When skilled photographers want to create artwork that looks like oil paintings and draw you into the atmosphere, they shoot their photos in a style known as “dark and moody.” Sometimes reminiscent of Rembrant paintings, yet more often modern and dramatic, photographers use the color of the location, the lighting, the shadows, and their camera settings to design their work, then expertly edit it in Lightroom or other software. 

If you love this style and want to help with the creative process, think about keeping the colors you and your bridal party wear on the natural side. Soft white and creams, rich reds, deep oranges, and lapis blues look beautiful while very bright colors (and anything neon) can feel a bit out of place. If you’re looking for that old world look, consider having your portraits done indoors under chandeliers or in candlelight rather than in the sunshine. Cloudy days, starry nights, and even pouring rain can look gorgeous in this style

Take in the photos below and see beautiful examples of the dark and moody style of wedding photography.

The artists on World’s Best are chosen for their distinctive styles and when you hire one to work for you, you’ll want to choose them for their artistry and how comfortable and confident they make you feel. 

We want to make the process of hiring a photographer effortless and fun for you, so we’ve personally vetted and invited the photographers you see on this list to join our community. Every artist we recommend has to have at least 3 years of full-time experience, extraordinary skill and talent, and 5-star reviews. 

Visit our Directory of Top Photographers and discover the artistic style you love the most.