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Wedding Photos of Sunlight and shadows

For Couples / Wedding Photos of Sunlight and shadows

The following “Sunlight and shadows” 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 “Sunlight and shadows” 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.

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In New York City's Dumbo neighborhood, a couple stands together on a street corner, bathed in the afternoon light, posing for their engagement portrait.
Engaged Couple Poses in Dumbo, NYC for Picture-Perfect Portrait on City Corner
sunlight and shadowsDappled LightDUMBO Engagement PortraitDUMBO neighborhoodNew York City - Metrostreet cornerafternoon Light
In Boston, a couple had their portraits taken while standing in the afternoon light, casting shadows on the red brick wall behind them.
Boston Couple's Elegant Afternoon Engagement Portrait Against Red Brick Wall in Soft Sunlight
Bostonlooking offsunlight and shadowsafternoon LightBoston Engagement Portraitred brick wall
At Philadelphia City Hall, a couple poses for their engagement portraits in the afternoon light, creating a stunning silhouette against the ancient stone columns, showcasing their love in the city.
Philadelphia City Hall Engagement: Romantic Silhouette Portraits Against Ancient Stone Columns at Sunset
profilessilhouettesPhiladelphia City Hallvertical framesunlight and shadowsPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Engagement Portrait
During their love session at Lyon Confluence Quai de Saone, the couple's affection and joy radiated through each photo, capturing the anticipation of their upcoming marriage.
Radiant Love: A Joyful Engagement Portrait at Lyon Confluence Quai de Saone
urban portraitQuai de Saonelyon engagement portraitLyonLa Confluencesunlight and shadows
At the private courtyard in Milano, a couple in love shares a tender kiss, captured in stunning black and white during their engagement portrait session.
A Tender Kiss in Milano - Black & White Engagement Portrait
tender kissMilan engagement photographyblack and white portraitMilansunlight and shadowsprivate courtyard
Professional wedding photo taken at Domaine de Messenas in Roissard, Isère, France. Features bride's ring and glasses illuminated by a ray of light.
Elegant Bride's Ring Sparkling in Sunlight at Domaine de Messenas Wedding in France
Domaine de Messenasray of lightsunlight and shadowsglassesbrides detailsIsere Wedding DetailsIsere
During their engagement portrait session at Istanbul Galata Port, the couple shared a tender and warm embrace in front of the elaborate architectural patterns of the tall background, foreshadowing the love that would soon be celebrated at their wedding.
A Romantic Engagement Portrait at Istanbul's Galata Port with Stunning Architecture
sunlight and shadowsGalata PortIstanbulsunlightIstanbul engagement photographerwarm embracearchitectural patterns
Photographer captured a stunning photo of a bride and groom at Domaine Etxe Zahar, Pyrénées Atlantiques, France. Bride basks in sunlight, groom's profile shadow is brilliantly captured.
Ethereal Romance: Bride Glows in Sunlight at Domaine Etxe Zahar, Pyrénées Atlantiques, France
groom profileDomaine Etxe Zaharsunlight and shadowsPyrénées-AtlantiquesshadowsunlightPyrénées Atlantiques wedding photography
At a Cape Town couple portrait session, the pair were expertly captured with half of the frame in shadows and the other half bathed in sunlight, creating a striking and minimalistic image that perfectly showcased their love.
Cape Town Love: Sunlit Romance in Shadows - A Minimalistic Engagement Portrait Session
Cape Town engagement photographyCape Townsplit framesunlight and shadowsSouth Africahalf frameMinimalistic
Captured in San Francisco, a couple lovingly embraces on a city street in a black and white urban shot, with a garage door framing their romantic hug.
BW City Romance: Embracing Love in Urban San Fran Portraits
sunlight and shadowsSan Franciscogarage doorblack and whiteSF E Shooturban portraitframing in door
Beautiful engagement portrait taken at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. A woman in a mini kilt fixes her hair in the sun with her fiance's silhouette in the foreground shadows.
Sunshine and Shadow Love: Capturing Romance at Colorado College Campus
fixing hairColorado CollegesilhouetteColorado Springssunlight and shadowsmini kiltColorado Springs Engagement Portrait
A couple portrait taken in the city by a North California wedding photographer, showcasing a creative composition with sunlight filtering through a glass panel railing with geometric curves and shadows in San Francisco.
CITY SHADOWS: CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
sunlight and shadowsgeometric curvesglass panelsf engagement photographervertical frameSan Franciscofiltered sunlight
A couple engagement portrait captured by a France wedding photographer in Saint Martin de Ré, where the couple is having fun in the afternoon sunlight.
French Riviera Sunlit Engagement Portrait in Saint Martin de Ré
france engagement photographersunlight and shadowsafternoon sunlightFranceSaint Martin de RésmilesFrench Riviera
This award-winning image captures the exquisite lighting and attention to detail at Domaine du Petit Malherbes. The artistic wedding photographer beautifully showcases the table decoration in a stunning light.
Domaine du Petit Malherbes: Captivating Illumination of Table Decoration
stunning lightDomaine du Petit Malherbestable decorationsexquisite lightingGard Artistic DetailsGardsunlight and shadows
Capturing love's tender embrace, this award-winning photograph showcases a bride and groom at the picturesque Domaine de Conseillant. Against a backdrop of a stone block wall, their silhouettes softly touch noses.
Domaine de Conseillant - Love's Embrace: A Photographic Masterpiece at Sunset
