Why I Photograph Weddings in Black & White

One of the questions I'm asked most often is whether I photograph weddings entirely in black and white.

The answer is simple: absolutely not.

A wedding day is full of colour. The flowers you've spent months choosing, the subtle tones of a summer evening, the rich colours of the venue, and the excitement of the celebrations all deserve to be remembered exactly as they were. Colour tells part of the story, and I would never want to take that away.

So why do I include black and white images?

Because some moments transcend colour.

There are occasions during every wedding where the emotion becomes far more important than the surroundings. A quiet glance between a couple before the ceremony. A father seeing his daughter in her dress for the first time. A reassuring hand held during the speeches. The tears, the laughter, the anticipation. These are the moments where colour can become a distraction rather than an enhancement.

Removing colour allows the viewer to focus entirely on expression, light and emotion.

Black and white has a unique ability to simplify an image. It strips away everything that isn't essential and leaves behind only what truly matters. For me, that's where some of the most powerful wedding photographs are created.

That doesn't mean every image works in monochrome.

Quite the opposite.

I'm incredibly selective. Every photograph is considered individually during the editing process. If colour strengthens the image, it stays in colour. If removing colour gives the photograph greater emotional depth or a more timeless quality, then it becomes black and white.

There isn't a formula or a fixed percentage. Each image earns its place.

I often think about how these photographs will be viewed decades from now. Long after fashion trends have changed and colours have faded from memory, the emotions remain exactly the same. A genuine smile, a reassuring embrace or a quiet moment between two people never goes out of style.

That's one of the reasons black and white photography has endured for generations. It's not nostalgic simply because it's monochrome; it's timeless because it asks us to look beyond appearances and connect with the people within the photograph.

My approach to wedding photography has always been documentary in nature. I don't believe in forcing moments that don't naturally exist. Instead, I quietly observe, anticipating those genuine interactions that unfold throughout the day. Whether the final image is presented in colour or black and white is simply the final creative decision in telling that story honestly.

When couples receive their gallery, they'll find a carefully balanced collection of colour and monochrome images. Together they tell the complete story of the day. The vibrant celebrations remain full of life and colour, while those deeply personal, emotional moments are sometimes given the quiet simplicity that only black and white can provide.

For me, black and white isn't a style applied for consistency.

It's a storytelling choice.

And like every decision I make behind the camera, it's made with one aim in mind: creating photographs that will feel just as meaningful in thirty years' time as they do today.