Wedding Photos of Dramatic effect

The following “Dramatic effect” images were created by documentary wedding photographers from the WPJA, who regularly submit their best candid moments, artistic portraits, details, and scene setters for review by our WPJA competition judges.

WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS + ARTISTIC PORTRAITS & DETAILS + ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

Some of the “Dramatic effect” marriage photography samples below may have come from the getting ready events, the actual wedding ceremony, the reception after-party, an engagement session with the couple, or possibly be artistic portraits or detail shots.

FINE ART WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: Our Artistic Guild award winners take a more creative approach to wedding day Portraits and use their innovative skills to capture the Details of each couple’s special day. The Artistic Guild’s Scene Setters are some of the most notable and breathtaking from within the artistic WPJA contest categories. Playing with light and shadow, special effects, and post-production editing, these images embrace the artistic component of wedding photography.

PRE-WEDDING ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: The story of every couple starts long before the wedding day, and the engagement marks one of the most important milestones in their story. Engaged couples often want to celebrate the occasion and announce their upcoming wedding with a photoshoot. Pre-wedding portraits of an engaged couple can be just as moving and compelling as the images taken on the wedding day. Engagement portraits can win a Diamond Award, an exclusive WPJA award whose winner is selected from the best engagement photography in the world.

London-based wedding photographer captures a stunning bridal portrait at the iconic Blue Rooms. With perfect light during sunset, the artist captures the bride bathed in golden light, creating a slightly dramatic effect. Low angle adds to the effect.

London Bride: Golden Hour Portrait in Iconic Blue Rooms

This Engagement photo was taken at Da Nang - Trees

The Engagement photo featured trees with a stark contrast and white tones, with the couple shown in a reflecting glass below the branches and the image was captured in black and white, adding to its dramatic effect

trees Da Nang Engagement photo dramatic effect Da Nang Da Nang PreWed Session reflections white tones

Chicago clocks - Illinois Engagement Photo

The huge clocks were lit with red light in the Engagement Photo, creating a dramatic effect as the couple's silhouette was captured in the frame

clocks Chicago engagement session dramatic effect red light huge clock Illinois Engagement Photo silhouettes

Glendora, CA Mountains | Engagement Photo Session with Smoke Bombs

Engagement photo session that takes place in the mountains, with the use of smoke bombs to create a dramatic effect in the sky and the smoke appears to be pink and blue in color, adding an element of color to the otherwise dark sky

pink and blue dark sky California Mountains Glendora Engagement Photography dramatic effect Glendora Smoke Bombs

Lake Tahoe pre-wedding engagement pictures of a couple with dark sky | California black and white couple photography session

Engagement picture of a couple with a black sky and white clouds in black and white, creating contrast and a dramatic effect

black sky dramatic effect Lake Tahoe engagement photographer white clouds silhouette Lake Tahoe

WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.