Wedding Photos of Moment

The following “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 “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.

A candid hug shot of a heartfelt moment between mother and son at Offley Place in Hertfordshire on the day of the wedding ceremony.

Mother-Son Embrace: Touching Moment Captured at Offley Place in Hertfordshire During Wedding Celebration

A vibrant and joyful wedding moment captured at Grand Hyatt in Goa, India, as the bride walks down the aisle surrounded by festive colors and celebration, epitomizing the joy and fun of the party atmosphere at this memorable event.

Bride's Joyful Journey at Grand Hyatt In Goa, India's Festive Wedding Party

bride event atmosphere festive memories Grand Hyatt celebration

A heartwarming black and white photo from a Hyannis, MA wedding captures a touching moment between a bride and her father, showcasing the emotional bond and connection shared on this special day.

Capturing the Embrace: Tender Moment Between Bride and Father at Hyannis, MA Wedding

wedding photo bw emotional bond bride father Dad touching

A touching black and white wedding moment is frozen in time as a bride lovingly embraces her father before a kiss, captured at İstanbul/Adress Hotel during a joyous celebration.

Father's Last Embrace: Bride and Dad Share Emotional Moment at İstanbul Address Hotel Wedding

celebration İstanbul Address Hotel father black white timeless embrace Istanbul

Emotional documentary-style photo taken on the wedding day in Marietta, GA, capturing a touching moment as the ring bearer sheds tears before walking down the church aisle.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Wedding Moment in Marietta, GA Captured During Ring Bearer's Procession

church aisle Marietta Wedding Moment ring bearer emotional Marietta GA touching Georgia

Emotion-filled black and white wedding photo at Dekalb History Center in Decatur, GA, showcasing a heartfelt moment as the groom tenderly assists his fallen bride up from the floor.

Heartfelt Moment: Groom Helping Fallen Bride at Dekalb History Center, Decatur, GA

Decatur Dekalb History Center candid Decatur Wedding Moment bride assist groom

Bride's father adjusting groom's tie in black and white photo before ceremony at Chateau de Precy, capturing a tender moment of family bonding on the wedding day.

Father's Gentle Touch: Bride's Father Adjusting Groom's Tie at Chateau De Precy Ceremony

father Chateau de Precy bw Wedding Photo groom Oise Wedding Moment bride moment

A sentimental black and white photograph captures a wedding moment at the bride's home in Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain, with a small dog named Obi patiently waiting for her to descend the staircase.

Sentimental Black and White Wedding Moment with Obi the Dog in Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain

Sentimental bride Torredonjimeno Torredonjimeno Wedding Moment Jaén home descend

A humorous moment unfolds as the groom nervously gets his first tattoo at the wedding venue, while the bride and groomsmen share a laugh in this candid behind-the-scenes photo captured during the wedding day in Landhaus Nordhelle, Germany.

Amusing Groom's Tattoo Debut: Candid Laughter at Landhaus Nordhelle Wedding Day in Germany

emotions Meinerzhagen hurt pain Meinerzhagen Wedding Photographer groomsmen moment

A candid shot of a bride and groom enjoying lunch with matching checkered napkins during their wedding celebration in Lamballe, Brittany, France - a documentary-style image capturing a moment of togetherness at the venue.

Checkered Napkins and Love: Bride and Groom's Lunch in Lamballe, Brittany, France

venue moment Lamballe Wedding Photographer style Brittany lunch checkered

A funny drinking moment between groom and groomsman, captured in a vintage black and white photograph at the charming Villa Santorini on the wedding day.

Vintage Black and White: Groom and Groomsman Share a Comical Drink at Villa Santorini

Friendship Brazil black white celebration laughter groom vintage

A moment is captured outside Basílica Nossa Senhora das Dores in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as the bride's veil elegantly floats in the breeze, adding a touch of grace to her impending entrance into the Church.

Graceful Veil Floats Outside Basílica Nossa Senhora das Dores in Porto Alegre, Brazil

float Basílica Nossa Senhora das Dores entrance impending Grace captured church

A touching moment unfolds as the bride's son lovingly assists her with her shoes in a nostalgic black and white wedding day photograph taken at the venue in Milano.

Bride's Son Helps with Shoes: Tender Moment Captured in Milan Wedding Venue, Vintage Style

wedding photo venue black white shoes love candid assistance

A candid moment at Drigstrup Kirke, Kerteminde, Denmark captured during a wedding, where flower girls gather in a secret council with baskets filled with flower petals, giving a glimpse of behind-the-scenes instructions.

Flower Girls' Secret Council: Candid Wedding Moment at Drigstrup Kirke, Kerteminde, Denmark

petals Drigstrup Kirke council special baskets flower girls Kerteminde

Lovely moment on the wedding day in Land van Es, Strijen, the Netherlands as the bride proudly shows her wedding ring while the groom receives a heartfelt hug.

