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.

Couple engagement portrait by a Hertfordshire wedding photographer, captured in a romantic gaze and smiling in the soft afternoon light during a shoot in Ashridge.

Romantic Hertfordshire Duo: Captivating Smiles & Gaze in Soft Light

Engagement portrait captured in Le Marais, featuring the groom-to-be about to kiss his future bride against a big red wall in soft afternoon light by a French wedding photographer.

Groom-to-Be's Le Marais Kiss captured by French Photographer

Paris Le Marais off center framing afternoon Light red wall Paris engagement photographer

Engagement portrait of a couple by an Atlanta wedding photographer in Wynn Park, capturing them snuggling against a large tree trunk in romantic afternoon light.

Love in the Park: Atlanta Couple's Afternoon Engagement Portrait at Wynn Park

Georgia Atlanta engagement photography Wynn Park Atlanta snuggling leaning against tree park setting

Engaging couple photographed by a Çanakkale wedding photographer in a vintage shot near a forest, capturing the afternoon light in a fine art composition.

Dynamic Love Story: Turkish Engagement Portrait in Enchanted Light

Turkey Çanakkale Engagement Photographer Çanakkale vintage shot afternoon Light hats

Engagement portrait of a couple by a Jaén wedding photographer in Baeza, Spain. A couple kissing on train tracks, lying down and sitting - romantic afternoon light.

Romantic Railway Romance: Engagement Portrait by Jaén Photographer in Baeza, Spain

couple kissing Jaén engagement photographer Baeza Spain afternoon Light train tracks laying down

A couple engagement portrait captured by a Jaén wedding photographer in Baeza, Spain, showing a couple kissing in a yellow flower field under afternoon light.

Sunlit Flower Serenade: Romantic Baeza Engagement Portrait

Spain kissing couple yellow flowers field of flowers Baeza Baeza Engagement Photographer afternoon Light

Fine art couple engagement portrait by a Jaén wedding photographer, capturing a Baeza couple in an alleyway with stone walls, he jumps over her as she sits in the beautiful afternoon light.

Dancing Through Shadows: Urban Romance in Baeza's Historic Old Town

stone walls alleyway afternoon Light Baeza jumping over bride Jaén engagement photographer Jaén

A fine art engagement portrait captured by a Shanghai wedding photographer, featuring a couple embracing in the urban streets of the Bund in Shanghai, China, bathed in the warm afternoon light.

Urban Shanghai Engagement Portrait in Cityscape Splendor

The Bund Shanghai PreWedding Photographer afternoon Light vertical format urban streets Shanghai flowers

Couple engagement portrait by a France wedding photographer, at Dune du Pylat - sharing a kiss in the romantic afternoon golden sunlight, captured in an artistic composition.

Romantic Sunset Kiss: Couple's France Engagement Portrait at Dune du Pylat

Arcachon Bay afternoon Light Gironde vertical format share a kiss Dune du Pylat Gironde Engagement Photographer

Couple engagement portrait by a Rhone wedding photographer in Monsol, La Roche D'Ajou, France - a stunning setting in the high Beaujolais, with romantic afternoon sunlight.

Romantic Rhone Rendezvous: Couple's Engagement Portrait in La Roche D'Ajou

lifting bride to be stunning setting vertical frame Beaujolais Monsol La Roche d Ajou Rhône

Engagement portrait captured by a Brittany wedding photographer in Locquémeau Brittany, showcasing romantic afternoon sunlight near the sea in black and white - an artistic image of a couple in love.

Romantic Sea-side Serenade: An Artistic Engagement Portrait in Brittany Trees

Brittany afternoon Light Locquémeau Brittany Engagement Photography kissing France black and white

Engagement portrait of a couple at the edge of a picturesque forest in Tarvisio, Udine, Italy. Bathed in warm afternoon sunlight, beautifully captured by the top Udine wedding photographer.

A Captivating Journey of Love: Embracing Happiness in Tarvisio's Enchanting Forest Glade

afternoon Light Udine warm light embracing Tarvisio forest engagement Udine engagement photography

Engaged couple in Duino, Trieste, Italy, sitting at the edge of a forest, sharing genuine smiles as warm afternoon sunlight envelops them, captured by a talented Trieste wedding photographer.

Enchanted in Duino: A Captivating Engagement Portrait Amidst Trieste's Enchanting Forest, Bathed in Divine Sunlight by an Exquisite Trieste Wedding Photographer

smiles Duino Engagement Session afternoon Light Italy Warm sunlight Duino Trieste

Engagement portrait of a couple at Castello del Nero, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Firenze, Tuscany. They sit on a bench against a warm toned wall, enveloped by dappled afternoon lighting. Captured by a creative Tuscany wedding photographer.

Capturing Love at Castello del Nero: A Romantic Engagement Portrait in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Firenze, Tuscany

Castello del Nero Dappled Light sitting on bench Tavarnelle Val di Pesa Florence engagement session symmetrical portrait Florence

Engaged couple poses during a pre-wedding photo session in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey. The Istanbul Wedding Photographer captures their relaxed pose under the arche, bathed in soft, dappled afternoon light.

