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.

At Harkness Park in Waterford, CT USA, a couple stands in a daffodil field, holding hands with lots of plants all around them. The photo is in black and white.

Black and White Engagement Portrait at Harkness Park, Waterford, CT USA Daffodil Field Bliss

The man and woman are standing together in front of a large window at the Museum of Arts in Brussels, looking deeply into each other's eyes, with the photo taken in black and white.

In Love at Museum of Arts: A Stunning Black and White Engagement Portrait in Brussels

Brussels Engagement Portrait Brussels Brussels Museum of Arts white background black and white eye contact

A engagement photo shoot, captured in black and white, shows a couple embracing lovingly with their eyes closed, standing side by side near a stone wall covered in ivy at Val d'Oingt, Rhône, Beaujolais, région des pierres dorées.

Romantic Black and White Engagement Portrait by Ivy-Covered Stone Wall in Val d'Oingt, Beaujolais

Rhone Engagement Portrait embracing eyes closed Rhône stone wall black and white ivy covered wall

In Pérouges, Ain, a medieval village, the couple stands in a charming cobblestone street with picturesque houses, enjoying a sweet kiss as they prepare for marriage.

Charming Engagement Portrait in Medieval Pérouges, Ain: Couple Embraces in Cobblestone Street, Ready for Marriage

picturesque homes medieval village black and white Perouges Engagement Portrait sweet kiss off center Pérouges

In a medieval village called Pérouges in France, a couple getting married posed for a black and white photo. The woman hugs her partner from behind, kissing his neck while he smiles with closed eyes.

Pérouges Engagement Portrait of Bride Hugging Groom, Black and White Elegance

eyes closed Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ain black background black and white kissing neck off center framing

As the sun set at Magic Gardens in Philadelphia, a photographer captured a double exposure silhouette of the couple against the city skyline, creating an engagement portrait at the an Acme parking garage.

Sunset Double Exposure Silhouette Engagement Portrait with City Skyline at Magic Gardens in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Engagement Portrait double exposure black and white clouds city skyline silhouette Acme Parking Garage

At their private home in Ravenna, Italy, the couple shared a sweet kiss with their eyes closed, capturing the pure love they have for each other against a simple white backdrop.

Eyes Closed, Hearts Open: Ravenna Romance in a Sweet Home Kiss

ravenna engagement photography white backdrop sweet kiss eyes closed black and white Ravenna

At Wellington, Somerset, a couple in love shares a sweet kiss in a sunny meadow beside a wire fence, captured beautifully in black and white.

Sunny Meadow Love: A Romantic Black and White Engagement Kiss in Wellington, Somerset

meadow England wire fence Wellington Engagement Portrait black and white rural Wellington

During their engagement portrait session in the Art District, LA, the couple struck James Bond poses in front of a painted garage in a stunning black and white image.

Art District Elegance: Bond-inspired Couple Poses in Black & White Portrait

black and white Los Angeles engagement photography James Bond Pose painted garage LA Art District Los Angeles

Beautiful black and white wedding photo taken at Soho House Istanbul, capturing the love from the parents. The bride is seen laughing in the foreground as they toast during speeches outdoors.

Parental Love in Black and White at Soho House Istanbul Wedding Celebration

outdoors parental love celebration laughter Soho House Istanbul Istanbul wedding photography black and white

Chateau de Kergrist in Brittany, France. Wedding photo of a couple in the garden taken from a high angle in black and white with a tilt shift effect.

Romantic Nuptials at Chateau de Kergrist: High Angle Garden Wedding in Tilt Shift Monochrome

black and white bw Wedding Brittany Wedding Portrait France garden Chateau de Kergrist Brittany

A black and white wedding photo of a couple kissing on the wall at the breathtaking Castelnau des Fieumarcon in Lectoure, Gers.

Eternal Love: Couple's Kiss at Castelnau des Fieumarcon in Lectoure, Gers, Black and White Beauty

Gers kiss eternal couple love black and white Castelnau des Fieumarcon

In Labenne, France, silhouettes on the dune captured in a minimalist black and white shot show the couple in a tender embrace, preparing for their upcoming wedding.

Silhouettes on the Dune: A Minimalist Black and White Engagement in Labenne, France

Nouvelle-Aquitaine black and white Minimalistic silhouettes Landes Labenne Engagement Photography Labenne

Wedding photo taken at Villa di Bagno in Porto Mantovano, Mantova, capturing a black and white image from a low angle during the rice throwing ceremony.

Elegant Rice Toss: Black and White Wedding Moment at Villa di Bagno Mantova

mantua wedding photography villa di bagno Mantua elegant Mantova low angle black and white

Photographer captured a surreal jump moment at Domaine du château de la Rive, Savoie, France wedding. Men having fun during wedding games.

Joyful Jump: Men Having Fun at Domaine du Château de la Rive Wedding Games

reception Savoie Wedding games Domaine du Chateau de la Rive fun black and white men

This wedding photo captures the bride getting prepared, sitting in a chair with a stylist by her side at Domaine de Bellevue, Anse, Rhône, France.

