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 photographer specializing in weddings from the WPJA captured a beautiful engagement picture of a couple in Mylapore, Chennai, India, showcasing their undeniable love for each other

Undeniable Love: Capturing the Essence of a Chennai Engagement

In Napoli, Italy, a couple shares a romantic kiss in the streets of the marketplace, with the soft glow of sunlight shining from behind

Amore in Napoli: A Serenade of Sunlight and Passion

soft flow Italy Naples romantic kiss city strees marketplace sunlight

A couple in Maine is captured by a wedding photographer from the WPJA, standing on a small hill covered in dry grass, with beautiful sunlight shining down on them

Maine's Enchanting Light: A Captivating Engagement Portrait

Maine Maine engagement photography Scarborough Cumberland County ME small hill sunlight dry grass

An engagement photo of a couple in Rugby, UK, taken by a wedding photographer from WPJA, shows the couple embracing in traditional Indian clothing, with the sunlight creating a beautiful glow behind them

Rugby Radiance: A Sunlit Embrace in Timeless Indian Attire - WPJA Captures an Engaged Couple's Love

traditional Indian clothing Warwickshire sunlight Rugby Engagement Session Rugby United Kingdom afternoon glow

An engagement portrait taken in Boston Public Gardens, showing a couple touching foreheads on a park trail, illuminated by beautiful sunlight

Romantic Radiance: Boston Public Gardens Embrace Love's Glow

Boston Public Gardens Boston park trail sunlight Boston engagement session

A couple embraces outdoors in Amneville - enveloped in their deep affection for one another

Amneville's Natural Love: A Couple Captivatingly Embraced in the Great Outdoors

outdoors sunlight affection Amneville Moselle Engagement Session embracing Moselle

A romantic couple in Paris, France, embraces and smiles outside, with the beautiful sunlight in the background creating a dreamy effect

Parisian Love: Embracing the Dreamy Sunlight in the City of Romance

smiles Paris sunlight Paris Engagement Portrait Ile-de-France dreamy effect bw portrait

In the picturesque caves of Cappadocia, Turkey, this striking engagement portrait showcases the couple's depth and passion, captured expertly by a renowned wedding photographer based in Turkey.

Cappadocia's Captivating Romance: A Mesmerizing Engagement Portrait by a Celebrated Turkish Wedding Photographer

Turkey Cappadocia engagement photography Cappadocia sunlight shaft of light looking up

This stunning romantic portrait was captured in Beverly Hills by a talented and creative Southern California wedding photographer, showcasing a head-over-heels couple basking in the sun with lush palm trees surrounding them.

Beverly Hills Bliss: A Gorgeous Engagement Portrait in the Heart of Southern California

Beverly Hills Southern California Beverly Hills Engagement Photography city street sunlight palm trees

A bride and groom, with smiles on their faces, are showered with confetti as they exit into the sunlight in Trieste, Italy

Sunlit Celebration: A Joyful Exit in Trieste, Italy

Trieste showered with confetti ceremony exit Trieste wedding photography Italy sunlight

The newlyweds walk hand-in-hand, basking in the sunlight, as they leave the outdoor ceremony at Alerin Barn in St. Johnsbury, VT

A Joyful Journey Begins: The Newlyweds' Sunlit Stroll from Alerin Barn

Alerin Barn St Johnsbury Wedding Photography exiting ceremony Hand in hand outdoor ceremony St Johnsbury Vermont

A joyful bride basking in the sunlight embraces her brother with a deep display of sibling love in Istanbul, Yanik Mektep

Siblings' Sunlit Embrace: A Joyful Bride's Deep Display of Love in Istanbul, Yanik Mektep

bride and brother Istanbul wedding photography Sibling Love Istanbul joyful bride Yanik Mektep sunlight

Romantic couple in Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Florianópolis, savors the sunlight and love for each other in front of historic buildings before their wedding day. Captured by a creative SC wedding photographer.

Sunlit Love: A Romantic Engagement in Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Florianópolis

romance historic buildings Florianopolis bouquet sunlight Florianopolis Engagement Session Santo Antônio de Lisboa

During their pre-wedding photo session in Istanbul, Turkey, at Sultanahmet, a couple enjoys a sun-filled experience. The woman elegantly sits, while the man joyfully jumps near a stunning historic architecture site.

Capturing Love and History: A Sun-Filled Engagement Portrait in Istanbul

Istanbul historic site sultanahmet sunlight historic architecture jumping Istanbul Engagement Portrait

A lovely engagement photoshoot in Istanbul, Turkey. The couple is captured strolling together, hand in hand, basking in the sunlight. A twisted tree trunk and branches in the foreground serve as a frame for the couple, adding a touch of enchantment.