Sultanahmet Love: Enchanting Engagement Portraits in Istanbul, Turkey

sultanahmet afternoon Light framed Istanbul Dappled Light Istanbul Engagement Portrait Turkey

A couple in Triel-sur-Seine shares arms during a pre-wedding walk in the enchanting woods, as the soft afternoon sunlight gracefully bathes them in its warm glow.

Triel-sur-Seine's Enchanting Woods: A Pre-Wedding Stroll Immersed in Warm Sunlight

soft sunlight enchanting woods warm glow afternoon Light Yvelines Triel sur Seine Triel sur Seine Engagement Photography

A couple in love, take a leisurely evening walk through the charming Petworth neighborhood in Washington, DC, captured beautifully by a talented and artistic DC wedding photographer.

Romantic Stroll: Petworth's Delightful Evening Captured by a Talented DC Wedding Photographer

smiles dc engagement portrait Petworth Neighborhood Washington DC afternoon Light

In this high angle shot taken at San Francisco's cypress forest, a couple about to get married affectionately leans forward, their foreheads gently bumping as an expression of love.

Captivating Love: an Engaging Portrait amidst San Francisco's Iconic Cypress Forest

San Francisco SF couple portrait head touching cypress forest high angle afternoon Light

At Rambouillet, a couple embraces in nature during their lifestyle engagement photoshoot. The beautiful scenery and their loving connection convey their excitement for their upcoming wedding.

Embracing Love in Nature: Capturing the Excitement of an Engagement Journey at Rambouillet

intimate portrait afternoon Light Yvelines in nature Rambouillet Engagement Portrait Rambouillet

A couple in Bangkok, Thailand engaged in a portrait session, standing close to each other and sharing a loving gaze, with minimalistic elements and the soft glow of afternoon light

Love in the Afterglow: A Couple's Tender Portrait in Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok PreWedding Session soft glow Bangkok loving gaze afternoon Light

A couple sits on a log, basking in the warm afternoon light at Peña del Águila, Mancha Real, Jaén, Spain during their engagement photo shoot

Capturing Love Amidst Natural Beauty: A Sun-kissed Engagement at Peña del Águila, Mancha Real, Jaén, Spain

Jaén afternoon Light Mancha Jaen Engagement Session Peña del Águila sitting on log Spain Mancha Real

A couple is captured in a loving embrace under the beautiful light of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy for their engagement portrait

Captivating Engagement Portrait: Embracing Love in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy's Enchanting Light

trees Italian couple Italian Engagement Session afternoon Light Friuli-Venezia Giulia loving embrace in nature

In the wedding portrait, the bride gracefully reclines on a bed of flowers, beautifully framed by the warm, golden afternoon sun and contrasting stark shadows

Wedding Portrait in San Francisco: Bride Reclines Gracefully on Bed of Flowers in Golden Afternoon Light

eyes closed San Francisco stark shadows sunlight and shadows bed of flowers afternoon Light SF Bridal Portrait

Romantic and radiant wedding photo capturing the bride and groom at Hambacher Schloss in the soft glow of a warm afternoon.

A Captivating Wedding Portrait at Hambacher Schloss

Hambacher Schloss soft glow Germany layered portrait Rhineland-Palatinate afternoon Light warm light

Romantic couple session at Château de Chambly, Oise capturing the stone wall at their wedding venue - intimate bride and groom portrait bathed in glowing afternoon sunlight.

Sun-kissed Serenade: The Enchanting Elegance of Château de Chambly

casting shadows Oise Artistic Portrait stone wall Oise afternoon Light Château de Chambly

This couple is about to embark on their newlywed journey and we were there to capture the excitement and joy of it all during their romantic engagement session in the forests of Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, surrounded by beautiful rocks

The couple's love shone through in their engagement portrait, captured in the lush forests of Fontainebleau

beautiful rocks afternoon Light Fontainebleau Seine-et-Marne Seine et Marne Engagement Photography

A Massachusetts bride and groom shared a memorable moment of their special day as they sat on a giant chair overlooking the waves at Oceanview of Nahant

A wedding photographer captured the bride and groom sitting on a giant chair overlooking the beach waves on their special day

giant chair afternoon Light oceanview shoreline Nahant Massachusetts Massachusetts Wedding Portrait

The couple snuggled in tall dry grass and evening sunlight at Dillon Reservoir in Dillon, Colorado for their save-the-date wedding announcement picture

Dillon Reservoir, Dillon, Colorado - Couple in Tall Grass, Evening Sunlight for Save-the-Date Wedding Announcement

Colorado Dillon Engagement Session afternoon Light blue sky Dillon dry grass Dillon Reservoir

The couple posed for their Save-the-Date wedding announcement photo at Baker Beach, San Francisco, with the Golden Gate in the background at golden hour

Baker Beach, San Francisco - Golden Gate at Golden Hour: Couple's Wedding Announcement Photo

San Francisco engagement photography Golden Gate Bridge golden hour afternoon Light San Francisco Baker Beach

The couple embraced in a glowing afternoon sunlight of Nîmes, with him kissing her head as they posed for a lifestyle engagement portrait

In Nîmes, engaged lovers embraced and posed for a portrait in glowing afternoon sunlight

Nimes Engagement Photographer Gard couple posed Nimes kissing forehead Occitanie afternoon Light

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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.