married coupleGironde Artistic Portraitoutsidenewlywedsstone block wallCubzac les Pontsbride and groom
Capturing their love amidst artistic inspiration, this award-winning portrait encapsulates the love on their wedding day. The spotlight highlights their connection as he tenderly kisses her, harmonizing with the blue window light and graphic shadows.
Ethereal Affection: Love Illuminated in Artistic Inspriation at their Wedding
graphic shadowswindow lightAtlanta Artistic PortraitAtlantaBluesunlight and shadows
Award-winning wedding photographer captures an urban groom and his sister striking a pose in the radiant sunlight. The beautifully composed black and white image frames them artistically, with a soft focus on the sister in the foreground.
Radiantly Urban: A Beautifully Composed Black and White Wedding Portrait
groom and sisterblack and whiteAncona Artistic Portraitstriking a posesunlight and shadowsAnconasoft focus
Wedding portrait at Chateau de Balarin in Montréal du Gers, France. The bride and groom in a stunning silhouette, with the bride leaning back, embracing the golden sunlight on her face while the groom stands profiled in shadows.
Luminous Love Portrait: Allure of Shadows and Sunlight at Chateau de Balarin
golden sunlightsunlight and shadowsGersstunning silhouetteChateau de BalarinMontreal FRblack and white
An award-winning wedding portrait captured by a talented photographer at The Foundry Room in Edmonton, Alberta. The bride is beautifully illuminated by the window's harsh light, creating a stunning image of elegance and beauty.
Elegant Illumination: Award-Winning Wedding Portrait at The Foundry Room
sunlight and shadowsharsh lightEdmonton Bridal Portraitwindow lightEdmontonAlbertaEdmonton bride
At Giardini La Pergola in Alessandria, a wedding photo captures the bride moments before the ceremony. The vertical image features half of her face in shadow, with closed eyes.
Shadowed Elegance: A Captivating Glimpse of Pre-Ceremony Tranquility at Giardini La Pergola
Giardini La Pergolavertical framehalf of faceAlessandriasunlight and shadowsAlessandria Bridal Portraitclosed eyes
In Buggiano Castello, Tuscany, the engaged couple enjoys a sun-soaked picture session, with their backs to a warm-toned wall, wearing matching sunglasses. - Sunny Bliss: Tuscan Wall Romance
Buggiano Castello Bliss: Tuscan Sun-Kissed Engagement Session
Buggiano CastelloTuscany Engaged CouplesunglassesTuscanysunlight and shadowswarm toned wall
In the charming town of Casole d'Elsa, Siena, Tuscany, this engagement portrait captures the couple in the Tuscan Winter sunlight and shadows, creating a captivating interplay of warm hues.
Tuscan Winter Delight: Captivating Engagement Portrait in Casole d'Elsa, Siena, Tuscany
SienaTuscanywarm huesCasole dElsasunlight and shadowsSiena engagement photography
In Casole d'Elsa, Siena, Tuscany, this engagement portrait during the Tuscan Winter features the couple standing near building arches. The sunlight delicately illuminates the shaded area, creating a captivating interplay of light and shadow.
Tuscan Winter Romance: Engagement Bliss in Casole d'Elsa, Siena
sunlitarchesSienasunlight and shadowsCasole dElsaTuscanySiena engagement portrait
Engagement portrait in Nice, France captured by a top pre wedding photographer. The couple poses in the sunlight and shadows, highlighting the city's beautiful backdrop.
Love Alight in Nice: Unveiling Romance in the Heart of France's Riviera
sunlight and shadowsFranceNiceNice Engagement Photographycouple posessidewalk
Engaged in the enchanting backdrop of a medieval castle in Brescia, this soon-to-be-wed couple embraces each other while capturing their love with a talented Brescia wedding photographer.
Brescia's Medieval Castle: A Captivating Engagement Portrait of Love
enchanting backdropBrescia Engagement PortraitMedieval castlesunlight and shadowsBrescia
In this stunning black and white image, this intimate couple is enveloped in a tender embrace, surrounded by the architectural beauty of Bergamo. Captured by a talented Bergamo wedding photographer.
In this stunning black and white image, this intimate couple is enveloped in a tender embrace, surrounded by the architectural beauty of Bergamo. Captured by a talented Bergamo wedding photographer
Bergamo Engagement Sessionintimateblack and whitesunlight and shadowsBergamo
Romantic pre-wedding photo of a couple at Lyon parc Blandan, taken by a Lyon wedding photographer. The high angle shot captures them walking in the beautiful sunlight.
Loving Steps in Lyon: Capturing Romance at Parc Blandan
sunlight and shadowshigh angleLyonLyon engagement photographyParc Blandancouple walking
In the scenic location of Baeza, Jaén, Spain, a couple enjoys a pre-wedding photoshoot filled with sunlight. The radiant bride-to-be leans gracefully against a striking stone wall, while her soon-to-be husband stands as a silhouette in the foreground.
A Captivating Engagement Portrait: Love Illuminated in Baeza, Jaén, Spain
brick wallsilhouettesunlight and shadowsSpainBaezaBaeza Engagement Photographysunlight
Black and white portrait of the groom, standing elegantly by a grid of window shadows at Château de La Ferté sur Aujon on his wedding day
Shadowed Elegance: The Groom's Timeless Charisma Shines at Château de La Ferté Sur Aujon
Château de La Ferté sur Aubewindow gridHaute Marne Wedding Portraitblack and whitewindow lightsunlight and shadowsgroom portrait
The bride is in her home in Zuid Holland, Netherlands. She is preparing for her wedding day, the sun shining through the windows as she puts on her earrings.
Sun-Kissed Bride: A Serene Morning in South Holland
sun shiningZuid HollandNetherlands Wedding Photographyearringsnetherlands bridebridal preparationssunlight and shadows

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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.