Wedding Photos of Candid moment

The following “Candid moment” 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 “Candid moment” 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.

Photographer captured a candid moment at Fanhams Hall. Young girl yawning as her sister and mum dance. Emotion-filled wedding photo taken at a wedding event.

Emotion-Filled Wedding Moment Caught at Fanhams Hall: Young Girl Yawns as Family Dances

The photographer captured Addington Palace wedding guests dancing; two women enjoying a party in this photograph taken at the event. A lively celebration captured in a candid moment.

Addington Palace Wedding Guests Dance: Lively Celebration and Candid Moments of Two Women

East Sussex Heathfield Wedding Photography Addington Palace celebration Heathfield women Guests Dancing

Professional wedding photographer capturing Grandma at The Priests House in Yorkshire, mesmerized by a singing waiter. Beautiful candid moment captured in this wedding photo.

Grandma captivated by singing waiter at The Priests House: Wedding photo stuns with emotion

North Yorkshire The Priests House candid moment singing waiter Yorkshire wedding photography grandma Barden

Wedding photo taken at Divan Hotel Mersin - Groom drinking champagne from friend's bottle. Candid moment captured by the photographer.

Groom steals sip of champagne: Candid wedding moment snapped at Divan Hotel Mersin

candid moment champagne Mersin Groom Mersin Reception Photography drinking dance floor groom

Captured at Xi'an Jinyuan Pavilion Hotel, this image shows a little boy celebrating his victory in a game during the wedding after party.

Joyful Moment: Little boy triumphs at wedding game, caught on camera at Xi'an hotel

fun wedding photography candid moment happiness celebration Xian Wedding Photography Xian Jinyuan Pavilion Hotel

Beautiful candid moment of newlyweds cutting their wedding cake, captured in black and white at CAV Restaurant in Providence, RI, USA, showcasing the humorous and endearing confusion of the couple as they navigate this traditional task together.

Elegant Cake Cutting Delight: Newlyweds at CAV Restaurant in Providence, RI Show Humorous Confusion

Traditional black and white task smiles CAV Restaurant Humorous beautiful shot

A candid moment captured at a French chateau wedding, showcasing the groom getting ready with his witnesses, adjusting their ties under the open sky.

Chateau Chic: Groom and Witnesses Preparing under the French Sky for Wedding Day

intimate Chateau natural genuine groom French château ties

A candid moment captured on the couple's wedding day at their countryside French venue, showcasing a heartfelt ceremony speech amidst scattered pizza boxes that the bride had searched high and low for all morning in Nances city, Savoie.

Rustic Romance: Heartfelt Ceremony Speech Amidst Pizza Boxes at Countryside French Venue in Nances

Outdoor wedding photo Nances Ceremony Photography ceremony view French venue pizza boxes speech

Newlyweds exiting a gazebo ceremony at Castelvecchio, Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy, captured in a candid moment as guests shower them with rice, creating a joyful and authentic scene.

Candid Joy: Newlyweds Exiting Castelvecchio Gazebo Ceremony in Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy Amidst Rice Shower

celebration Sagrado Ceremony Photography rice love Gorizia ceremony wedding photography

In Trieste, Italy, a newlywed couple crosses the bustling street under the warm sunshine on their wedding day, captured in a candid moment near the picturesque venue.

Italian Romance: Newlyweds Cross Bustling Street in Trieste, Captured in Candid Moment Near Venue

Trieste venue special occasion sunshine Trieste wedding photography celebration happy

A candid moment caught on camera during a wedding in Saint-Rémy de Provence, as the newlyweds are lifted up by their guests above dance floor in a joyful celebration.

Newlyweds Elevated by Guests in Dance Celebration at Wedding in Saint-Rémy de Provence

Saint Rémy Wedding Photography floor wedding guests celebration newlyweds candid moment

A candid moment at a Ratchaburi rustic vintage farm wedding venue, where a young boy admiringly watches the groom dancing.

Young Boy Enthralled by Groom's Dance at Ratchaburi Rustic Vintage Farm Venue

kid youth celebration Ratchaburi Ratchaburi Wedding Moment vintage groom

A candid moment at a Bangkok wedding captured in a beautiful photo, showing a woman seated with her baby engrossed in a screen, while the bride passes by, casting a glance back at them.

Captivating Candid Moment: Bangkok Wedding Bliss with Baby, Bride, and Screen Time Glance

wedding capture Bangkok Bangkok wedding photography emotion baby bride

A charming young boy in a stylish outfit joyfully blows bubbles outdoors during a wedding reception at Manoir du Chêne Rouge à Beaussais sur mer, captured in a nostalgic black and white photograph.

Boy's Bubbly Joy: Nostalgic Black and White Moment at Manoir du Chêne Rouge à Beaussais-sur-Mer

celebration young boy bubbles black and white wedding reception Beaussais sur Mer Wedding Photography Manoir du Chêne Rouge

A candid moment at the wedding in Nanping, Fujian, as the groom is in a playful game during the gate crashing tradition.

