Wedding Photos of Embrace

The following “Embrace” 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 “Embrace” 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.

Emotional moment captured at Early Mountain Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia, as the bride and her brother embrace and shed tears after the ceremony.

Sacred Tears: A Vineyard Embrace in Charlottesville

A beautiful image captured in Loire Valley right after the outdoor secular wedding ceremony, showcasing the newlyweds in a romantic embrace and kiss amidst the picturesque surroundings.

Love in the Loire Valley: A Wedding Embrace

LOIRE VALLEY kiss surroundings Centre-Val de Loire newlyweds LoireValley photographer secular

Emotional moment captured in black and white at Villa Gabau, Tuscany: Father of the bride embracing the groom affectionately outdoors under the sun.

Forever Bonded: A Father's Embrace in Tuscany

outdoors Villa Gabau Lucca groom father Forever Bonded Tuscany Groom

At Sedona Sky Ranch Lodge, Arizona, the mother of the groom tenderly embraces her son after receiving a special gift, captured in a black and white outdoor shot.

Echoes of Love: A Mother's Embrace at Sedona Sky Ranch Lodge

Sedona Photographer Outdoor Sedona weddings Sedona Sedona Sky Ranch Lodge Arizona wedding groom

In a touching black and white photo, at the Rhône ceremony, the groom tenderly comforts his tearful grandfather at the end of the ceremony.

Rhône Reverie: A Grandfather's Embrace

France photo groom touching tearful grandfather black and white

A mesmerizing pre-wedding engagement portrait at Maceió, Brazil. This captivating image showcases a couple by the beach, locked in a loving embrace beneath the enchanting pier pilons, with the majestic ocean as their backdrop.

Brazilian Beach Love: Pre-Wedding Portrait Showcasing Maceió Embrace

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Radiant Beach Embrace: A Captivating Couple Portrait Session in Maceió, Brazil

sunlit Brazilian Beach couple portrait Maceió destination sun ocean couple photography

Romantic engagement portrait captured amidst the lush greenery of Jardin des Plantes, Toulouse. This couple's love story unfolds as they sit embraced, surrounded by nature, symbolizing their union.

Romantic Embrace | Love Blossoms in Nature's Embrace: A Dreamy Portrait Session

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Winter Park, FL: A couple in love poses for a lifestyle portrait surrounded by nature. They share a passionate embrace by the water, beautifully captured and highlighted by the talented photographer.

Winter Park, FL: Nature's Amorous Canvass | Passionate Love Immortalized in Stunning Portrait

woods captivating love portrait trees water picturesque Florida embrace Winter Park FL

Beautifully captured by the engagement photographer, this lifestyle couple portrait at Winter Park, FL showcases a couple's funny and intimate session as they embrace under the tall, warm-toned trees.

Stunning Winter Park, FL Engagement | Intimate and Hilarious Couple Portrait Surrounded by Nature

couple portrait photography nature backdrop Winter Park FL engagement photos intimate Winter Park FL Florida woods

A couple embraces in a captivating pose, basking in the vibrant autumn hues surrounding them, creating a serene and romantic ambiance for a pre-wedding engagement portrait in Fort Collins, CO.

CAPTIVATING AUTUMN EMBRACE | A Serene Engagement Portrait in Fort Collins

Fort Collins embrace Colorado photography Colorado pose couple portrait session basking

A couple embraces in the picturesque cloister of Crémieu, France. Bathed in sunlight, they face each other with joy, sharing laughter that is beautifully captured by the photographer.

ROMANTIC EMBRACE IN CRÉMIEU | An Enchanting Engagement Portrait Session

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Beautifully highlighted by the photographer, a lifestyle couple portrait unfolds at Jaun. The future newlyweds embrace in a warm and joyful manner, basking in sunlight, with majestic mountains as the backdrop.

A ROMANTIC ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT SESSION AT JAUN

Gruyère sun engaged couple sunlight warm sunshine backlit

A couple's engagement portrait in Martigny showcases their affectionate embrace near the minimalist sculpture, cleverly emphasizing the vibrant red color through artistic perspective.

MARTIGNY MASTERPIECE: Vibrant Embrace | Sculptural Minimalism | Artistic Perspective

vibrant Valais Sculptural Martigny Couple Portrait couple portrait photography art red

A romantic pre-wedding engagement portrait captures a loving pose at the Bund in Shanghai, China. The tender embrace of a couple is beautifully highlighted as she affectionately hugs him from behind, her warm smile shining towards the camera.

ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT CAPTURES ROMANTIC BUND EMBRACE | SHANGHAI, CHINA

The Bund portrait session China engagement photography China Shanghai Photographer embrace couple portrait session smile

Lifestyle couple portrait at Finca Vikingos, Santa Barbara, Heredia, Costa Rica. Couple in the midst of a picturesque coffee plantation during golden hour, beautifully highlighted by the photographer. Face to face pose with sunlight softly streaming in.