Captivated in Istanbul: A Sunlit Stroll Through Love's Frame

twisted tree Hand in hand sunlight framed in tree Istanbul couple portrait Turkey Istanbul

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

Baeza Engagement Photography sunlight and shadows sunlight Baeza silhouette Jaén Spain

The brides veil is being brought into the church at The Castelnau in Lectoure, France, with many hands offering assistance

Gracefully Guided: The Grand Unveiling at The Castelnau, Lectoure

Lectoure brides veil Gers wedding photography hands helping Occitanie Gers The Castelnau

A black and white photo taken outside in the sunlight at the Royal Air Force Yacht Club in Southampton. The bride's father watches as her dress is being done up.

A Captivating Moment: Father's Gaze as Sunshine Illuminates Breathtaking Wedding Scene at Royal Air Force Yacht Club in Southampton

Southampton Southampton Wedding Photography black and white sunlight Hampshire Royal Air Force Yacht Club tying up dress

A beautiful pre-wedding photoshoot took place in nature at Aylesbury, showcasing a couple surrounded by abundant greenery and vibrant foliage that added a touch of enchantment to their love story

Capturing Love and Enchantment: A Pre-Wedding Portrait Amidst Nature's Embrace in Aylesbury

Buckinghamshire greenery sunlight Aylesbury Aylesbury Engagement Session in nature

A couple stands outside a church in Sinsheim, Germany, basking in the sunlight. The bride and groom playfully interact with the interplay of shadows and light.

Sunlit Serenity: Embarking on Eternal Love in Sinsheim, Germany

profile Baden-Wurttemberg Sinsheim Sinsheim Wedding Portrait sunlight Germany silhouette

A romantic wedding photo at The Clock Barn in Hampshire, featuring the bride and groom surrounded by golden grasses, basking in the sunlight

Enchanted Nuptials: Captivating Moments at The Clock Barn in Hampshire as Newlyweds Embrace amidst Sunlit Golden Grasses

grass fields golden grass Hampshire romance sunlight The Clock Barn United Kingdom

A picture taken at Tunnels Beaches, Devon shows a beautiful sunset at the water. The bride and groom are outside, bathed in sunlight.

Sunset Serenade: Blissful Love at Tunnels Beaches, Devon

Devon wedding photography sunset reflection Devon sunlight water Tunnels Beaches

A couple embraces during the golden hour on Montpellier Beach. The bride gets tenderly kissed by her partner as the warm sunlight envelops them in a glow.

GLAMOROUS WEDDING PORTRAIT: Embraced in Golden Hour Splendor, Love Awakens on Montpellier Beach

beach portrait session sunlight wedding day beach wedding bride and groom portraits golden hour love awakens

In a stunning wedding portrait at Park Hotel Stara Zagora, the bride gracefully poses near a colorful stained glass windows, illuminated by the gentle rays of sunlight

Captivating Beauty: A Serene Bride Embraces Radiance Amidst Stained Glass Splendor at Park Hotel Stara Zagora

Park Hotel Stara Zagora colorful glass windows Stara Zagora Bridal Portrait sunlight gentle rays Stara Zagora bridal portrait

A stylish and cool couple relaxes against a building in sunglasses, their portrait taken in the sunlight of Siena, Tuscany.

SUN-KISSED SIENA: Chic Couple Radiates Wedding Glam in Italy

wedding building chic couple glam Italy Siena sunglasses

A black and white engagement photo captures a Lyon couple sharing a kiss in the midst of splashing sunlight, surrounded by lush bushes

Sunlit Serenade: A Timeless Kiss Amidst Nature's Embrace

Lyon engagement session Lyon sunlight black and white share a kiss

The newly-engaged couple joyfully basked in each other's love as they strolled down the sunny, narrow alleyways of Pirano, Slovenia's picturesque buildings

Pirano, Slovenia: Newly-Engaged Couple's Blissful Stroll Through Picturesque Alleyways

Pirano Engagement Photographer light and shadows alleyways Pirano sunlight Slovenia Hand in hand

The couple embraced in the early morning light in Chartres on the stone sidewalk

Chartres couple embraces in early morning light on stone sidewalk

Chartres Engagement Portrait early morning Chartres sunlight stone sidewalk

A beautiful photograph captures a couple in love as they stand in Campo San Polo in Venice, Italy, their warm-toned poses showcasing the bride-to-be's stunning new engagement ring

Campo San Polo in Venice, Italy: Couple's Engagement Photo with Stunning Ring in Warm-Toned Poses

Venice Campo San Polo engagement ring Venice engagement session block wall sunlight

A bride poses at Hambacher Schloss, fanning her dress under the bright sunlight as it illuminates the portrait

Hambacher Schloss Bride: Stunning portrait as she fans her dress in the bright sunlight

bride dress Hambacher Schloss Germany bridal portrait Hambacher Schloss bride Rhineland-Palatinate sunlight bright sunlight

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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.