Wedding Photos of Makeup

The following “Makeup” 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 “Makeup” 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.

At a private home in Ventura, California, a groomsman stands in awe, observing the table adorned with an array of tools and products as the bride indulges in the meticulous process of getting her hair and makeup done.

Groomsman's View of Bride's Preparations at a Ventura Estate

A captivating black and white close-up shot of a bride getting her eye makeup applied at a Swiss hotel in Bodrum on her wedding day.

Bride's Intimate Moment Captured in Swiss Hotel During Makeup Application

application Bodrum Wedding Details intimate bride hotel makeup Turkey

A candid black and white photo taken on a wedding day at Mariage à Arces, Au domaine de la Grosse Pierre in Charente Maritime, France, featuring groom getting his makeup done in a humorous moment captured by the photographer.

Playful Groom: Mariage à Arces at Domaine de la Grosse Pierre, Charente Maritime, France

France black white bw moment Humorous Le Logis de la Grosse Pierre groom photographer

A beautiful bride getting ready with makeup and mirrors at the historic Bastide de Lussan venue, captured in a timeless black and white photograph on her wedding day.

Timeless Elegance: Bride Prepares at Bastide de Lussan in Stunning Black and White Image

historic venue Elegance Gard Wedding Photography Lussan wedding timeless getting ready

A unique moment captured during wedding preparations at the venue in Colima, Mexico, where the bride is getting her makeup touched up, featuring a playful pictogram subbing in for her friend applying the makeup.

Enchanting Bride at Colima Venue: Fun Pictogram Assisting Makeup Touch-Up in Mexico Wedding

Preparations playful bride Colima Mexico fun makeup

A candid outdoor wedding moment captured at Château de Périgny, 86190 Vouillé, where the bride and her two witnesses walk to the ceremony, with one using a towel to shield from rain, while the other carries a makeup kit in a lighthearted documentary photo

Bride and Witnesses: Rainy Day Stroll at Château de Périgny- Joyful Documentary Capture

rain Château de Périgny Vouillé Outdoor Vienne bride candid wedding moment

A bride getting ready for her big day, applying makeup and getting her hair styled in a behind the scenes shot, captured at a private home in London, UK.

Behind the Scenes: Bride Prep for Wedding Day in Private London Home

behind the scenes wedding day london bride Private home London bridal preparation England

A candid behind-the-scenes shot from a wedding at a Vosges, France venue, showing the bride getting her makeup done in a mirror.

Bride's Beauty Prep: Vosges Venue Reflections Capture Candid Makeup Moment Before France Wedding

bride mirror Bridal beauty getting ready bridal suite bridal preparation makeup

In Sarrebourg, France, a touching moment captured on the wedding day as the bride's daughter playfully experiments with makeup during a behind-the-scenes documentary shot at the venue.

Sarrebourg, France: Bride's Daughter's Playful Makeup Adventure, Behind-The-Scenes Wedding Day Documentary Shot

daughter Grand Est venue bride wedding makeup brides daughter Sarrebourg Wedding Photography

A close-up image capturing the bride getting her makeup done at Windows on the Lake in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY.

Bride Beautified by Brushes at Windows on the Lake in Lake Ronkonkoma

brushes New York - Long Island close up image beauty Windows on the Lake NY makeup

A bride sits serenely in her home in Lugano, Switzerland, as her makeup is carefully applied by a woman, their silhouettes creating a beautiful scene.

Silhouetted Beauty: Lugano Bride Embraces Makeup in Serene Wedding Prep Scene

switzerland wedding Switzerland Lugano weddings makeup woman Lugano photographer bride

In this WPJA award-winning wedding day photo, taken at a rustic estate in Normandy, the groom's best man is applying makeup using a plate as a mirror. A unique and charming moment captured by the talented wedding photographer.

Best Man's Makeup: A Rustic Estate Wedding Moment in Normandy

captured groom's best man plate Normandy weddings france wedding best man Estate wedding

In Oise, Hauts-de-France, at the ceremony location, the bride receives a final touch-up to her makeup just moments before the ceremony begins outside on the grass lawn

The Final Makeup Touch-Up: A Picture-Perfect Bride in Oise, Hauts-de-France

Oise grass lawn pre ceremony preparations Hauts-de-France Final touchup Oise wedding photography makeup

In a serene white tent, in Big Sky, Montana, a mother lovingly assists her bride-daughter with her makeup in a quiet and peaceful setting

Love and Beauty: A Mother's Touch in Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky Montana white tent makeup Montana Big Sky wedding photography

The Moselle bride's final touch of makeup, assisted by her maid of honor, her mother applying lotion to her arm, and her father putting on his shoes while sitting on the toilet

The Multitasking Moselle Bride and her Unconventional Wedding Preparations

makeup Moselle bride maid of honor Moselle Moselle wedding photography applying lotion final touches

Preparing for Forever: The Artistry of the Bride's Transformation at Catoctin Hall, MD

eye closed Catoctin Hall hand fan Maryland wedding photography blurred effect face profile fanning

Bridesmaids at a wedding in Nanping, Fujian, are captured in soft pastel tones. They hold small mirrors while getting ready with makeup at home.

