Wedding Photos of Sunlight

The following “Sunlight” 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” 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 couple engages in a joyful interaction, capturing the essence of their relationship. Against the backdrop of a historical French city, they laugh together, rim lit, and silhouetted against the setting sun.

CAPTURING LAUGHTER | ENGAGEMENT SESSION IN HISTORICAL FRENCH CITY

Beautifully highlighted by the photographer, a lifestyle couple portrait unfolds at Jaun. The future newlyweds embrace in a warm and joyful manner, basking in sunlight, with majestic mountains as the backdrop.

A ROMANTIC ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT SESSION AT JAUN

sunshine sun Fribourg smiles Switzerland engagement photography Jaun photographer warm

Lifestyle couple portrait at Finca Vikingos, Santa Barbara, Heredia, Costa Rica. Couple in the midst of a picturesque coffee plantation during golden hour, beautifully highlighted by the photographer. Face to face pose with sunlight softly streaming in.

Finca Vikingos Romance | A Stunning Portrait Session in Costa Rica

picturesque embrace Santa Barbara CR photographer sun couple couple portrait session trees

Lifestyle couple portrait beautifully composed by the photographer at Phon D Sutton Mesa, Arizona. The warm soft tones enhance the couple's embrace during their engagement session, capturing their love.

ROMANTIC EMBRACE | MESMERIZING ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT PHON D SUTTON

couple portrait photography Phon D Sutton mesa soft tones Arizona Photography sunset Arizona Engagements

Capturing their love amidst the golden embrace of a wheat field in historic Via Labicana, Rome, this award-winning portrait exudes an ethereal beauty, with the groom gently gazing at his radiant bride.

Golden Love in Historic Via Labicana: Award-Winning Ethereal Beauty Exudes

gazing at bride light of day outdoors wedding couple bride and groom Artful Rome Artistic Portrait

The timeless love of a bride and groom as they share a tender kiss beneath a sunlit tree at The Post Barn in Newbury, Berkshire.

Whispering Romance: Sunlit Serenade at The Post Barn Wedding, Newbury, Berkshire

light of day sunlit Berkshire Artful newlyweds wedding couple Newbury

An award-winning artistic wedding day portrait captured at Villa Bonomo, Trieste, Italy. The image showcases the bride and groom, in a loving embrace, gazing at each other with the setting sun casting a beautiful glow.

Golden Embrace: A Romantic Wedding Moment at Villa Bonomo, Trieste

creative portrait beautiful glow Villa Bonomo newlyweds married couple sun day

In an award-winning photo captured by an artistic wedding photographer at Trieste, Italy, the bride's hand delicately touches her necklace, beautifully illuminated by the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing and detailed image.

Trieste Illumination: A Mesmerizing Image of a Delicate Bridal Touch

artistic wedding detail shots sunlight brides hand Trieste Artful tight shot Trieste Artistic Details

Lifestyle couple portrait captured at Castello Sforzesco Milano. The soon-to-be bride and groom stroll in the park, accompanied by their dog. Sunlight filtering through trees brings out vibrant green highlights in the scene.

CASTELLO SFORZESCO MILANO | LIFESTYLE COUPLE PORTRAIT: PARK STROLL, DOG, SUNLIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

Milan couple portrait photography Castello Sforzesco Milano Milan engagements Lifestyle couple portrait highlights park

Wedding portrait captured in Aveyron, featuring a stunning sunset backdrop. The couple gazes at each other in partial silhouettes, framed by foliage surroundings, basking in warm tones and sunlight.

Aveyron's Spectacular Sunset: A Captivating Love Story Amidst Nature's Embrace

gazing warm tones sunset backdrop Occitanie Aveyron Artistic Portrait trees sunlight

Wedding portrait of couple at Tenuta di Polline - Lago di Bracciano - Italy. Partial silhouettes of the couple holding hands on the lake shore, with warm tones and sunlight.

Romantic Embrace: Eternal Love with View of Italy's Lago di Bracciano

evening sky sunset lake shore Lazio Artistic Portrait water holding hands sunlight

A couple celebrates their marriage in a peaceful field at the Avenue in Sarver, PA. The groom joyfully lifts his bride, enveloped in the warm glow of sunlight, creating a romantic wedding day portrait.

Sarver Serenity: A Joyful Lift in the Warm Sunlight

field sunlight romantic portrait Pennsylvania Artistic Portrait groom lifts bride Pennsylvania The Avenue Sarver

Bride and groom share a heartfelt embrace atop Tent Ridge in Kananaskis, Canada. Against a stunning orange sunset, their love creates a romantic portrait to treasure forever.

Tent Ridge Embrace: Love's Portrait Amidst a Fiery Sunset

sunlight daytime day bride and groom Tent Ridge Artful sun

Wedding photo taken at Domaine de Rennepont, Haute-Marne, shows the couple in an intimate embrace, about to share a kiss, with radiant sunlight highlighting the surrounding foliage.

Embracing Love at Domaine de Rennepont, Haute-Marne's Enchanting Haven

Capturing Love enchanting wedding portraits Haute-Marne Intimate wedding couple Artistic wedding photographer Haute Marne embrace

At Château des Broyers, Saône-et-Loire: Tranquil wedding couple portrait showcasing the newlyweds, locked in an affectionate embrace against the backdrop of a sunset, amidst their reception.

