Silhouette Couples

Using complementary colors like blue and orange adds instant impact to an image—but it takes more than that to really stand out. Here, the photographer used excellent lighting and composition to elevate and modernize the classic wedding silhouette. Our eyes happily dance back-and-forth from the soft orange lights in the foreground, through the blue leading lines of the ceiling and door, to the playful pose of the couple in the background.

Fireworks displays are fairly commonplace at weddings, and we've all seen images of the bride and groom against a sky full of pyrotechnics. This photographer departed from the expected shot and aligned the couple with the fiery launchpad for the aerial explosions. Showing them in near-silhouette at the heart of the action led to a powerful image.

It can be challenging to construct a visually complex image without losing the subjects. Here, the bold red framing elements at the top and bottom of the frame pop our attention to the high-contrast figures shown at the center of the image. Even the bold maneuvers of the juggling bartender can't contend with the locked gazes and tight pose of the couple. Just enough light falls on the bride and her gown to reveal her delicate skin tones and a bit of detail on the white dress.

Shooting from a high angle allowed this photographer to transform the bride and groom into shadowy caricatures—but the shot would be far less intriguing if that was we saw. The real power comes from the inclusion of the subjects in staggered positions; the bride at a traditional power point in the composition and the groom (even more intriguingly) completely out of frame except for his feet!

This photograph is so graphic that it reads almost like an illustration. With no detail on the subjects, the poses have to carry the story—and they do so beautifully. The photographer created enough space between the bride and groom to differentiate them, but their hands and locked gazes provide plenty of connection.

Heart-shaped hands frame the couple on all sides—the perfect complement to the bride's full-body laugh. Showing all the elements in silhouette perfectly distilled the image down to its most graphic form.

It takes a keen eye to take full advantage of an unusual scene like this wall of glass vases—and here it all comes together. The couple, posed in an opening, is delicately backlit to pop them out from the golden sunset tones that fill the rest of frame.

The play of shadows and highlights make a strong graphic statement in this charming backlit portrait. The photographer brought softness to the composition by including the circular steps at the bottom of the frame and a dancing pose for the couple at the top of the frame.

Veils blowing in the wind have become a classic depiction in wedding photography. However, this photographer used a razor-thin depth of field to transform the everyday scene into something more artistic and totally unexpected.

This sunset composition first strikes us as simply a pretty landscape photo—but there's more to be discovered as we allow our gaze to wander through the frame. Silhouetted in the sun's reflection, the photographer captured the strolling couple mid-stride, giving enough separation between them and their limbs to preserve their individuality.

It might take you a second to catch on that this is a wedding image—but once you do, it's bound the bring a smile to your face. Seeming secluded in their Ferris wheel car, the couple is boldly backlit with a glow so strong that it sends out beams into the night sky. It's this kind of "big picture" thinking that sets Fearless Photographers apart.

Bold lighting makes this image truly special. A sunburst pulls us into toward the bride, silhouetted at the mouth of the cavern and then pushes our gaze out toward the edge of the frame for another nice surprise: the rim-lit groom in the foreground.

This clever composition draws us in with washes of color and intriguing shapes. The payoff comes when our eyes alight on the masterfully posed couple, framed in near silhouette by the landscape and rising balloons.

While the abstract haze of vibrant pink and purple draws us into the image, it's the starburst of light at the bottom edge of the frame that finally pulls us toward the couple's silhouettes. The contrast of their crisp outlines against the painterly scene makes this an attention-grabbing shot deserving of a second, or third, look.

There's a place for wedding images that look purely natural, authentic, and unplanned—but there's also a place for planned epic shots that go big in the other direction. This placid, late-day scene of trees mirrored on a glassy pond would have been a lovely portrait setting all on its own. Adding a bold blast of daylight-balanced flash behind the couple? That takes it to the next level. While proportionately small in the frame, the beams of light radiating out from this bride and groom make them look almost magical!

A pop of flash silhouetted this sprinting couple against a red wall that perfectly complemented the blue night sky. The downward-pointing-finger mural added another layer of humor to the vibrant scene. The photographer shot from a low perspective with a wide-angle lens to make the lines of the buildings converge around the couple, locking us into the fun and excitement of the key moment.

Our spouses are often our proverbial "islands in a storm"; in this image, those words are brought to life. As the swirling blue waters rush around them, the couple clings to each other and stands firmly together in their love. It's a moving and artistic depiction.

From the foreground foliage, to the mid-ground silhouettes, to distant pastel background, every plane of this image contributes to an astonishing sense of depth. Clever double framing brings our attention right to the, couple whose relationship is communicated through their pose. To the right, a third figure adds to the intrigue.

Despite being nearly abstract, the tones and shapes in this image somehow guide your eye to exactly the right spot: the silhouetted forms of the bride and groom. Truly unconventional, this is an exciting take on the epic location portraiture.

Artistic mages that force us to do a little deciphering often captivate our attention. The rich color and contrast of the shadows instantly draw your eye into this image, but it takes a little more exploration (following her veil) to alight on the couple at the far right edge. Creating a shot like this means looking beyond the obvious.

There's more than one way to use a tropical seaside location. Here, the photographer side-stepped the obvious "natural beauty" angle and went for something more urban. The bright colors and hard lines are a perfect complement to the sharp silhouettes of the tuxedo-clad grooms framed at the left edge of the image. The shot has a balanced masculine feel that the husbands will surely love.

Wedding images don't always have to look like wedding images—in fact, it might take a second of study to realize that this is even a picture of people. The stark silhouettes, spied through a narrow crack, are a subtle and surprising device in this intriguing photo.