Finca Vikingos Romance | A Stunning Portrait Session in Costa Rica

engaged couple Costa Rica flares trees Santa Barbara CR photographer couple portrait session embrace

Award-Winning Portrait: In the beautiful Guadeloupe, the bride and groom embrace with joy and smiles, as the wind tousles their hair. The groom wraps his arms around her, giving a tender kiss on her cheek, evoking a radiant smile.

Guadeloupe's Blissful Embrace: A Radiant Kiss in the Wind's Caress

tender evoking wind wind's couple portrait session beautiful portraits

Lifestyle couple portrait beautifully composed by the photographer at Phon D Sutton Mesa, Arizona. The warm soft tones enhance the couple's embrace during their engagement session, capturing their love.

ROMANTIC EMBRACE | MESMERIZING ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT PHON D SUTTON

Engagement Session Phon D Sutton embrace mesa soft tones lifestyle portraits sunlight Arizona

This pre-wedding engagement portrait captures a couple in a comforting embrace on a bench amidst the fall leaves of Ecclesall Woods, Sheffield. The serene forest forms a picturesque backdrop.

ROMANTIC EMBRACE AMIDST FALL LEAVES | ECCLESALL WOODS ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT

Sheffield ECCLESALL WOODS ENGAGEMENT couple portrait photography Engagement photography nature Sheffield Photographer embrace

In the picturesque Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, a radiant couple embraces tenderly against the backdrop of a serene alpine lake, capturing the essence of their wedding day.

Majestic Matrimony: A Stunning BW Wedding Portrait in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

serene Colorado wedding photography lake Newlywed portrait CO matrimony National Park Rocky Mountain National Park

In the heart of Viterbo's historic old town, this captivating wedding shot captures the pure joy and love shared between the newlyweds, framed against the picturesque backdrop of an ivy-covered well.

Wedding Bliss in Viterbo: A Captivating Couple Portrait of Pure Joy and Love

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In Colorado, this wedding detail captures the grooms embracing each other's hands in a passionate pose.

Colorado's Captivating Wedding Detail: Embrace of Groom's Hands

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Award-winning wedding portrait captured in Fort Collins, Colorado. Wrapped in snowy serenity, the newlyweds brave the cold to share a romantic session, beautifully illuminated by their creative photographer amidst majestic pine trees.

Winter's Embrace: A Majestic Wedding Portrait in Fort Collins

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Capturing the essence of love amidst the beauty of nature, this award-winning black and white portrait at Villa Bonomo in Trieste, Italy showcases a couple embracing amidst a backdrop of olive trees, bathed in the romantic glow of the sunset.

Enchanting Embrace: Love amidst Olive Trees at Villa Bonomo, Trieste

glow olive trees romantic artistic wedding photographer love black and white nature

Award-winning wedding photographer captures an intimate embrace for the newlyweds after their religious ceremony near the stunning Tejo's river view at SUD Lisboa, Portugal, as a passing kid on a bike adds a charming touch.

Tejo's river embrace: A captivating moment captured at SUD Lisboa

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In the charming vineyards of San Floriano del Collio, Gorizia, Italy, a glorious wedding session unfolds with a passionate kiss between the bride and groom, an exquisite tilt in their embrace.

Passionate Embrace: A Captivating Wedding Day Portrait in San Floriano del Collio

turf Artsy outdoors outside nature artistic portrait sessions San Floriano del Collio

Award-winning wedding photographer captures a romantic encounter at Domaine de Larchey, Gironde. The couple stands together, their faces inches apart, creating a stunning and heartfelt portrait.

Intimate Embrace: A Captivating Portrait at Domaine de Larchey, Gironde

captivating portrait romantic artistic wedding photographer Wedding Photograph embrace Domaine de Larchey Gironde

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

Landes affection Genuine Portrait black and white Radiant Wedding Photography Artistic Bride and Groom Picture Biscarosse

Newlyweds embrace nature's beauty as they stand near the water and trees, surrounded by exposed tree roots in Lipnik Park. This unique wedding day portrait captures their love in an enchanting setting.

Embracing Love in Lipnik Park: Enchanting Newlywed Portrait Amid Nature's Beauty

natures beauty Bulgaria Lipnik Park Lipnik Park Bulgaria Lipnik Park Wedding Portrait trees Ruse Bulgaria Newlyweds

In a dimly lit room, a romantic couple in Nanning, China, embraces with the rainbow hues of light illuminating their faces in a captivating wedding shot.

Captivating Rainbow Embrace: A Glamorous Nanning Wedding Portrait Illuminated by Love

colorful China photographer wedding couple Nanning weddings artistic wedding photographer China rainbows

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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.