WHAT IS COLOR by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN PORTUGAL
Photo of the bride and groom looking each other in the eye at their wedding reception
• Pode ler este artigo em Português.
The wedding photographer and their relationship with colour in photographs
The wedding photographer is, above all, a visual storyteller. Among the many elements that make up wedding photography, colour plays a central and sometimes ambiguous role. For those who live for the emotion of capturing the wedding day, colour can be a source of wonder or a true challenge. Some days, colours align in perfect harmony; others disturb the photographer’s artistic sensibility.
Harmony: the key behind colour in wedding photography
Whether in fashion, architecture, or wedding photographs, harmony is what defines their impact. A good image must have internal balance, and colour is one of the most delicate elements in that equation.
“Photography is an act of emotion, grounded in knowledge.”
Colour balance is often unstable. Colours have personalities. Some shine too brightly, others retreat into shadow. And some seem to envy the others, disrupting the composition carefully crafted by the photographer.
The complexity of colour on the wedding day
For a wedding photographer, colour represents a field of visual decisions. A small tonal shift can change the message. A vibrant red might draw attention away from the bride. A misplaced blue may cool the emotions of the groom.
Key points about colour in wedding photography
- Colour can be:
- A contrast between joy and disappointment
- A bridge between satisfaction and unease
- Visual harmony requires:
- Composition organisation
- Coherence between shapes and lines
- Tones that respect the scene’s balance
- Disharmony may arise when:
- Colours aren’t tonally aligned
- A single colour breaks the flow
- Excessive colour distracts from the moment
Black & white vs. colour: two emotional languages
Long before becoming a wedding photographer, I was drawn to black and white. This style, deceptively simple, reveals emotional depth few colours can match. Without colour, we see the essential — the bride’s gaze, a warm embrace, the wedding guests’ laughter.
Still, when colour is well handled, it can be sublime. A colour wedding photo with the right palette is like an impressionist painting — vibrant, intense, and emotionally rich.
- Black and white photographs:
- Emphasise contrast and emotion
- Remove distractions
- They are timeless and elegant
- Colour photographs:
- Impress through tone and palette
- Convey the event’s real atmosphere
- Can be visually and emotionally striking
When everything aligns: the power of colour in photos
During the wedding ceremony or party, there are moments when everything aligns. Natural light, décor, attire, emotion, and the colours. When this happens, the wedding photographer knows they’ve captured something eternal.
In these moments, colour isn’t a distraction — it becomes a symphony. The composition sings, emotion explodes, and the result is unforgettable.
The emotional act of photographing weddings
Wedding photography is, above all, emotional. Every click aims to preserve memories. Each image must tell a story, honour the context, the bride, groom, guests, and, of course, the palette present on that day.
Though technical knowledge is crucial, emotion always leads the gaze. When the photographer finds that perfect moment, everything falls into place.
Conclusion
The relationship between the wedding photographer and colour is one of tension and admiration. It’s a relationship built on experience and trust. When mastered, colour elevates wedding photography to visual poetry. Whether in black and white or colour, the goal remains: to move, to narrate, and to be remembered.
Book a wedding photography meeting
Want to see your story through my lens? Schedule a meeting with me and discover how colour — or its absence — can shape the visual story of your wedding. Together, we’ll decide whether your album is in black and white, in colour, or both. I’m waiting for you, the other, or both. I’ll be waiting for you.
- You can see a full wedding story: