WPJA.com HomeWedding Photojournalist Association

Wedding Photos of California

For Couples / Wedding Photos of California

The following “California” 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 “California” 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.

Enter Keywords:  
A candid and heartwarming moment at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA, as the bride lays surrounded by flower girls during the reception.
Bride Surrounded by Flower Girls: Heartwarming Wedding Moment at American Jewish University, Los Angeles
marriageheartwarmingbridecandidCaliforniaemotionLos Angeles Wedding Moment
A breathtaking scene captured at Yosemite National Park, California. The newlyweds share a kiss in a romantic jacuzzi under the starry night sky, producing a beautiful backlit silhouette.
Beneath the Stars: Romantic Silhouette of Newlyweds in Yosemite
beneathbride and groomYosemite weddingswedding coupleYosemite PhotographerNewlyweds in Yosemitesilhouette
A beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California, as the couple says their vows surrounded by trees and a rock formation
Nature's Symphony: A Moment to Remember - A Documentary Wedding at Calamigos Ranch, Malibu
Nature SymphonyMalibu CA Wedding venueoutdoor documentary wedding photographerMoment to RemembercoupleCaliforniaCalifornia - Southern
California Wedding Dance Party: Groomsmen having a blast in the 'photo booth', spicing up the celebration with party hats and fun photo props
California Wedding Dance Party: Groomsmen Go Wild in the Photo Booth
CaliforniaphotographyCalifornia Weddingsfun photo propsvenuewildcelebration
In San Jose, a couple shares a tight embrace and light banter, sitting closely and laughing, creating a warm and intimate feel. - Closeness and Laughter: San Jose
Closeness and Laughter: San Jose - A Warm and Intimate Lifestyle Engagement Portrait
San Jose Engagement Photographywarm feelintimate portraitlaughingSan JoseCaliforniatight embrace
In San Jose, the couple, dressed in traditional clothing, is layered to create visual interest, weaving a cultural tapestry into their timeless love story. - Cultural Layers: San Jose Love
Cultural Layers: San Jose Love - A Timeless Love Story
San Jose Engagement Photographytraditional clothingSan Joselayered portraitCaliforniatimeless
In San Jose-CA, an up-close and personal moment unfolds as the couple, dressed in traditional clothing, weaves a cultural tapestry into their love story, captured in an intimate black and white pose.
San Jose-CA: Weaving Tradition and Love in an Intimate Portrait
Californialove storytraditional clothingcultural tapestrySan Jose Engagement Portraitintimate portraitSan Jose
A couple exchanges wedding rings at The Arch in South Lake Tahoe, California. They stand against a beautiful sunset backdrop.
The Arch Unites Eternal Love: A Blissful Sunset Wedding in South Lake Tahoe
lakeside ceremonyLake TahoeCaliforniaLake Tahoe Documentary Wedding PhotographyThe Arch South Lake TahoeBeautiful sunset
A beautiful couple embraces during their sunset portrait session at Loma Vista Gardens in Big Sur, CA. The warm tones illuminate their love as he romantically lifts her up.
Sunset Romance: Captivating Couple Embraces in Big Sur's Loma Vista Gardens
Loma Vista GardensBig Sur Wedding Portraitsunset portraitgrooms lifts brideCaliforniaBig Surwarm tones
In this stunning wedding photo taken at Yosemite National Park in California, the couple joyfully shares a playful kiss in front of the majestic mountain, El Capitan, right at sunrise
Radiant Romance: A Blissful Kiss Amidst Yosemite's Majestic Sunrise
CaliforniaYosemite National ParkYosemite Sunrise ElopementstunningEl Capitanmajestic mountainYosemite Wedding Portrait
In the breathtaking landscape of Yosemite National Park, California, a couple stands before a majestic view framed by a hollowed out dead tree
Love Blossoming in Nature's Embrace: A Stunning Yosemite Wedding Soulmate Portrait
hollowed treeCaliforniaYosemite National ParkYosemite Wedding PortraitYosemite National Park Wedding Elopementdead treecloudy skies
A San Francisco, CA couple in love gazes lovingly into each other's eyes during their engagement portrait, showing their deep connection and affection
Capturing the Love: Engaged Couple in San Francisco, CA Share Intimate Engagement Portrait Revealing Deep Connection and Affection
intimate portraiteye contactgreen dressSan Francisco engagement photographySan FranciscoCalifornia
The couple's engagement portrait at Devil's Slide Bunker in Pacifica, California captures them reminiscing during the golden hour, with a stunning view of the beach
Romantic Engagement Portrait: Golden Hour at Devil's Slide Bunker in Pacifica, California
CaliforniaoverheadPacificabeach viewPacifica Engagement PhotographyDevil Slide Bunkercliffs
The couple shared a romantic kiss with a view of the ocean from the bluffs of Fort Cronkhite
Fort Cronkhite: Romantic Ocean View - Couple Shares a Romantic Kiss on the Bluffs
bluffsromantic kisssitting on bluffsSausalito Engaged CoupleSausalitooceanFort Cronkhite
At Marina Village in San Diego, California, two precious flower girls spun in their lovely dresses
Two flower girls twirled at San Diego's Marina Village
twirled dressesTwo flower girlsSanprecious flower girlsDiegoMarina Villagelovely dresses
At a wedding in San Jose, California, a stunning portrait capture of the Indian groom framed by his better half showcases his traditional sword.
