Wedding Photos of Authentic

The following “Authentic” 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 “Authentic” 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.

Newlyweds exiting a gazebo ceremony at Castelvecchio, Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy, captured in a candid moment as guests shower them with rice, creating a joyful and authentic scene.

Candid Joy: Newlyweds Exiting Castelvecchio Gazebo Ceremony in Sagrado, Gorizia, Italy Amidst Rice Shower

A couple exchanges vows in a captivating outdoor setting at Artist Point, Washington, with the majestic mountain as the backdrop, the sun gently rising, all captured in a candid and authentic photograph that tells a touching wedding day story.

Romantic Vows at Artist Point: Majestic Mountain backdrop for Candid and Authentic Wedding Photograph

emotion outdoor wedding Captivating Story love ceremony Artist Point sun setting

This authentic and emotional Buenos Aires wedding day moment outside the San Isidro Cathedral in Argentina was recorded by a documentary wedding photographer showing The married couple going to the venue in the back of a vintage car

bw Argentina emotional married couple San Isidro Cathedral wedding Argentina photographer

This authentic and emotional France wedding day moment from Domaine de Grand Maison in Oyster Saint Oblas was recorded by a documentary wedding photographer showing The excited groom seeing the bride for the first time

France wedding day first look Isere Domaine de Grand Maison wedding venue Florian Maguin Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Domaine de Grand Maison

This authentic and emotional Liguria wedding day moment from Diano Castello, Imperia was recorded by a documentary wedding photographer showing the Bride and her grandmother

Liguria Liguria photographer grandmother emotional Liguria wedding day Diano Castello authentic

This authentic and emotional wedding day moment from the Allan House in Austin, Texas was recorded by a documentary wedding photographer showing Wedding guests crying after speech at the outdoor reception venue

Austin Allan House Austin photographer authentic Texas - Central outdoor Reception Venue emotional

Mercer Island Washington authentic wedding image of bridesmaids saying a prayer over bride before the wedding ceremony

bride arms Washington Mercer Island hands Washington wedding image Logan Westom

Wedding Reportage Photography from Sutton Bonington Hall, Loughborough, UK | A decisive moment on the stairs. At the bottom is the groom greeting a guest.

Sutton Bonington Hall, Loughborough, UK moment on the stairs and at bottom is the groom greeting guests

Leicestershire candid photography Memorable Sutton Bonington Hall United Kingdom emotion black and white

Mythe Barn, Atherstone, UK wedding day photography of flower girl having fun on the dance floor.

Eternal Joy: Flower Girl Frolics at Mythe Barn Wedding

Charming Memorable UK flower girl candid kid child

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.