Romantic Reverie: Newlyweds Embrace at Château des Broyers, Saône-et-Loire Sunset Reception

Saone et Loire Weddings Back Lighting Château des broyers sunset Château des Broyers venue Newlywed portrait wedding couple

Creative wedding day portrait captured at a reception venue in Toulouse, France. The bride and groom tenderly embrace as the sun sets behind them, evoking a truly romantic atmosphere.

Romantic Toulouse: A Sunlit Embrace Captured on Wedding Day

Artsy day artistic portrait sessions married couple wedding couple sunshine France

In a wedding photo, captured at Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey. The bride sits on a bench in the foreground, while the groom lays on his back on another bench in the background.

Wedding Spectacle: Love Portrait Amidst Istanbul's Historic Splendor

Sultanahmet Square Turkey creative portrait sunshine married couple sun newlyweds

In this award-winning wedding photo, taken in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square, the groom gracefully supports his bride's dress train as they walk together. The romantic scene is enhanced by the burst of sunlight at the top.

Sultanahmet Serenade: Love Awakens in Sunlit Istanbul's Heartbeat Square

Artful married couple Sultanahmet Square creative portrait artistic portrait sessions sun wedding couple

Lifestyle couple portrait at City Hall Philadelphia showcasing a creative and picturesque scene. The couple walks together, hand in hand, with the magnificent Philadelphia City Hall serving as an impressive backdrop. The sunlight highlights them.

Love Blooms in the Shadow of City Hall: An Engagement Portrait Capturing Romance and Urban Beauty

Philadelphia large buildings sunlight Pennsylvania stroll City Hall Philadelphia Philadelphia engagement session

The bride and groom pose for a romantic portrait in front of the Teatro Adolfo Mejía in Cartagena, Colombia, capturing the charm of the city on their special day.

Cartagena Charm: A Romantic Portrait at Teatro Adolfo Mejía

sun Colombia outdoors daytime artistic portrait sessions married couple newlyweds

A photographer captured a romantic embrace on a beach in Brittany, France. Despite the rain, the couple embraced as sunlight gave a golden glow to the grasses surrounding them.

Golden Grasses Embrace: Artistic Wedding Photo on Brittany Beach

beach Newlywed portrait Brittany photographer romantic sunlight grass raining

In this award-winning picture, taken in Icart, Guernsey, the groom and his groomsmen are seen enjoying a relaxing chat on a balcony as they prepare for the ceremony. The picture captures the bright sunlight and the breathtaking view of the ocean.

Groomsmen bonding under the sun on Icart's heavenly balcony

Icart outside groomsmen sunshine Artful balcony day

Gently caressed against the stunning backdrop of Emerald Lake in Crested Butte, Colorado, a devoted groom affectionately embraces his wife, their love illuminated by the rim light, as they face each other on their wedding day.

A Romantic Embrace at Emerald Lake's Radiant Glow

sunshine intimate nature sunlight outside mountain range Artful

A beautiful wedding photo captured at a reception venue in Cleveland, Ohio. This sunset image showcases the rings and key details of the special day.

Sunset Splendor: Cleveland Wedding Shines with Radiant Rings

tight shot Detail Wedding Picture wedding details bright light sun Detail Shot sunshine

A wedding photographer in Tuscany captures a special moment as the bride and her father step toward the outdoor ceremony venue at Villa Grabau. The father wipes his face with a handkerchief under the sunlight.

Tuscany Outdoor Wedding: Bride and Father Step Towards Venue, Emotional Tear Captured at Villa Grabau

special moment Tuscany outdoor wedding handkerchief Lucca Tuscany wedding photography outdoor ceremony venue Villa Grabau

Wedding photo taken at Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, PA. Shows the bride in her room with a view, captured in a portrait shot with a natural sunlight ambiance.

Sunlit Window Splendor: A Breathtaking Bridal Portrait at Loews Hotel, Philadelphia

breathtaking bridal portrait Pennsylvania wedding photography portrait photography Laurel Rock Farm wedding Sunlit bridal portrait Pennsylvania Philadelphia

Sunlit Stroll: Urla Love Story - In Urla, İzmir, Turkey, a couple shoot captures the bride and groom walking, holding hands in the sunlight on the grass under tall palm trees. The scene radiates a sense of love and connection.

Urla Love Story: Sunlit Stroll in İzmir, Turkey

İzmir symmetry Turkey sunlight holding hands Urla Engagement Photography tall palm trees

At Alcsúti Arboretum, this portrait captures a reflection in sunlight as the couple embraces. The scene seamlessly combines the surroundings with the intimacy of the engaged couple.

Alcsúti Arboretum: A Sunlit Embrace in Nature's Reflection

vertical format Alcsúti Arborétum Hungary Hungary Engagement Portrait intimacy sunlight couple embrace

In London, UK, this couple portrait features the pair sitting on a tall wall with the urban skyline behind them, bathed in sunlight. The scene blends romance with the dynamic energy of the city.

London Lovin': A Skyline Soiree

romance urban skyline sitting on wall London engagement session sunlight London cityscape

A WPJA wedding photographer captured a beautiful picture of an engaged couple in Colorado Springs, CO during a sunrise session, with the sunlight accentuating their romantic dip

Sun-Kissed Love: Enchanted Engagement in Colorado Springs

sunlight sunrise session Colorado Springs engagement photography Colorado Springs Colorado romantic dip

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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.