French Elegance: Bride's Preparations at Domaine de Bellevue with Stylist by Her Side

Hair Stylist bridal preparations Anse sitting in chair stylist Rhône Anse Wedding Photography

Photographer captured a beautiful portrait of the bride sitting by a window at Hotel Aníbal in Linares, Jaén, Spain. The bride gazes at her bouquet and dress is fanned out on the floor.

Stunning Portrait by Window at Hotel Aníbal, Linares, Jaén, Spain

bouquet hotel room Linares Bridal Portrait fanned dress Linares Jaén Linares Bride

Captivating BW image taken at a London wedding capturing the moment the bride and groom are separated before their Sikh ceremony.

Stunning BW Shot: Emotional Moment as Sikh Bride and Groom Part Ways in London

London London wedding photography reflections bride and groom England black and white

Capturing the love between the soon-to-be-married couple, the engagement portrait session at home in Kadıkoy Istanbul shows a tender black and white image of them kissing in an intimate setting.

A Tender Black and White Home Engagement Portrait in Istanbul

black and white intimate setting couple in love Kadıköy Kadıköy Engagement Session home session Istanbul

Photographer captured bride and groom dancing at Bodrum Villa Maçakızı in a black and white image with high contrast, taken at their wedding.

Bodrum Villa Maçakızı: Stunning Black and White Wedding Dance Shot with High Contrast

Villa Maçakızı Bodrum sunlight Turkey Bodrum wedding photography dancing high contrast

Captured at a wedding at Çıragan Palace İstanbul, this photo shows the bride getting ready with her friend admiring her. The stylist is doing her hair as a cute dog sits on her lap.

Glamorous Bride Prepares with Friend and Pup at Çıragan Palace İstanbul Wedding Venue

hair styling dog Istanbul turkey bride friend Istanbul wedding photography black and white

Photograph taken at a wedding, capturing the bride and groom's first kiss at Hazel Gap Barn. Artistic black and white image with a low camera angle during the ceremony.

Enchanting Wedding Moment: Bride and Groom's First Kiss at Hazel Gap Barn Photography

burst of light low angle Nottingham Ceremony Photography Nottinghamshire First Kiss Hazel Gap Barn black and white

Photograph capturing the bride and groom's intimate first dance at The Pastures Hotel wedding. Professional black and white image showcasing the love between the couple.

Captured Elegance: The Pastures Hotel Bride and Groom's Intimate First Dance in Stunning Monochrome

Mexborough Wedding Photographer bride and groom Hotel Reception South Yorkshire Mexborough intimate black and white

Wedding photo capturing spouses in Duino, Trieste, Italy, flooded by rice thrown by guests.

Romantic Duino Nuptials: Spouses Showered in Rice by Guests in Trieste, Italy Exquisite Ceremony

throwing rice Duino Wedding Photography black and white blocking rice Trieste Duino ceremony exit

Captured at a wedding in Nanning, Guangxi, this black and white photo shows a humorous low angle shot of the groom and groomsmen. A unique moment from the special day.

Low Angle Laughter: Groom and Groomsmen Strike a Pose at Nanning Wedding Celebration

black and white low angle Nanning Humorous Groom and groomsmen Nanning groom Nanning wedding photography

A professional photo taken at a wedding in Nanning, Guangxi, showing the bride's father fixing her shoe. Beautiful black and white low angle shot captured by a skilled photographer.

Nanning Bride's Father Fixes Her Shoe in Stunning Black and White Photo

brides father Nanning wedding photography black and white Nanning fixing shoe low angle Guangxi

Captivating outdoor wedding photo taken at Redwood Ridge Estate, Los Gatos CA. Emotion-filled ceremony surrounded by redwoods. Picture perfect moment captured by a skilled photographer.

Emotion-Filled Redwood Ridge Estate Wedding: Picture Perfect Moment Surrounded by Stunning Redwoods

redwoods black and white tears Los Gatos wedding photography Redwood Ridge Estate emotion California - Northern

An intimate and heartfelt engagement session at Berkeley Botanical Gardens captured the couple sitting close on a bench, kissing, and sharing a tender and warm embrace as they prepare for their upcoming wedding.

A Sweet and Stunning Berkeley Botanical Gardens Engagement Portrait Session

California - Northern black and white garden engagement park bench Berkeley Berkeley engagement photography cactus

In the serene setting of the Berkeley Botanical Gardens, California, the couple shares a tender and warm embrace, capturing the beauty of their love in black and white.

A Berkeley Botanical Gardens Engagement Portrait in Classic Black and White

serene setting black and white Berkeley Botanical Gardens eye to eye California - Northern Berkeley Berkeley Engagement Portrait

At Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, CA, the engaged couple laughed and embraced as the groom-to-be lifted his bride-to-be in a playful black and white photograph.

Engaged Couple Laugh and Embrace at Foothills Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA

California - Northern playful lifting bride to be Foothills Nature Preserve Palo Alto Engagement Photography black and white laughing

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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.