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Wedding Photos of Illuminated

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The following “Illuminated” 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 “Illuminated” 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.

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Under the illuminated clock of Philadelphia City Hall, two hearts meet for an engagement portrait, the historic building serving as the perfect backdrop to their quiet connection.
Portrait Of A Couple Under The Illuminated Clock Of The Historic City Hall In Philadelphia
portraitconnectionPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia City HallilluminatedCity Hall portraitTogetherness
Under the glow of bridge lights and the soft city ambiance in Lisbon, Portugal, a couple shares a tender embrace, their engagement portrait set against the enchanting lights of the city at night.
Portrait Of A Couple In A Tender Embrace Under Enchanting Night City Lights In Lisbon
romanticintimateNightPortugal night sessionurbanglowingenchanting
At Iglesia de Santa María in Cazorla, Jaén, Spain, he lifts her in a romantic gesture, sunlight bursting behind them as they’re framed by the historic stone buildings, their smiles illuminated against the old world backdrop.
Sunlight Bursts Behind A Romantic Lift Outside Iglesia De Santa María In Cazorla, Spain For This Happy Couple
SpainJaénIglesia de Santa MaríaliftedIglesia de Santa María portraitoldworldsmiling
Holding hands in front of a large, grand window at Palácio Deodoro in Alagoas, the couple gazes into each other's eyes, illuminated by the soft light filling the historic room.
Gazing Into Each Other’s Eyes With Soft Light, The Engaged Couple Shares A Pose At Palácio Deodoro, Alagoas
Alagoaslightwindowilluminated sessionsoftsoft light posegazes
In Lyon, Rhône, France, the couple exchanges vows at city hall, surrounded by the applause of their guests and illuminated by the inviting glow of warm light.
Couple Exchanges Vows At City Hall Surrounded By Warm Light In Lyon, Rhône, France
lightglowwarm light ceremonyLyonLyon city hall weddingLyon city hall vowsapplause
Under the night sky at Trinity Hall College, a striking portrait captures the couple amid the historic architecture, their outlines softly illuminated by evening light.
Couple Posed Under Night Sky Amid Historic Architecture At Trinity Hall College
night portraitarchitectureoutlineTrinity Hall College CambridgeshireTrinity Hall College weddingilluminatedsoft illuminated outline
In Gonzaga, Mantova, Italy, a close-up detail of the bride’s lips is beautifully illuminated by window light during her makeup preparations.
Soft Window Light Highlights A Close Up Of Bridal Makeup In Gonzaga, Mantova, Italy
Gonzaga makeupilluminatedbridelightMantualipsbride lips closeup
Sunset at Hale Park in Hampshire, UK, highlights the bride’s veil, its fabric illuminated by the golden light for a dreamy and elegant wedding detail.
The Bride’s Veil Is Illuminated By Golden Sunset Light At Hale Park In Hampshire, Highlighting A Dreamy Elegant Wedding Detail
dreamy bride detailwarm lightHale Park weddingilluminatedHale Park Hampshiredetailgolden hour
A dramatic night portrait captures the bride and groom illuminated by tree lights in front of Hacienda Sitio de Mata, their figures glowing in the reception venue’s gardens.
Dramatic Night Portrait With The Bride And Groom Illuminated By Tree Lights In Front Of Hacienda Sitio De Mata Gardens
NightgardensHacienda Sitio de Mata Costa Ricailluminated tree lightsportraitbrideLights
At the Abbaye du Val des Choues, a couple is photographed at night in front of the illuminated venue, the portrait relying on low light and architectural background for atmosphere.
Illuminated Architecture and Nighttime Backdrop Set the Mood for Couple Portrait at Abbaye du Val des Choues
lowilluminatedarchitecturenight weddingportraitatmospherelight
Couple standing together in a tall vertical black and white portrait, with the sun glowing brightly behind them, casting a dramatic backlight and highlighting them in London.
Couple Standing Together In Tall Black And White Portrait With Dramatic Sun Backlight, Highlighted Against London Skyline
Backlightvertical portraittall frameurbanEngagementportraitilluminated
At Fairmount Waterworks in Philadelphia, a couple sits embracing outdoors, leaning into each other for a portrait illuminated by on-location lighting.
Photo from a Fairmount Waterworks Engagement Session: Couple Embracing Outdoors with Creative Lighting
illuminatedPhiladelphiaPhildelphia Engagement Photographeron location lightingembracingcouple sitingleaning in
Wedding rings are photographed on flowers against illuminated lights at Landgut Stüttem, Wipperfürth, Germany, using the glow from the building to enhance the foreground details.
Wedding Rings Rest on Flowers With Illuminated Lights at Landgut Stuttem in Wipperfurth Germany
GermanyLandgut StüttemdetailsLightsglowforegroundWipperfürth
Wedding couple illuminated under an umbrella against a dark, stormy sky at a Dordogne reception venue.
Wedding Couple Illuminated Under An Umbrella Against A Dark Stormy Sky At A Dordogne Reception Location Creates A Dramatic Portrait
dramatic illuminated coupleSkyilluminatedDordogne reception weddingDordogne France weddingDramaticDordogne
In Grado, Gorizia, Italy, the couple walks together in sunlight, with dramatic shadows filling the right side of the frame and warm light illuminating them.
Engaged Couple Walking in Sunlight and Shadow During Portrait Session in Grado
engaged coupleItalyscenicromanceGorizianatural lightGrado