Embracing Love: Bride Reveals Wedding Ring as Groom Receives Heartfelt Hug in Strijen, Netherlands

beautiful bride ring wedding photo smiles groom Strijen

A joyous celebration captured at Sítio da Figueira in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, as the bride and groom share a happy moment with their guests, showcasing the festive atmosphere and love in a candid wedding shot.

Festive Love: Bride and Groom Share Happy Moment at Sítio da Figueira in Porto Alegre

love moment atmosphere celebration festive dance candid

A heartfelt moment shared between a father and his son on the wedding day in the United Kingdom, captured from a unique birds-eye perspective.

Father-Son Embrace: Heartfelt UK Wedding Moment from Above

candid connection wedding photography perspective moment emotion high angle

A touching moment captured at the Southern Bleachery wedding venue in Taylors, SC, as the groom is moved to turn away briefly to compose himself during the emotional ceremony.

Emotional Groom's Brief Intermission Steals Spotlight in Taylors, SC Southern Bleachery Wedding

groom South Carolina Taylors SC wedding photographer touching moment SC emotional ceremony Taylors

A tender moment captured at Domaine du Val Fleuri in Liverdun, Meurthe-et-Moselle, as a baby with ear protection dances with their father during the wedding festivities.

Baby Boogie: Father and Child Share Dance Moment at Wedding Celebration

Boogie dance tender moment wedding celebration Meurthe-et-Moselle wedding festivities Liverdun wedding photographer

Guests and groom's mom share a moment of uncontrollable laughter during the ceremony at Secrets Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Unbridled Joy: A Wedding Moment at Secrets Akumal

sandbar photographer laughter Riviera Maya Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya Resort MX weddings guests

A beautiful moment captured during an Indian wedding ceremony at the stunning Bagnaia resort in Siena, Italy.

Tradition and Tranquility: An Indian Wedding in Siena

Bagnaia Resort Siena Siena Italy indian wedding moment indian wedding Siena weddings

Guests at a wedding in Pennard House, Somerset, share a heartwarming moment as they sing a song together on the bustling dance floor.

Bonds of Love: Singing Together at Pennard House

love England sing moment Pennard House guests England photographer

Capturing a romantic moment at Palermo Cathedral on a beautiful wedding day in Sicily, the photographer captures a love-filled stroll through the historic city.

Amore in Palermo: A Sicilian Wedding Story

historic city Palermo Cathedral moment Palermo Sicily wedding photographer Palermo Cathedral Sicily exit

In Trieste, Italy, the bride and groom share a tender moment as she shields herself from the rice toss with her bouquet, against a dark background.

Eternal Love in Trieste: A Portrait of a Bride and Groom

Italy groom confetti bride bouquet Trieste eternal love

Newlyweds exiting their ceremony at Cator Woolford Gardens in Atlanta, GA, captured in a stunning black and white shot.

Eternal Vows: A Moment in Monochrome

monochrome ceremony stunning Cator Woolford Gardens moment Cator Woolford Gardens venue Atlanta

At a Santa Fe wedding, a guest is surprised as the groom shares a toast with a bridesmaid, pouring whiskey into her mouth.

Whiskey Toast: An Unexpected Moment at a Santa Fe Wedding

groom guest moment Argentina Argentinian photographer Santa Fe-AR unexpected

A bride playing beer pong on the lush green lawn of Chenies Manor in Buckinghamshire, a fun and unique moment during her wedding day.

Wedding Games at Chenies Manor: A Bride's Beer Pong Celebration

green lawn Buckinghamshire unique outdoors beer pong bride celebration

Jump Off Rock, Laurel Park, NC: A heartwarming moment as the mother of the groom and the father of the bride participate in a ring warming ritual at a Western NC wedding

Jump Off Rock: A Heartwarming Ring Warming Ritual at a Western NC Wedding

moment North Carolina rings Jump Off Rock father of the bride Laurel Park NC NC wedding photography

A WPJA award-winning image captured by a documentary wedding photographer at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, VT. The bride and her dad enjoy a drink together under the shade of trees before the ceremony.

TREES, DRINKS, AND BONDS: Bride and Father's Cherished Moment at Hulbert Outdoor Center

Dad drink trees shade cherish Vermont Outdoor

A documentary wedding photographer captures the sweet moment of flower girls preparing for the big day in Atlanta, Georgia. They can be seen checking their makeup in a mirror. This image has won the prestigious WPJA award.

Sweet Moment: Flower Girls Preparing in Mirror for the Big Day in Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia Atlanta weddings flower girls big day Georgia wedding kids mirror Atlanta wedding photography

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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.