Joyful Groom Plays During Gate Crashing Game at Nanping Wedding in Fujian

tradition celebration Nanping gate crashing Fujian emotion playful

A candid moment at a family home wedding captured in Maisons-Alfort, France, shows a young girl playing under the dinner table, surrounded by elegant women's legs, revealing a charming and heartwarming scene of hidden joy and innocence.

Cherished Scene: Young Girl Plays Amid Elegant Women's Legs at Maisons-Alfort Family Home Wedding

Maisons Alfort table legs child Innocence women dinner

In Tennessee, a candid moment at a Gatlinburg wedding venue as a child and a bride both point excitedly at the wedding cake, symbolizing anticipation and joy.

Excitement Captured: Child and Bride Pointing at Wedding Cake in Gatlinburg, Tennessee Venue

cake bride excitedly candid moment Gatlinburg Wedding Moment cake cutting symbolizing

A candid moment from a wedding at Esseborne Manor Hotel in Andover, Hampshire, UK, where the bride attentively checks on arriving guests as her friend helps her with her shoe, captured in a behind-the-scenes documentary style.

The Bride's Thoughtful Act: A Candid Wedding Moment at Esseborne Manor Hotel, Andover, Hampshire

friend wedding moment guests arriving bride shoe candid moment United Kingdom

A candid moment at a wedding in a charming farmhouse in Küntrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, as a young boy playfully runs through the photographers' frame while they capture the beautiful table setting with the ladies in the background.

Boisterous Boy Photobombs Fancy Farmhouse Wedding Shot

Boisterous young boy Charming Kuntrop weddings ladies photobombs kids

Bride and her bridesmaids share a candid moment in the nursery at Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA, just before the ceremony.

Bride and Bridesmaids Bond in Grace Episcopal Church's Nursery Before Ceremony Begins

candid moment Grace Episcopal Church Virginia Alexandria weddings Sunday school class Alexandria Wedding Photographer church basement

In Lausanne, the bride smiles as she takes a bite of a hamburger, capturing a candid and fun moment during the wedding festivities.

Bite of Happiness: A Candid Moment in Lausanne

Switzerland fun joyful occasion Lausanne photography sincere candid moment burger

A wedding guest in Eyeworth, Bedfordshire slyly checks a man's kilt before making his escape, creating a comical and unexpected view at the wedding.

The Kilt Caper: A Comical Moment in Eyeworth

playful games England funny Bedfordshire tartan laughter

In Meyrieu-les-Étangs, Isère, the bride is captured on Polaroid by one of her smoking friends, a nostalgic and candid moment.

Captured in Polaroid: A Nostalgic Moment at a Meyrieu-les-Étangs Wedding

candid moment Isere cigarette polaroid Isere Bride Meyrieu les Étangs Isere Documentary Wedding Photography

In Islamorada, FL, the bride is captured in a candid moment, getting ready as her beautiful wedding dress hangs overhead, about to slip into it.

Island Elegance: A Bride's Morning in Islamorada

island wedding getting ready wedding dress Florida Keys Wedding Photography Florida Keys hanging dress candid moment

The bride receives a thoughtful foot cleaning from a friend in the bathroom sink at Scripps Seaside Forum in San Diego, California - Image captured by a CA wedding photojournalist.

San Diego Surprises: A Candid Moment at Scripps Seaside Forum

Scripps Seaside Forum candid moment california bride San Diego San Diego wedding photography California - Southern CA wedding photojournalist

In Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, a young girl joyfully exits the church, tossing flower petals from a basket. This candid moment captures the pure happiness of a wedding day.

Worms Wedding: Innocence Blossoms in Rheinland-Pfalz

Innocence candid moment Worms wedding Rheinland Pfalz weddings Worms Pure happiness Worms wedding venue

At The Jamberoo Resort in Kiama, Australia, the bride is caught off guard as her cousins playfully pour cold water on her during the haldi ceremony, adding an unexpected twist to her wedding day.

Kiama's Surprise Splash: A Candid Moment at The Jamberoo Resort

New South Wales unexpected twist The Jamberoo Resort Cold Water cousins australia wedding Haldi ceremony

In this candid wedding moment captured by a Paris photographer, one of the bridesmaids cools off by using an air cooler to refresh her legs, adding a hint of playfulness to the scene

Parisian Playfulness: Bridesmaid Beats the Heat with Leg Refreshment

fan bridesmaids cooling off Paris documentary wedding photography Paris candid moment preparing for wedding

A candid moment during a lively wedding reception at TPC Colorado, Berthoud, Colorado, where the bride is playfully lifted into the air by enthusiastic guests

Joyful Jamboree at TPC Colorado: Guests Playfully Lift Bride in Wedding Reception Merriment

TPC Colorado Berthoud lively reception Berthoud Documentary Wedding Photography bw moment candid moment bride lifted up

Two elderly women at Chateau de Planchevienne in France, share a candid moment of laughter while enjoying the company of their close-knit circle, indulging in a delightful shared secret

Laughter Unveiled: A Shared Secret Amongst Friends at Chateau de Planchevienne

secrets Magny Cours Château De Planchevienne close knit circle women Nièvre candid moment

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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.