Soft Pastel Tones and Small Mirrors: Bridesmaids Prep for Wedding in Nanping, Fujian

bridesmaids soft Patel tones Nanping makeup Nanping wedding photography at home preparations getting ready

In Balkana Village, Bulgaria, a documentary wedding photographer captures the moment as the bride and other women get ready, having their makeup applied. The photo wins a WPJA Honor Award.

Bride's Makeup: a Captivating Moment in Balkana Village, Bulgaria Wins WPJA Honor Award

hairstyles Bulgaria Documentary Wedding Photography Bulgaria Balkana Village bride getting ready makeup

Bride's lips getting ready with makeup at Villa la Palagina in Tuscany, Italy

brides lips Tuscany Tuscany wedding photography Italy Villa la Palagina makeup detail image

At Villa la Palagina in Tuscany, Italy, a captivating image captures the bride's eyes as she gets her makeup done, featuring a minimalist, black-and-white composition against a dark background.

TUSCAN EYES: A Captivating Wedding Shot Unveiling Elegance in Monochrome Glamour

blake and white black background Italy Villa la Palagina Tuscany Artistic Portrait Tuscany brides eyes

While a bride prepares in her hotel room, a closeup shot is captured showcasing the intimate details of her dress and makeup

Intimate Bridal Dress and Makeup Details Captured in Hotel Room Preparations

hotel room Delhi Wedding Photography Delhi Bride bokeh effect Preparations makeup bridal portrait

An image of a wedding preparation scene was captured in the Eure-et-Loir region, at the bride's home, where she is having her hair and makeup done with assistance from two

A wedding preparation scene at the bride's home in the Eure-et-Loir region was captured, with two helping with hair and makeup

wedding preparation hairdressing makeup helping with hair Bridal styling helping with makeup Eure-et-Loir

At Cornhill Castle, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, the Bride had her makeup spray applied while her son laughed in the background, creating a funny wedding image

The Bride had her makeup spray applied at Cornhill Castle, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, unto the laughter of her son

Cornhill Castle makeup bride makeup funny wedding bride son son laughs Scotland wedding image

A bridesmaid admires her makeup while a makeup artist shields her from the sunlight with a fan at a Dunedin Wedding Venue in Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Sunlight and Shadows: Makeup Magic at a Yorkshire Wedding

east yorkshire wedding venue makeup artist makeup yorkshire countryside Illumination bridesmaid dunedin wedding venue

The bride posed for a beautiful BW wedding picture in mirrors at Domaine de Givray in Cher, France

The bride posed for a black-and-white wedding photo in the getting-ready room surrounded by mirrors

Cher Cher Wedding Photography getting ready Domaine de Givray makeup mirrors bw photo

From a high camera angle, the bride is seen having lipstick applied in preparation for her special day at Hotel Sable Chicago

A bird's-eye view reveals the bride having her lips adorned with lipstick by a helper

high camera angle IL makeup bridal preparations Curio Collection by Hilton Sable at Navy Pier Chicago lipstick

At the Athenee Hotel in Bangkok, the bride had her makeup artfully applied by an artist, with the city skyline reflected in the glass around her

The bride was expertly made up by an artist, her reflection in the glass providing the perfect backdrop of the city skyline

Bangkok The Athenee Hotel makeup Bangkok photographer Luxury Collection Hotel city skyline reflection

At Ca Borghese in La Spezia, Italy, the bride's profile is framed with her final touches of make-up

La Spezia Photographer silhouette La Spezia brides profile makeup lipstick Ca Borghese

This Praia do Rosa bride and godmother laughing while getting ready for the ceremony with hair and makeup

The bride and godmother shared a joyful moment as they got ready for the ceremony, doing their hair and makeup with laughter

getting ready Santa Catarina Santa Catarina Photographer Praia do Rosa makeup laughing

The bride was getting ready for her big day in a luxurious Zhejiang hotel, with a makeup artist by her side and a mirror with lights around the edges

The bride is getting ready in a luxurious hotel, with a makeup artist and a mirror surrounded by lights

makeup artist makeup bride getting ready mirror Lights Zhejiang photographer bridal preparations

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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.