Wedding Photos of Affection

The following “Affection” 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 “Affection” 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 tender moment between a bride and her father at Basalt Golf Club, captured as they share a heartfelt gaze before walking down the aisle on her wedding day.

Heartfelt Gaze: Bride and Father Share Tender Moment at Basalt Golf Club Before Aisle Walk

A touching moment between a bride and her father as she adjusts her veil in the mirror at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California, on her wedding day.

Bride and Father's Emotional Mirror Moment at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California Wedding

Oakland happiness father hotel room getting ready California - Northern mirror

In Buckinghamshire, UK, a heartfelt moment unfolds as a grandmother lovingly straightens the groom's tie, while he humbly kneels before her on his wedding day.

Grandmother's Tender Touch: Buckinghamshire, UK Wedding Moment with Groom and Tie Adjustment

love affection England tie touch Buckinghamshire Adjustment

Exploring the intimate connection between a couple in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, this black and white portrait highlights their affection reflected in stillness at their dining room table. Vintage vibes emanate stylishly.

Vintage Vibes: Intimate Moments at the Dining Room Table

vintage vibes black and white Belo Horizonte engagement photography dining table intimate portrait reflections artistic

A touching scene at Schloss Herten, Germany, where the bride receives a warm kiss and hug from an elder gentleman immediately following the ceremony on her wedding day.

Elderly Gentleman Tenderly Embraces Bride After Ceremony at Schloss Herten, Germany Wedding

Germany kiss tender Sentimental wedding gentleman hug

A couple shares a spontaneous kiss on the dance floor during a wedding celebration at Amar Casamentos in Juquehy, Brazil.

Passionate Kiss: Juquehy Wedding at Amar Casamentos Captures Couple's Love on the Dance Floor

happy wedding candid Juquehy Wedding Moment Amar Casamentos couple blissful

At the Baxter Hotel wedding venue, the bride and groom are seated on a couch, displaying affection as she leans against him with her elegant dress spread out on the carpet.

Romantic Moment at Baxter Hotel: Bride and Groom Seated on Couch, Displaying Affection

The Baxter Hotel wedding venue relaxing affection sitting carpet Bozeman wedding photography

Embracing bride and groom posing beneath a large, warmly lit art sculpture on their wedding day in Almería, Spain.

Bride and Groom Bask in Love under Glowing Art Sculpture in Almería, Spain

joy Unity beauty Forever happiness Almería Wedding Portrait vows

A romantic wedding photo captured in Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain. The bride and groom stand apart, reaching out to each other's hands, with a small dog curiously looking on in the background.

Romantic Wedding Moment in Torredonjimeno: Bride, Groom, and Curious Dog Share Connection

romantic wedding arch bricks Torredonjimeno Wedding Portrait love marriage connection

Playful 'he and she' game during the wine reception at an Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes wedding, capturing their joy and love.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Affection: A Joyful 'He and She' Wedding Game

wine reception Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne Rhône Alpes wedding joy affection Auvergne Rhône Alpes photographer playful

Pre-wedding engagement portrait in Villette d’Anthon, France, featuring a couple in nature. Groom affectionately kisses bride's forehead as sunlight filters through trees, capturing a joyful pose beautifully highlighted by the photographer.

Stunning Love Story Unveiled: Romantic Pre-Wedding Portraits in Villette d’Anthon, France

couple portrait session trees sunlit affection park Villette d Anthon Portrait green

A creatively composed lifestyle couple portrait captured in Cappadocia, Turkey. Lost in their affection, the couple embraces amidst a horse stampede within a dry corral, creating a captivating image.

CAPTIVATING COUPLE EMBRACE AMIDST HORSE STAMPEDE IN CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

embraces stampede corral couple portrait photography Cappadocia engagements lifestyle portraits Cappadocia Photographer

In Biscarosse, Landes, a couple shares a heartfelt picture session, radiating joy and affection as they embrace, their laughter echoing through the air. This captivating black and white portrait captures their genuine connection.

