Wedding Photos of Afternoon Light

The following “Afternoon Light” 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 “Afternoon Light” 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 lively moment captured at Mountain Top Inn, Chittenden, VT, as wedding guests snap photos during cocktail hour. A playful woman dips a man under afternoon light and a deep blue sky, beautifully documented from a low angle.

Guests Snap Photos, Woman Dips Man, Mountain Top Inn, Chittenden, VT

At Weingut Hahn in Alzey, male guests enjoy the outdoor reception, laughing and playing with kids on the grass in the afternoon light.

Male Guests Mingle And Play With Kids Outdoors At Weingut Hahn Alzey

Alzey Wedding Moment laughing Hesse Weingut Hahn afternoon Light Alzey Rhenish Hesse

This breathtaking Gers, France portrait captures a couple dancing in the middle of golden wheat fields at sunset, an image of grace where their love moves to the rhythm of the light.

Golden Gers Sunset Dance: Love's Graceful Rhythm in Wheat Fields

golden field Gers wheat field Gers engagement photography afternoon Light couple dancing

An overhead portrait of an engaged couple lying on the sand at Les Sables d'Olonne, France. The camera captures them from above their heads, creating a unique upside-down perspective against the texture of the beach at sunset

Sables d'Olonne Sunset: An Upside-Down Beach Portrait of Love

beach engagement overhead shot upside down perspective laying in sand sunset Vendee engagement session afternoon Light

A wedding party at Ristorante Villa Desiderio in Italy, participating in a lively limbo contest.

Lively Limbo at Villa Desiderio: An Italian Wedding Party in Motion

Brescia Wedding Moment Brescia outdoor reception Limbo Contest afternoon Light Ristorante Villa Desiderio

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

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

Final light of day at Foz Lighthouse in Porto, Portugal, a couple sitting on a stone wall in a wedding engagement portrait.

Couple Embracing At Foz Lighthouse In Porto, Portugal, During Final Light Engagement

afternoon Light stone wall Foz Lighthouse low angle Portugal Porto Porto Engagement Photography

A couple poses in Cappadocia, standing together surrounded by a herd of horses in the open desert landscape at sunset.

Cappadocia Engagement: Couple Poses at Sunset with a Herd of Horses

Cappadocia afternoon Light Cappadocia PreWedding Portrait desert landscape Cappadocia horses surrounded by horses herd of horses

SAINT-EMILION, France — A couple embraces in a tranquil vineyard as the sun sets. Their tender connection is beautifully captured in a black-and-white portrait session.

Sunset Embrace in a Vineyard, Saint-Emilion, France

bw portrait Saint Emilion Engagement Portrait vineyard Saint Emilion embracing afternoon Light

An engaged couple poses at a gate of an old castle in Münsterland, Germany.

German Castle Backdrop for Münsterland Couple's Engagement Portrait

trees Münsterland afternoon Light Munsterland Engagement Session castle gate North Rhine-Westphalia old castle

Engaged couple poses in afternoon light, sun rays crossing before them, Baeza, Jaén, Spain setting.

Spanish Engagement: Baeza Couple Poses in Golden Afternoon Sunbeams

Baeza Spain Jaen PreWedding Portrait kiss on forehead Spanish couple afternoon Light Sun rays

The married couple kissing in a field of tall, dry grass at Chateau de Mazieres, their wedding venue.

Married Couple Kissing in Field of Tall, Dry Grass at Chateau de Mazieres Wedding Venue

Tendu Wedding Venue Indre afternoon Light couple kissing tall grass Tendu Wedding Portrait Chateau de Mazieres

Couple walks along railed pathway at Biggesee lake, Germany, enjoying sunset in a tranquil scene.

Tranquil Sunset Stroll: Couple Walks Along Biggesee Lake Pathway in Germany, Serene Beauty

boardwalk afternoon Light lakeside walk pathway Biggesee Lake lakeside engagement tranquil scene

A couple embraces in tall grass at sunset, Tall Pines State Preserve, NJ, with a colorful sky illuminating the scene.

Sunset Embrace in Tall Grass: Couple Illuminated by Colorful Sky at Tall Pines State Preserve, NJ

New Jersey Engagement Portrait afternoon Light holding bride to be New Jersey couple kissing sunset illuminating scene

A couple lies comfortably inside a retro van in Bannay, smiling and relaxed, capturing the intimacy of their engagement.

Engaged Couple's Relaxed Retreat Inside a Retro Van in Bannay

afternoon Light relaxing Bannay Engagement Session intimacy retro van Bannay Cher

San Jose couple's tender kiss in warm afternoon light by a red picket fence.

San Jose Couple's Tender Kiss, Warm Afternoon Light, Red Picket Fence Romance

picket fence warm light San Jose afternoon Light tender kiss red fence San Jose Engagement Photography

The couple's heartfelt conversation at sunset by South Lake Tahoe after their engagement.

