Wedding Photos of Black and white

The following “Black and white” images were created by documentary wedding photographers from the WPJA, who regularly submit their best candid moments, artistic portraits, details, and scene setters for review by our WPJA competition judges.

WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS + ARTISTIC PORTRAITS & DETAILS + ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

Some of the “Black and white” marriage photography samples below may have come from the getting ready events, the actual wedding ceremony, the reception after-party, an engagement session with the couple, or possibly be artistic portraits or detail shots.

FINE ART WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: Our Artistic Guild award winners take a more creative approach to wedding day Portraits and use their innovative skills to capture the Details of each couple’s special day. The Artistic Guild’s Scene Setters are some of the most notable and breathtaking from within the artistic WPJA contest categories. Playing with light and shadow, special effects, and post-production editing, these images embrace the artistic component of wedding photography.

PRE-WEDDING ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: The story of every couple starts long before the wedding day, and the engagement marks one of the most important milestones in their story. Engaged couples often want to celebrate the occasion and announce their upcoming wedding with a photoshoot. Pre-wedding portraits of an engaged couple can be just as moving and compelling as the images taken on the wedding day. Engagement portraits can win a Diamond Award, an exclusive WPJA award whose winner is selected from the best engagement photography in the world.

The couple stands close at Tenuta Bichi Borghesi in Tuscany, hands resting gently on the bride's shoulder in this touching black and white portrait emphasizing their intimate connection.

Intimate Black and White Portrait at Tenuta Bichi Borghesi, Tuscany

A romantic, sun-drenched moment captures the kiss between the newlyweds at the close of their wedding ceremony in the beautiful surroundings of La Médicée, France, symbolizing the beginning of their life together.

Sun-Drenched Kiss Concludes Ceremony at Beautiful La Médicée, France

Marigny Saint Marcel Haute Savoie Wedding Portrait La Médicée black and white about to kiss Haute-Savoie bride and groom

Poland, outside the church, is where the emotional father of the bride gently wipes a tear from his eye just moments before walking his daughter down the aisle.

Poland: Emotional Father Wipes a Tear Before Walking Daughter Down the Aisle

wiping a tear black and white Poland emotional Father Poland Wedding Ceremony

A tight black-and-white portrait of a pre-wedding couple in Baeza, Jaén. The photograph emphasizes their intimacy as the groom-to-be gently wraps his arms around his fiancée from behind in a close embrace.

Black And White Intimacy In Baeza: A Pre-Wedding Embrace

Jaen PreWedding Portrait tight shot close embrace Baeza wrapping arms Spain intimate portrait

In black and white, a detail of the toasting glasses is artfully captured during the cake cutting celebration at Villa Dolceacqua in Oggiono, Lake Como, Italy.

Elegant Black And White Detail Of Toasting Glasses, Oggiono, Lake Como, Italy

Oggiono Wedding Photography Oggiono toasting glasses Villa Dolceacqua black and white cake cutting Lake Como

The bride's slippers rest on the ground at the sun-drenched threshold of a doorway at Villa Dolceacqua, Oggiono, Lake Como, Italy, highlighting a quiet detail of the wedding day.

Slippers Rest at Sunny Threshold, Villa Dolceacqua, Oggiono, Lake Como, Italy

Villa Dolceacqua doorway Lake Como black and white Oggiono Wedding Details Oggiono sun drenched

Divan Istanbul — The couple laughs together, enveloped by the bride’s sweeping veil in a tight black-and-white shot, capturing warm love and intimacy in this artistic wedding portrait.

Couple Laughs Enveloped by Bride's Sweeping Veil Tight Black and White Portrait

Istanbul wedding portrait Divan Istanbul under veil laughing couple intimacy black and white Istanbul

At Estancia Santa Lucia, the delicate details of the bride's attire, including the intricate gown embroidery, elegant headdress, and stunning earrings, are captured in this artistic wedding day photograph.

At Estancia Santa Lucia Bride's Delicate Gown Embroidery Headdress and Earrings

dress detail earrings Argentina Argentina Bridal Details Estancia Santa Lucia headdress black and white

Leidschendam, the Netherlands, is where a determined groom takes unique measures to finish getting ready, using a power drill to bore a new, necessary hole in his leather belt.

Determined Dutch Groom Drills Belt Hole With Power Tool In Leidschendam

Leidschendam black and white Groom getting ready Netherlands Leidschendam Wedding Moment leather belt power drill

Candid silhouette of a bride getting her makeup done before a ceremony at Switzer Farm in Mendocino.

Candid Silhouette Of Bride’s Makeup Moment Before Ceremony At Switzer Farm, Mendocino

Mendocino Switzer Farm silhouettes black and white Mendocino Wedding Moment Bridal Makeup California - Northern

John River, Kingston, MA: A bride prepares, her mother's steady hands stitching memory into fabric.

A Mother's Love: Stitching Memories Into a Wedding Gown

mother of bride Kingston MA Wedding Moment Kingston MA bridal preparations stitching fabric helping bride Massachusetts

Black and white, vertical portrait of a couple walking and holding hands in London, UK, both subjects dressed completely in all black attire.

London Shadows: Black Attire, Holding Hands, Forever Walking Into Love

London PreWedding Photography black and white black attire London vertical portrait holding hands couple walking

Black and white wedding portrait in Bangkok, Thailand: a shaft of light illuminates the couple.

