine grain, delicate tones.
Make a black and white portrait of the same woman resting her chin on her hands, looking into the camera. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Studio light, deep blacks, editorial.
Make a black and white fashion photo of the same man in a leather jacket against a concrete wall, looking away from the camera. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Hard daylight, strong shadows.
Make a black and white fashion photo of the same woman in an oversized blazer, hands in pockets, in a bare studio. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Strong light and shadow, magazine look.
Create a black and white close-up of this couple forehead to forehead, eyes closed, smiling. Keep both faces the same. Soft light, film grain, intimate.
Turn this couple into a black and white street photo, walking arm in arm across a busy crosswalk, laughing. Keep both faces the same. Classic 35mm street look.
Turn this into a black and white street photo of the same man holding an umbrella in the rain, reflections on the wet pavement. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Moody, 35mm film grain.
Make a black and white photo of the same woman sitting in a subway car, looking out the window. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Natural light, grain, candid.
Make a black and white portrait of the same man reading a newspaper in an old cafe. Keep the same face, hairstyle and expression. Window light, rich tones, documentary style.
Black and white filter turns your photo black and white in one click, with the contrast already set. No prompt needed.
Choose one whose result you like. Every image on this page came from the prompt under it, on the model named on the image, unedited.
Paste it into Gemini or ChatGPT with a clear, well-lit photo, or press Try it now and upload the photo here.
Swap the outfit, place or light in the prompt, but keep the sentence that tells the model to keep the same face.
A filter only removes color. These prompts also change the light, pose or scene to suit black and white, like hard side light or deep shadows.
Photos with strong light and shadow, textures and clear expressions. Flat, evenly lit photos look grey; add 'high contrast' to the prompt.
Yes. Add 'everything black and white except the red lipstick'. Results vary, so try it a couple of times.