Wedding Photos of Santa Cruz

The following “Santa Cruz” 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 “Santa Cruz” 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.

On a sunlit Santa Cruz beach, the couple stands nose to nose on the sand, backlit by the warm glow, capturing a tender and romantic engagement portrait.

Engaged Couple Standing Nose To Nose On Sunlit Santa Cruz Beach, Backlit By Warm Golden Glow And Sand

Engagement Portrait: Couple Face to Face on Santa Cruz Nature Path

Santa Cruz engagement session Santa Cruz low angle Face to face grass nature path California - Northern

In Santa Cruz, CA, a Northern California engagement portrait shows the couple relaxing on a downed tree trunk, with her leaning onto him as they bask in the sunshine.

Engagement Portrait of a Couple Relaxing on a Tree Trunk in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz candid California - Northern engagement portrait engaged romance sunshine

A couple is embraced or sharing an intimate interaction within the California wilderness. The expansive green foliage at Santa Cruz provides a sheltered, secluded atmosphere for their quiet display of affection.

California Wilderness Engagement: Sheltered Green Foliage Embraces Quiet Affection in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz green foliage off center California - Northern embracing Santa Cruz engagement photography

Santa Cruz engagement photo: a couple walks hand-in-hand on train tracks at sunset.

Engaged Couple Walk Hand-In-Hand On Santa Cruz Train Tracks At Sunset

Hand in hand train tracks Santa Cruz Santa Cruz engagement session afternoon Light walking

Santa Cruz, CA — He embraces her from behind as they share soft smiles on the beach near sunset, creating a warm and romantic engagement portrait.

Santa Cruz Engagement: A Warm, Romantic Embrace On The Beach At Sunset

sunset embrace from behind smiles Santa Cruz e session beach engagement Santa Cruz California - Northern

The Quiet Before: Bridal Beauty at Dream Inn

preparations of bride Bridal Makeup Santa Cruz Dream Inn California - Northern Santa Cruz bride quiet moment

Santa Cruz, CA couple kisses in a field of tall grass in a higher-angle engagement portrait.

Santa Cruz Couple's High-Angle Kiss in a Tall Grass Field

high angle Santa Cruz field of grass Santa Cruz engagement photography California - Northern tall grass couple kissing

Engaged couple cuddling warmly on windswept bluffs in Santa Cruz, California, overlooking dramatic coastline.

Warm Embrace on Windswept Bluffs: Engaged Couple Overlooking Dramatic Santa Cruz Coastline

coastline Cuddling Santa Cruz engagement photography bluffs overlooking ocean Santa Cruz California - Northern

Engaged couple in Santa Cruz, close-up with heads touching, sun shining behind them, creating a warm, glowing effect.

Sunlit Warmth: Engaged Couple’s Tender Close-Up With Glowing Santa Cruz Sunset

backlit arms around neck sunshine glowing effect Santa Cruz engagement photography close up Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz couple's sweet embrace; groom kisses bride's head beside a majestic rock cliff.

Santa Cruz Sweet Embrace: Groom's Gentle Kiss by Majestic Cliffside Rocks

Santa Cruz cliff majestic kiss on head California - Northern sweet embrace rock

A Santa Cruz couple, lost in each other, pose perched on a tree branch.

Santa Cruz Couple, Lost in Love, Perched on Branch, Engagement Bliss

Santa Cruz perched romance tree branch sitting on branch California - Northern Santa Cruz engagement session

An engaged couple stands lovingly together at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, CA, perfectly silhouetted against the expansive blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

Engaged Couple's Silhouette at Natural Bridges State Beach Against Expansive Sky

Sky loving pose Blue coastal scene Natural Bridges State Beach couple silhouette

In the grand hallway of a veranda at UC Santa Cruz, a couple embraces in a romantic black-and-white kiss, framed symmetrically by repeating architectural lines.

Symmetrical Black-and-White Embrace in UC Santa Cruz Veranda's Grand Hallway

veranda symmetry repeating lines couple artistic portrait Santa Cruz

A couple shares a romantic kiss on a sunlit beach in Santa Cruz, CA, surrounded by coastal foliage, capturing the warmth and beauty of Northern California.

Sunlit Kiss on Santa Cruz Beach Amid Foliage, Capturing Northern California's Warmth

beauty nature coastal couple sunlit portrait Santa Cruz

In Santa Cruz, CA, a couple's engagement portrait captures them embracing at dusk in a field. The car's headlights illuminate the scene, contrasting against the deep blue sky, creating a romantic and atmospheric scene.

Couple in Santa Cruz, CA, in Engagement Portrait | Embracing at Dusk in Field | Car Headlights Illuminate Scene Against Deep Blue Sky

outdoors intimate portrait romance California - Northern dusk Sky

An engagement portrait of a couple in Santa Cruz, CA, captured by a professional wedding photographer. The couple shares a sweet kiss amid the afternoon sunlight, expertly lit by the photographer.

