Many decades ago a man named Thomas Edison came up with a way for carbon to capture dark and light images on film so that it could be transferred to paper, and photography was born.  Of course those images were not exact and could not yet capture color, so black and white wedding photography was the only option that couples had, if they could afford photography at all.

Of course as with every other invention scientists worked and worked to improve photography and how light was captured, so that soon color could be transferred on that film rather than just dark and light images.  For many black and white wedding photography became a thing of the past as they saw full color photos that were very real and lifelike and that seemed to really capture the events as they happened.

Today cameras can capture and transfer literally thousands upon thousands of different shades and hues of colors and of course digital and high definition video has improved this venue even more.  So why, with lifelike images so readily available, would any bride want to opt for black and white wedding photography for her big day?

There are a few reasons to consider.  For one thing, if you don’t have the clearest skin or have some lines, wrinkles, splotches, acne, and other flaws (and who doesn’t have these things?) you may not want photos that are quite so lifelike!  Even without black and white wedding photography many brides pay to have their photographer touch up their photographs and remove some imperfections on the faces of all their subjects.

However black and white wedding photography is a bit more “forgiving” than standard color photography.  It doesn’t pick up as many of the details on one’s face and can naturally smooth skin and erase those tiny lines and other flaws.  This isn’t the only reason many brides choose this option however.

It’s always advised to a bride that she should choose elements for her wedding that will be timeless.  You may look at a wedding photograph and immediately know from the fashion and hairstyles the exact year of the wedding!  What’s fashionable today may seem tired and even downright tacky tomorrow.  However black and white wedding photography seems to give an air of timelessness to weddings.

It’s as if it’s recalling a more romantic age, before all our modern technology and busy lifestyles made everyone a part of the “rat race.”  For many, black and white wedding photography is romantic and traditional and adds an air of elegance to even the most casual of weddings.

Many brides today choose both full-color and black and white wedding photography for their wedding photo package.  Since most pictures are developed on computers rather than from actual film, photos can easily go from one to the other without being ruined.  So talk to your photographer or, if you’re taking the photos, add some of these types of shots to your portfolio.