Hand colored photographs begin with a black and white photograph.  Color is then applied to the black and white print. This method of coloring photographs was very popular prior to the advent of color photography.  Many people have old family photographs that have been tinted.  Why paint on a black and white photograph when one could just take a color picture?  Hand painted photographs have a different look.  Depending on the technique used, the hand colored photograph can look more like a painting than a photograph.  Or the artist could choose to paint only part of the photograph, or vary the colors from the actual scene to portray a certain feeling.  In addition to a lot of choices in color technique,  black and white film and paper allow the artist a great deal of control  over tone and contrast.  Further, a hand colored black and white print will have greater permanence than a standard color print.  Color prints tend to fade after a few years, while hand colored prints will retain their color.

My method for hand coloring a photograph is only one of many methods.  After much trial and error I have, at least for now, settled on the following procedure.  I print my black and white photos on Forte semi-matte fiber paper. A semi-matte fiber paper is essential in order for the paint to be absorbed into the paper. Glossy surfaces and/or resin paper repel the paint. There are many great fiber papers available that have different characteristics.  Forte paper is a favorite of mine,  but is by no means the only brand that works well.   The print is usually a little lighter than one would use for a traditional black and white photograph.  I use Marshall's Photo Oil paint.  This is a transparent paint that allows the image to be seen while still changing the color.  The colors - shadow, mid-tone, and highlight - must all be mixed on a pallet before applying to the image.  It does not work to mix the paint directly on the image, as one might do in traditional oil painting.  The final color is greatly influenced by the underlying tone of the print.  The paint is applied to the image with Q-tips or bits of cotton twisted around a toothpick.  A cotton ball can be used for larger areas.  For corrections, or to bring out a highlight, the paint can be removed with a kneaded eraser while the paint is still wet.  My technique usually requires close attention to detail and might be considered tedious, but I enjoy the challenge of creating a unique image.