Bangkok Wedding: A Shaft of Light Illuminates The Bride And Groom

shaft of light Bangkok Wedding Portrait illuminated couple Bangkok vertical composition black and white Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand: A touching detail shot of a family's hands holding tightly during a wedding.

A Touching Moment: A Family's Hands Hold Tightly in Bangkok

touching detail holding tightly family hands Bangkok Wedding Moment Thailand black and white Bangkok

Bangkok Bride: An Elegant Black and White Profile Silhouette

profile of bride Bangkok Bridal Portrait Bangkok Four Seasons Bangkok Elegance black and white

Black and white vertical image of a newly married couple hugging at the altar at Manor Barn, Cambridge, UK.

Manor Barn: Black And White Wedding Hug At The Altar

hugging black and white UK Manor Barn Cambridge UK Ceremony ceremony vertical format

Guests applaud enthusiastically during a wedding ceremony held in a backyard in Decatur.

Wedding Guests Applaud Enthusiastically During Backyard Ceremony In Decatur, Georgia

black and white Decatur backyard ceremony applauding guests wedding ceremony Decatur Wedding Ceremony

Couple stands intimately in Brixton Tube Station, a blur of commuters and London's vibrant life surrounding them.

Couple Embraces Amidst Brixton Tube Station’s Bustle And Vibrant London City Life

commuters blur couple posing stairways Brixton Wedding Portrait London Londons Life

Twickenham, Secret River Garden: A joyful bride and groom dance on the shoulders of their wedding guests.

Bride And Groom Dance On Guests’ Shoulders At Twickenham Secret River Garden Wedding

Twickenham dance floor lifted up guests celebration London bride and groom lifted

Groom and friends in Funes, Argentina, getting ready for the wedding: ironing, dressing, and having fun.

Groom And Friends Preparing For Wedding In Funes, Argentina: Ironing And Fun

ironing men getting ready groom and friends Funes Wedding Moment Funes black and white dressing

The bride's mother gracefully carries her shawl, en route to the emotional Poland wedding ceremony.

Mother Of The Bride Gracefully Carries Shawl To Emotional Poland Wedding Ceremony

black and white bride of mother long train Poland Poland Wedding Moment

At Les Rochers du Carnaval, a couple relaxes together sheltered beneath the rocks in a black and white portrait. Their comfortable pose highlights a sense of intimacy and ease in the natural setting.

Intimate Black And White Portrait: Couple Sheltered Beneath Les Rochers du Carnaval Rocks

natural setting black and white Les Rochers du Carnaval Uchon rock shelter Uchon PreWedding Portrait Bourgogne-France-Comte

A black and white photo of the groom cutting a piece of the bride's wedding dress at Château de Montalieu.

Timeless Black And White Moment: Groom Cuts Bride’s Dress At Château De Montalieu

Saint Vincent de Mercuze Isere Wedding Moment cutting dress Isere black and white Chateau de Montalieu

In La Morte, France, a couple shares a kiss in front of a serene lake. The black and white portrait has a painterly quality, evoking a timeless atmosphere.

Timeless Black And White Kiss: Couple By Serene Lake In La Morte, France

lakeside engagement serene lake La Morte painterly quality timeless Isere La Morte PreWedding Portrait

In the Ukrainian Mountains, a WPJA wedding photographer captures a dramatic, editorial-style bridal portrait. The black-and-white image focuses on the bride in her elegant satin gown, with a loose strand of hair blowing across her face.

A Wisp of Hair in the Mountains, a Dramatic Bridal Portrait

black and white Ukraine Bride Ukraine hair blowing Ukrainian Mountains Ukraine Bridal Portrait editorial style

At the Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church, a WPJA wedding photographer captures a heartfelt, candid moment. The black-and-white image shows the bride, in her intricately embroidered gown, having her veil adjusted as the groom lovingly holds

Tender Ukrainian Nuptials: A Candid Moment of Love, Captured in Black and White

black and white urban setting Saints Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church adjusting veil candid moment embroidered gown Chicago wedding photography

At the Jardin des Martels in Giroussens, France, a wedding photographer captures a serene scene. The image shows the couple in a loving embrace, standing on a dock in front of giant water lilies.

Serene Embrace on Water Lily Dock, Jardin des Martels, France

black and white Tarn water lilies loving embrace Jardin des Martels Giroussens Wedding Portrait Giroussens

At the Pavillon de la Jamaïque in Montreal, a wedding photographer captures a serene image. Following their first look, the newlywed couple shares a private embrace under a backlit veil in a striking black-and-white image.

A Serene First Look Embrace Under a Backlit Veil

backlit private embrace couple under veil black and white Pavillon de la Jamaïque Montreal Wedding photography Montreal

Bride tenderly embracing her husband in the courtyard of Mairie de Saint-Sever, Landes, France.

Love's Tender Embrace in Saint-Sever, a French Courtyard Wedding

Mairie de Saint Sever tender embrace black and white Landes courtyard bride hugging groom Landes Wedding Moment

A documentary photograph captures a candid and joyful scene at a hotel in Fujian, China. The image shows a bride laughing alongside her bridesmaids during the wedding day celebration.

Fujian Bride and Her Bridesmaids Share a Joyful Laugh

Fujian sunglasses candid black and white bridesmaids hotel bride laughing

Pages

WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.