Majestic Matrimonial Harmony: San Jose's Splendorous Swordbearer
San Jose Artistic Portraitmotion blurIndian groomtraditional swordCaliforniaSan Jose
A lifestyle portrait session in Pacifica, California celebrating the funny moments between the newly engaged couple is a perfect way to capture and remember this special time before they say "I do"
The couple's joyous engagement is forever preserved in a beautiful portrait taken during a fun-filled session in Pacifica, California
CalifornialaughingPacificapicnic blanketbw portraitPacifica Engagement Portrait
The soon-to-be married couple spent an afternoon enjoying a romantic picnic in Pacifica, California, with breathtaking views of the ocean, watching birds fly by, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable lifestyle portrait session
The couple's engagement portrait captured the joy of their special day, with the sun-kissed beach and the ocean's horizon providing a romantic setting for their love
Pacificaromantic picnicCaliforniaoceanPacifica Engagement Photographybreathtaking viewsromantic setting
The couple found some serenity when they posed for their engagement portrait in front of the stunning blue door at Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Santa Cruz, CA, despite the windy conditions
The couple having a romantic moment in their professional engagement portrait beneath the idyllic backdrop of Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Santa Cruz e sessionCaliforniaSanta Cruzlooking over shoulderPigeon Point Lighthouseblue doorframed in door
At Point Reyes, the couple shared laughs and playful times while capturing the beauty of their engagement in an amazing portrait
The beautiful Point Reyes backdrop brought out the couple's joy in a professional photo capturing their happy memories
Point ReyeslaughingHappy couplePoint Reyes EngagementCaliforniaplayful couple
At San Jose, California, a bride posed outdoors for a bridal portrait with a beautiful shadow play beneath a tree in a nearby field
The bride posed for a wedding portrait outdoors in a nearby field with a beautiful shadow play beneath a tree
San Jose Bridal PhotographyCaliforniaunder treeshadow playSan Josebridal portrait
The couple posed for their romantic save-the-date wedding announcement picture on bluffs over a California beach
California Beach Bluffs - Romantic Couple's Wedding Announcement with Ocean View
CaliforniaCentral Coast Engagement PhotographyOcean viewCentral Coastbluffs
A CA couple posed for a black and white, vertical save-the-date wedding announcement picture under tall redwood trees in an engagement session
CA Redwood Forest: Timeless Engagement Session of a Couple Under Tall Trees
timeless imageCalifornialarge treesCalifornia engagement photographybw portraitCalifornia Save the Dateredwood forest
The couple posed for their save-the-date wedding announcement picture on a beach in California, USA
California, USA Beach: Romantic Wedding Announcement Photo of a Couple Walking Holding Hands
shorelinewalk on beachcliffsCaliforniaCalifornia engagement photographysandbeach engagement
The couple posed for a romantic save-the-date wedding announcement near the docks in California, USA with a beautiful harbor behind them
California Harbor - Couple Announcement Image Session at the Docks
MarinaharborCalifornia engagement photographysailboatsCaliforniaromantic portraitdocks
The couple posed for their save-the-date wedding announcement picture while walking down the pier at Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe CA, with snow on the ground in the winter
Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe CA: Couple posed for winter wedding announcement on snow-covered pier
Valhalla Tahoewinter engagementpierwinter sceneSouth Lake TahoesnowCalifornia
This romantic couple, silhouetted against the setting sun in San Francisco, CA, are looking forward to their upcoming wedding
San Francisco, CA: This couple, silhouetted against the setting sun, eagerly anticipate their wedding
blue skySF engagement sessionbridgeCaliforniawatersunset portraitSan Francisco
A couple enjoyed a lifestyle photoshoot at Ledson House in Sonoma, California, complete with two glasses of red wine to mark the occasion and create a lasting memory of the intimate session
At Ledson House in Sonoma, California, the couple savored two glasses of red wine while creating a romantic memory in their lifestyle photoshoot
red wineSonomawine glassesLedson HouseCaliforniaSonoma Engagement Photographylifestyle portrait shoot
A couple was captured in a warm embrace during a lifestyle photoshoot in Sonoma, California, surrounded by a frame of yellow spring tones on a cloudy day in the famous wine country
In Sonoma, California, a warm embrace between a couple was captured in a lifestyle photoshoot surrounded by yellow spring tones on a cloudy day in the famous wine country
CaliforniaSonomahug from behindwarm embracefield of flowersyellow tonesSonoma Engagement Photographer
The couple was glowing with joy at their prewedding photoshoot in Sonoma California, captured right after he had surprised her with a romantic proposal and a beautiful diamond ring
In Sonoma California, the couple glowed with joy after a romantic proposal under the trees
Sonomatreesromantic engagementSonoma Engagement PortraitCaliforniaproposallake

Pages

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.