Wedding Photos of Documentary style

The following “Documentary style” 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 “Documentary style” 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 candid wedding moment captured in Moulin Piongo, France, as a young girl lovingly assists her mother, the beautiful bride-to-be, with final preparations on the big day in this documentary-style photograph.

Captivating Candid Moment: Mother and Daughter in Moulin Piongo - A French Wedding Prep

Wedding couple embraces at Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA, captured in documentary style as family and friends joyfully dance in a circle around them.

Embracing Love: Wedding Couple at Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, PA, Surrounded by Joyful Celebration

circle dance Pittsburgh Wedding Moment love Sheraton Station Square embrace Pittsburgh

A candid and elegant documentary style wedding photo from Castello di Gargonza in Arezzo, Italy, showcasing the bride climbing the stairs towards the terrace of the Castle tower, moments before the ceremony begins.

Bride Ascending: Graceful Moments at Castello di Gargonza in Arezzo, Italy Before Ceremony begins

Castello di Gargonza elegant castle stairs wedding photo Arezzo bride candid

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

intimate candid wedding photography United Kingdom bride Andover UK bride checking on guests Hampshire

A bride and groom dance gracefully surrounded by guests on their wedding day in Rutland, UK, captured in a beautiful black and white photograph on private land.

Elegant Rutland Wedding: Graceful Dance of Bride and Groom, Guests, and black and white Beauty

wedding day Rutland graceful black and white photograph East Midlands United Kingdom Rutland Reception Photography

A pro documentary wedding photographer captured this WPJA award-winning image during cocktail hour at San Miguel de Allende. The photo shows the bride's family, showcasing the photographer's expertise in capturing candid moments.

San Miguel de Allende Cocktail Hour: Award-Winning WPJA Photo

cocktail hour San Miguel de Allende wedding photographer award winning image wedding venue San Miguel de Allende Wedding Venue Candid Moments

Telangana documentary wedding photo at home before the ceremony

pre ceremony India at home before ceremony Telangana couple Telangana wedding photographer celebration

Documentary wedding photography of bride at Hyderabad, India

indian wedding India wedding Hyderabad Hyderabad wedding Hyderabad wedding photographer wedding photography cultural traditions

Documentary wedding photography at England reception with megaphone and lights at the party

Echoes of Celebration: A Wedding Reception in England

dance floor moments England wedding picture fog United Kingdom marriage venue UK reception party

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.