Wedding Photos of Illuminating

The following “Illuminating” 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 “Illuminating” 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.

A romantic portrait captured by a creative wedding photographer at the Venue at Malcom Hotel in Canmore, Canada. The couple is silhouetted against a backdrop of colorful lights, creating an award-winning image.

Canmore's Captivating Canvas: Illuminating Love Through Silhouetted Romance

In a picturesque setting at Arezzo Town Hall's Private Ville, the newlyweds share a heartfelt gaze, immersed in the soft glow of a sunset illuminating the tree-lined pathway.

Arezzo Town Hall's Private Ville: Wedding Portrait in the Sunset-Kissed Venue

picturesque setting Private Ville tree lined pathway Arezzo Town Hall couple portrait session soft glow wedding day portraits

In Yvelines, in a timeless black and white portrait, the couple raise their champagne glasses in a celebratory toast, their car's headlights illuminating the night as they share a tender kiss.

Wedding Brilliance Unveiled: Timeless Yvelines Soirée Shines in Monochrome

Yvelines Celebratory Toast portrait car headlights groom black and white portraits

Sunlight splashes through a tree, illuminating a flowing veil as a couple shares a kiss at the railing of Castello di Rossino, with the tranquil waters below

Romantic Kiss at Castello di Rossino as Sunlight Illuminates Tree and Tranquil Waters

kiss illuminating Lombardy railing couple Lecco tranquil waters

Newlyweds embrace in the warm, backlit glow of the sunset at Villa Corsini Mezzo Monte, with the gentle rays of the sun illuminating the bride's face, creating an intimate and serene moment in Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy: Newlyweds Embrace in Serene Sunset Glow at Villa Corsini Mezzo Monte

intimate moment brides face serene illuminating Italy backlit newlyweds

A couple had a silhouette session at dusk in Naples, Campania, with strings of lights illuminating the area for a lovely wedding photo

A lovely wedding photo was taken at dusk in Naples, Campania with hanging strands of lights illuminating the area

wedding photo lovely illuminating dusk strings of lights Naples wedding silhouette

CA city engagement photos of a couple in the rain | Sacramento photographer pre-wedding portrait session

Engagement photos of a couple in the city, caught in the rain with night streetlamps illuminating their dance

CA Sacramento couple streetlamps Night illuminating CA engagement photo dance

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.