We thought we would post some of our favourite black and white wedding images from the last twelve months in a special post.
Photographers have varying approaches to using black and white in their coverage of a couple’s big day. For some it is a large part of their signature style and they shoot with monochrome in mind. In fact there are quite a few who present one hundred percent black and white imagery only.
Our attitude is to do a mixture of colour and black and white. Everything is originally captured in colour, and then converted with our own recipe to some of the shots featured here and on our Wedding Galleries
We have found over many hundreds of wedding days in and around London, that black and white works particularly well for bride and grooms preparation shots. It’s often the case that where a couple may be getting ready are busy cluttered places, with lots of paraphernalia like hairspray, makeup, clothes and accessories strewn all over the place. Good use of black and white, excellent lenses and technique really help isolate any particular subject and give things some atmosphere.
Another excellent time to use monochrome is during the ceremony, where the technique can concentrate the viewers attention to the emotion being displayed by the loving couple rather than their surroundings.
We will always give a couple the colour version of their image too. A particular favourite was this shot taken of Christopher as his emotion broke through seeing his bride to be walk down the aisle with her father, and a solitary tear rolls down his cheek.
Black and white as mentioned is good for deliberately concentrating a viewers attention on a particular area, not least because there are no colour elements to distract. It is also a photographic technique that helps emphasise shapes and patterns present in a wedding image.
Stand out images whether in colour or black and white take technique and an attitude of “making not just taking” photos. For example the featured image on the post is from a small intimate wedding at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge seen in this post: London Mandarin Oriental Wedding Photography
For this shot I asked the couple to sit on the stairs and just chat to each other. I knew what I wanted to achieve was a natural looking interaction with a stylish look. Pretty quickly the couple started smiling at each other and canoodling, I held a spotlight up with one hand and shone it on them while with the other I took the shot. I knew from experience this would look good in black and white, and sure enough the couple were delighted.
Other images featured here so the inside of Tower Bridge, various hotels, Islington Town Hall and Leez Priory among others.
By David Green
We always look forward to a big day as it is a creative thrill to capture and help create images that are going to be looked at and loved for generations.
So 7am on a Sunday morning our alarm clock rings, and it is time to grab a quick coffee and toast, and head into Marylebone for Barbara’s wedding prep at the aptly named Marylebone Hotel.
As Asia House was the venue for the civil wedding ceremony and it was only literally a few hundred yards around the corner, I improved my fitness levels by jogging between there and the hotel. I wanted to capture Andrew and his families arrival, but also keep an eye on how Barbara was getting on back at the Marylebone. I was definitely the best dressed jogger that chilly Sunday morning!
The ceremony took place on the first floor in what the venue calls “fine room 2” and it certainly was a very fine affair too! Barbara and Andrew during their marriage vows were what I would describe as a “photographers dream” in the sense that they were expressive, looked at each other lovingly, but also found time for laughter and interaction with their wedding party during the vows. Having said that, in terms of photography it still takes discretion experience and skill to capture unrepeatable moments well.
A special mention for the registrars, as we have consistently found with all central London wedding officials, that they were relaxed friendly and very good at what they did. It really does makes a big difference to the feel of a wedding ceremony to have sensitive and aware registrars conducting the proceedings.
The wedding party now made the fairly short journey across the centre of the capital past Oxford Circus to the reception venue Sketch on Conduit Street.
Sketch, what a venue, quirky, classy with a real variety of internal locations. Yet another fine example of an eighteen century classic London building. Speaking to the staff inside they say they are always trying to keep the look fresh and ever evolving. The venue is Time Out Recommended like ourselves. In fact Sketch is as much a gallery as a restaurant, and has the most amazing toilets! Now I don’t think we have ever mentioned toilets in a wedding day blog post before, but these are a series of white pods in a wonderfully futuristic space that we just had to photograph the couple in.
Food and service at Sketch was magnificent, and was a wonderful way to round off a lovely and memorable wedding day. Special mention to Barbara and Andrew’s friends and family who were delightful to work alongside and spend time with.