Heartfelt Sunset Conversation by South Lake Tahoe After Engagement: A Portrait of Love

Lake Tahoe sunset afternoon Light lake beach lakeside engagement California - Northern in conversation

A couple embraces lovingly in the warm, golden light at Stanjel Castle in Slovenia.

Golden Embrace at Slovenia's Stanjel Castle: A Loving Moment Captured in Time

afternoon Light Stanjel Castle sunset portrait Slovenia castle engagement Couple embracing Slovenia PreWedding Portrait

At Domaine des Gaillardoux in Lot, France, the bride and groom kiss in soft afternoon light, framed off-center with trees in the background.

Bride and Groom's Romantic Kiss at Domaine des Gaillardoux in Afternoon Light

Domaine des Gaillardoux Occitanie Occitanie wedding portrait afternoon Light soft light off center framing Lot

At The Club at New Seabury in Mashpee, Massachusetts, the bride turns confidently, her veil billowing in the wind as golden hour light illuminates her coastal portrait.

Golden Hour Brilliance: Bride's Billowing Veil Captures Coastal Elegance in Mashpee

illuminating bride Mashpee Wedding coastal portrait Mashpee Bridal Portrait Massachusetts The Club at New Seabury Mashpee

A Campinas Bride's Sunset Profile Portrait, Partially Silhouetted Against Venue's White Wall

afternoon Light white wall sunlight and shadows Campinas Campinas Bridal Portrait silhouetted profile of bride

Bancole, Italy - Villa Schiarino reception: As the sun sets, the bride and groom cut ribbons to release the bouquet. Warm light illuminates the outdoor action.

Villa Schiarino Wedding: Bride Cuts Ribbons to Release Bouquet at Sunset, Bancole, Italy

cutting ribbons Villa Schiarino Mantua bouquet game warm light Bancole Bancole Wedding Photography

Barbasso, Italy - Villa Cavriani reception: Mid-afternoon light illuminates the bride's outfit and bouquet. Close-up shot captures intricate details.

Villa Cavriani Wedding: Mid-Afternoon Light Highlights Bride's Outfit and Bouquet in Close-Up, Barbasso, Italy

Barbasso Villa Cavriani Mantua Barbasso Wedding Photography illuminating bride close up shot Italy

Budapest, Hungary: Autumn light illuminates a military groom in uniform and his bride in white, united in love on their wedding day.

Budapest Wedding: Autumn Light Highlights Military Groom in White Uniform and Bride in White

afternoon Light Hungarian Wedding Photography uniform Autumn military groom Budapest

Engaged couple enjoying a burger toast at their last stop on their engagement session at Tasty Burger in Boston, Massachusetts. The photo, taken by a wedding photographer, captures the couple in the afternoon light with the sunlight shining from behind.

Burgers & Love: A Tasty Toast at Tasty Burger, Boston

restaurant Boston toasting Boston PreWedding Photography Massachusetts Tasty Burger burgers

Captured by a skilled wedding photographer in San Francisco, CA, this charming engagement portrait showcases a loving couple sharing a kiss amidst lush foliage and basked in the warm afternoon sunlight, with the sun behind them.

Nature's Kiss: Love Illuminated in San Francisco's Sunlit Serenity

San Francisco engagement Warm sunlight San Francisco sharing a kiss afternoon Light lush foliage

This engaged couple shares a romantic stroll at Valley Forge National Historical Park, illuminated by the warm light of the setting sun. Beautiful pre-wedding portrait captured by a skilled photographer.

Sunset Stroll: Capturing Timeless Love at Valley Forge

Valley Forge National Historical Park afternoon Light Pennsylvania warm light romantic stroll white shirts Valley Forge Engagement Photography

At Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA, under the warm glow of the afternoon light, a man lovingly picks up and spins his fiancée. Their bare feet sink into the soft sand by the water, capturing a delightful and carefree love and joy.

Spinning in Sunlight: Carefree Love at Crane Beach's Edge

Ipswich Crane Beach Engagement Portrait lifting bride to be vertical format warm glow ocean Crane Beach

In Mios, France, an engaged couple shares a tender kiss, waist-deep in the river. The warm afternoon sunlight casts a romantic glow around them.

Tender River Romance: Engaged Couple's Kiss Captured in Warm Afternoon Glow at Mios, France - A Dreamy Engagement Portrait

afternoon Light tender kiss Mios Gironde Warm sunlight Mios Engagement Session romantic glow

Surrounded by the trees of Shelburne Farms in Vermont, the happy couple posed for a lovely engagement portrait during the late afternoon.

Late Afternoon Engagement Portrait of Happy Couple Among Trees at Shelburne Farms, Vermont

center framed vertical frame afternoon Light Vermont dirt road Shelburne VT Engagement tree lined road

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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.