As a Boston North Shore wedding photographer, I ask myself everyday one simple question: How am I going to stand out from the rest? This is a question every single photographer should ask themselves, because let's face it, there are a lot of us. It's up to you to find your own answer. My name is Jeremy Cangiano, and this is the story of why I love black and white wedding photography.
Where it all began
Let's rewind for a moment. As fate had it, I received my first camera and attended my first wedding in the same year, 2006. From then on, I was hooked. I would take photographs of everything, mostly landscapes. It was fascinating tottery to capture the beauty this world has to offer.
Growing up in New England, I was fortunate to live in a place that offered four seasons. I could experience the cold raw blues of the Winter, the bright greens and pastels of Spring, the golden sunsets of Summer, and the flashes of reds and oranges of Autumn. As you might assume, this directly influenced my style of photography, even when I transitioned to mainly taking portraits.
In the begining, photographing people was challenge. Unlike landscapes, People have different skin tones and suddenly you're focusing on the person and not the surroundings. It took years for me to understand and have an eye for proper skin tones in my photographs. It wasn't until recently that I found my love for black and white photography.
The Moment I Fell in Love
About one year ago, I took my first black and white photography class.I was hooked from the start. The technical functional aspect was a learning curve, and I fell in love with the process. It was a renaissance for my photography skills. Contrast and lighting had new meanings, ones that brought definition to my photographs. What I truly fell in love with was the simplicity of the photographs. There was no color to distract the viewer from the natural beauty of the image. I knew I wanted to merge this simplicity with the elegance of my wedding photography.
Why Black and White Wedding Photography?
Why should you consider black and white wedding photography? It's simple. There is elegance in simplicity. when you look at a photograph in color, you eye is draw to different hues of saturation.
For example, below is the same photo from above, but in color. In this version, your eyes maybe drawn to the color of the bridesmaids' dresses or the bow ties on the groomsmen. While the black and white version allows the viewer to focus on the champagne cheers and the smiles all around. Which was my original intention as the photographer.
Remember, detail is everything
You can focus on the little details when presenting a photograph in black and white. As a photographer, I believe detail is everything and I want that to show in my work.
This day in age we all have the power to capture the special moments, people, and places in our lives. What isn’t easy is finding and emphasizing those little details that make these things special; there is a difference between capture and craft.
I believe my job as a photographer is to blend reality with art. I don’t just want to capture moments but highlight the emotional aspects that make them special in the first place. It’s the space between person, place, and memory I work to showcase and preserve.
Thank you
Thank you for learning more about me as a photographer and why I still love black and white wedding photography. To learn more or contact me, please visit www.cangianophotography.com.