Laughter Echoes: A Captivating Biscarosse Wedding Portrait of Genuine Connection

joyful heartfelt black and white smiles affection bw Biscarosse Portrait

A wedding photographer from WPJA captured a beautiful engagement picture in Dallas, TX, using a window as a backdrop, highlighting the couple and their deep affection for each other

Capturing Love through a Window: Enchanting Engagement Portrait in Dallas, TX

affection Texas bw portrait Dallas window backdrop Dallas 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

Amneville sunlight affection Moselle Engagement Session Moselle outdoors embracing

In Trieste, Italy, the groom and his mother share a touching moment of affection following the ceremony, captured in this WPJA award-winning photograph

A Captivating Moment of Love and Connection in Trieste, Italy

post ceremony moment Trieste groom and mother Trieste wedding photography affection touching moment

A father figure affectionately kisses the shoulder of the bride during a heartfelt embrace at Château de Puyrigaud

A Touch of Love: A Father's Kiss at Château de Puyrigaud

Château de Puyrigaud affection heartfelt embrace Leoville Wedding Photography father of bride kiss on shoulder Leoville

A couple in Udine, Italy, embrace tenderly and share a romantic kiss on the face during their engagement portrait

Capturing the love: A romantic engagement portrait featuring a tender moment and a kiss in Udine, Italy

intimate portrait embrace tenderly affection romantic kiss Italy love Udine engagement photos

In a Sonoma engagement portrait, the couple exudes comfort and love as he gazes affectionately at her, while unbeknownst to the viewer, he playfully tickles her

Sonoma Engagement Portrait: A Heartwarming Display of Love and Playfulness

affection Sonoma yellow dress Sonoma Engagement Session California - Northern

A couple harmoniously exchanging affectionate gestures on the beach of Torres, in Rio Grande do Sul, during their engagement portrait

Beach Engagement Portraits: Harmonious Affectionate Gestures in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul

Torres affection Rio Grande do Sul cliff Rio Grande do Sul engagement red dress beach

Couple in wedding attire kisses in front of Château de Goudourville, with the castle gate in the foreground creating a picturesque frame for their affectionate embrace

Château de Goudourville offers a picturesque frame as a couple in wedding attire shares an affectionate kiss

romantic architecture affection outdoor wedding castle wedding castle gate kisses

A couple is affectionately embraced in a field of daisies during spring in Poitiers

Spring in Poitiers: Couple Embraced in Field of Daisies - A Heartwarming Moment

Couple embracing Poitiers Engaged Couple Poitiers field of daisies affection

A couple posed for their engagement shoot in Nimes, showing love and affection

Nimes Engagement Photos: A Display of Love and Affection

Nimes holding hands Nimes Engagement Photography love eyes closed affection

A tender moment between the bride and her grandmother is captured in a wedding picture taken at Braxted Park during her arrival

At Braxted Park, a tender moment between the bride and her grandmother was captured in a wedding picture

grandmother tender moment Essex wedding photography Bride and father Braxted Park walking down aisle Essex

An engaged couple was captured at Hampstead Heath, London, UK in a pre-wedding portrait, showing the deep affection and love between them with both eyes closed and surrounded by the beauty of spring

At Hampstead Heath, London, UK, a lifestyle portrait captured an engaged couple's deep affection and love

London flowers London engagement photography UK garden affection eyes closed

In Jesolo Lido, this is a loving portrait featuring the groom affectionately kissing the bride's head

This tender image captures the groom expressing his love for the bride in this newlywed portrait

water view Jesolo Lido Venice photographer affection kiss on head Venice

A truthful report of raw emotions in a Spain wedding day image captured by a Miramar, Malaga documentary wedding photographer showing the Just married groom receiving affection from men

Miramar Just married groom raw emotions Jesus Merida Malaga documentary weddings Malaga photographer Malaga

An extraordinary Washington DC wedding picture by a pro DC photographer revealing A couple tenderly shares affection while their wedding witness signs their Ketubah during a private ceremony

wedding witness Washington DC affection Washington DC wedding picture DC photographer DC couple signs

Jataí bride and groom to be, posturing for an engagement image in Pontal do Urutau in the warm bathing sunlight

Jatai couple portrait Jatai bride Pontal do Urutau affection Jatai Warm sunlight

Goias bride and groom to be, modeling for a Pontal do Unutau pre-wedding picture in Jatai with a cowboy cowgirl hat

cowboy hat affection Goiás bride cowgirl Pontal do Unutau Goiás

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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.