Sunlit Affection: A Sweet Kiss in Santa Cruz's Golden Glow

kiss Santa Cruz wooden fence afternoon sunlight California - Northern Santa Cruz Engagement Portrait

Engaged couple in Northern California share a romantic embrace at the beautiful coastal town of Santa Cruz, with the ocean as their backdrop. They lovingly embrace each other as they prepare for their upcoming wedding.

Romantic Coastal Embrace: California Couple's Pre-Wedding Love in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz engagement photography ocean backdrop California - Northern Santa Cruz romantic embrace beach engagement

This is a pre-wedding engagement photo of a couple in Santa Cruz. The portrait shows the couple embracing each other in the beautiful green nature outside. The image is centered and framed perfectly.

Santa Cruz Engagement: Couple Embraces in Enchanting Natural Green Setting

Couple embracing California - Northern Santa Cruz center framed Santa Cruz engagement photography in nature greenery

In a serene forest setting in Santa Cruz, CA, an engagement portrait beautifully captures the couple surrounded by towering trees and lush greenery, embodying a sense of love and tranquility amidst nature.

Tranquil Love: Engagement Portrait Amidst Towering Trees and Lush Greenery

in nature center framed Central Coast towering trees lush greenery Santa Cruz Santa Cruz engagement photography

In Santa Cruz, California, an engagement portrait captures the playful spirit of a couple wading through shallow water, as gentle waves roll in, highlighting their adventurous and joyful nature.

Joyful Adventure: Playful Engagement Portrait of Couple Wading in Santa Cruz Shallow Waters with Rolling Waves

Santa Cruz playful spirit California - Northern Santa Cruz engagement session wading in water red dress gentle waves

At Hollins House in Santa Cruz, California, the bride's bridesmaids tenderly tied her shoes, earning the moment a WPJA Spotlight award.

Heartfelt Assistance: Bridesmaids' Care at Hollins House

california bride Hollins House Santa Cruz shoes tenderly shoe helpers care

An image from the Dream Inn Santa Cruz, CA has been honored with a WPJA Spotlight award, featuring a bride intently focused on perfecting her makeup.

Beauty in Focus: Bridal Elegance at Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Elegance WPJA Spotlight award Dream Inn Santa Cruz bride Santa Cruz wedding day mirror

The happy couple's engagement photo at Natural Bridges State Beach is filled with warm colors and shows them above the ocean, locked in a loving kiss.

Engagement Photo of Couple Sharing a Kiss Above the Ocean at Natural Bridges State Beach with Warm Tones

shoreline portrait California - Northern Natural Bridges State Beach ocean Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Engagement Portrait red dress

In the city of Santa Cruz California, the low afternoon sun shines behind their lovely kiss as they kiss on the rail tracks under the bridge.

Couple Shares Romantic Kiss on Rail Tracks Under Bridge in Santa Cruz, California, with Low Afternoon Sun Backdrop

railroad tracks Santa Cruz Engagement Portrait Santa Cruz kiss under bridge California - Northern afternoon sun

Expertly captured by a WPJA photographer in Santa Cruz, California, this portrait embodies the loving embrace of an engaged couple sharing a kiss on a merry-go-round.

A Pre Wedding Carousel Kiss in Santa Cruz, CA

merry go round sharing a kiss Santa Cruz Engagement Portrait Santa Cruz horse California - Northern

At Panther Beach Santa Cruz, CA, the soon-to-be-wed couple is caught off guard by a surprise wave during their engagement session, capturing a tender embrace in black and white.

Capturing Love in Black and White at Panther Beach Santa Cruz, CA

Panther Beach surprise wave crashing wave Santa Cruz engagement photography California - Northern Santa Cruz caught off guard

Capturing the silhouette of the embracing couple in Santa Cruz, CA, this monochromatic engagement portrait exudes a vintage charm with its black and white tones.

Vintage Embrace: Silhouettes of Love in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Engagement Portrait black and white tones bw portrait California - Northern silhouette Santa Cruz cloudy

California Santa Cruz lifestyle couple portrait. Embraced by the ocean and bird rock, the couple shares a tender embrace at the flat water's edge, capturing the beauty of their love.

CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ | Embracing the Ocean: A Stunning Couple Portrait at Bird Rock

Santa Cruz lifestyle couple portrait N CA photography water Pacific Ocean Santa Cruz Engagement photography N CA photographer

An engaged couple enjoys an intimate embrace amidst the romantic beauty of Santa Cruz's woodlands

The couple embraced intimately in Santa Cruz's romantic woodlands

California - Northern Santa Cruz woodlands intimate portrait in nature embrace bw portrait

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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.