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a couple is seated together against the backdrop of a historic stone building and dramatic skies, beautifully illuminated in a dusk portrait.
Engaged Couple at Dusk by Historic Stone Building in Philadelphia
outdoorsdramatic skiesengaged couplecityportrait sessiondramatic lightingscenic
In Doylestown, Philadelphia, two hearts meet between the stars and the water, illuminated under the night’s gentle glow by the photographer’s artful lighting.
Engaged Couple Under Night Sky by Water in Doylestown Portrait Session
outdoorsphotographer lightingromanceby waternight skyPhiladelphiaengaged couple
A lively, illuminated limbo dance sequence energizes the party in Noord Holland, as guests challenge each other under glowing motion blurred lights.
Joyful Guests Take Part In Spirited Dance Floor Games During The Evening Reception At Notley Abbey Oxfordshire
LightspartydanceNoord Holland receptionlimbochallengeilluminated limbo dance
At the Hungarian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, OH, the couple is photographed through the fountains at sunset, with sunlight bursting behind them and illuminating the water droplets in the air.
Sunlit Fountains at Sunset in Hungarian Cultural Garden Couple Portrait Session
Hungarian Cultural GardenClevelandoutdoorsromanceilluminatedOhiocouple
At Château de Beauséjour in Dordogne, a woman applies her makeup in solitude, illuminated by the morning light and framed softly through champagne glasses.
A Woman Applies Makeup While Illuminated By Morning Light At Château De Beauséjour In Dordogne France
morning makeupmorningglassesChâteau de Beauséjourdordogne chateauDordogneChâteau de Beauséjour
Kingscote Barn, Tetbury — The bride and groom stand face to face under an illuminated rose arch at night, about to kiss, surrounded by lush green foliage in a romantic wedding portrait.
At Kingscote Barn Tetbury Bride and Groom Under Illuminated Rose Arch At Night
Kingscote Barn venueromanticilluminated rose archfoliageKingscote Barn photographyKingscote Barn TetburyTetbury
Toulouse, Haute-Garonne — The bride and groom stand under an illuminated umbrella in the reception venue car park, backlit by old car headlights, creating a dramatic and romantic wedding portrait at night.
In Toulouse Haute-Garonne Couple Under Illuminated Umbrella Backlit By Car Headlights
night wedding imageilluminatedromanticToulouse wedding nighttoulouse wedding photographycar headlights backlitToulouse Haute Garonne
The bride and groom walk through the snowy courtyard at Wellshire Event Center, their figures framed by the softly illuminated architecture and snow-dusted trees, creating an artistic scene-setter of their Colorado wedding day.
Softly Lit Wellshire Snowfall: Artistic Scene-Setter for a Colorado Wedding Day
Wellshire Event Center weddingWellshire Event Centersnow dusted treessnowy courtyard walkcolorado wedding venueartisticsnowing
Domaine des Plaines, France — The bride and groom are captured together in a bold, dramatic wedding portrait, both illuminated within a striking frame of light that creates strong contrast.
Bold Dramatic Wedding Portrait With Striking Light At Domaine Des Plaines France
contrastDomaine des Plaines photographyPuy-de-DômeDomaine des Plainesstrong contrast weddingBertignatbold wedding portrait
Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Türkiye — In a tight wedding day portrait, the bride gazes at the groom while wearing traditional attire and jewelry, her face softly illuminated.
Bride Gazes At Groom In Traditional Attire At Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey Wedding
bride gazes groomIstanbultraditional attire weddingBlue Mosque Türkiyeistanbul bridegazeilluminated
Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Türkiye — Indoors in low light, the bride and groom pose cheek to cheek, softly illuminated by the photographer, creating an intimate and romantic wedding day portrait amid the historic setting.
Intimate Romantic Wedding Portrait Indoors At Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey Cheek To Cheek
Blue Mosque photographysoftly illuminated coupleblue mosqueIstanbul wedding portraitBlue Mosque Istanbulromanticlow light wedding
The Fort, Morrison, CO, USA — The couple poses in front of a cliff illuminated blue by the photographer at dusk, creating a dramatic and artistic wedding portrait at the historic venue.
Dramatic Blue-Lit Cliffside Wedding Portrait at Morrison, Colorado's Historic Fort
The Fort MorrisonThe Fort photographyThe Fort ColoradoDramaticcliffBluehistoric venue scene
At Clinton Hills, PEI, an indoor portrait captures the couple sitting together and illuminated by a large, stylized LOVE sign for an artistic, romantic effect.
Romantic Wedding Portrait Illuminated By Love Sign At Clinton Hills Prince Edward Island
coupleClinton Hills Wedding VenuePrince Edward Islandstylized love signportraitPEI portraitilluminated
Bride and groom stand in wooded Sherbrooke Castle grounds, illuminated dramatically by off-camera flash.
Bride and Groom Stand in Wooded Sherbrooke Castle Grounds, Dramatically Lit by Off-Camera Flash
wooded groundscastle groundsGlasgowoff camera flashGlasgow Wedding PortraitSherbrooke Castleilluminated
A couple poses in Sassenage, France, illuminated by romantic lights and dreamy swirling smoke.
Couple Poses in Sassenage, France, Illuminated by Romantic Lights and Dreamy Swirling Smoke
Sassenage PreWedding PortraitdreamyIsereromanticilluminatedLightsswirling smoke

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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.