Wedding Photos of Playfulness

The following “Playfulness” 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 “Playfulness” 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.

In downtown Cleveland, Ohio, a couple dashes across the street with urban playfulness, dressed in formal wear. Captured in a vertical black-and-white frame, the image contrasts elegance with spontaneity in the bustling cityscape.

Couple in Downtown Cleveland, Ohio, Dashing Across Street in Formal Wear | Vertical Black-and-White Frame | Elegance Meets Spontaneity in Bustling City

At Allan Bank in Cumbria, England, a detail shot captures a page boy in checkered Vans shoes as he pets a dog, highlighting the sweet interaction and adding a playful touch to the scene.

Page Boy in Checkered Vans Shoes Pets Dog in Playful Detail at Allan Bank

interaction endearing dogs playful wedding details joyful Innocence Cumbria

At La Factory in Thizy-les-Bourgs, as the bride and groom's children prepare for the event, a playful scuffle breaks out between two of them in the background. This candid moment adds a touch of humor and familial energy to the preparations.

Playful Scuffle Among Bride and Groom's Children Adds Humor to Wedding Preparations at La Factory in Thizy-les-Bourgs

Thizy les Bourgs kids boys Rhône humor Children La Factory

At a wedding in Seal Cove, Maine, on Mount Desert Island, a child joyfully sits on the shoulders of another kid while they dance together, surrounded by guests who are celebrating a lively and fun-filled event.

Joyful Kids Dance at Seal Cove, Maine Wedding Celebration

joy Maine wedding Fun Filled guests festivity Children love

Captured by a seasoned WPJA photographer at the iconic Biltmore Estate, this shot showcases an engaged couple gleefully rolling down Diana Hill, exuding joy and playfulness.

Biltmore Engagement: Rolling Fun Times with Pro Photographer

rolling on lawn Asheville Diana Hill playfulness iconic estate Asheville Engagement Photography Biltmore Estate

Captured against the stunning backdrop of the Bund in Shanghai, this portrait showcases the couple in a beautiful light, with smiles, laughter, and joyful playfulness.

Joyful Playfulness Along the Bund: A Captivating Engagement Portrait in Shanghai

laughter The Bund PreWedding Portrait joyful playfulness beautiful light Shanghai The Bund Shanghai

In this engagement portrait, a couple in Nice-Côte d'Azur is captured about to kiss, with sunbeams and a bright blue sky adding a backdrop to their joy, playfulness, and fun.

Joyful Kisses: Nice-Côte d'Azur Engagement Portrait Session

Nice French Riviera Nice Engagement Portrait blue sky playfulness sunbeams

In the charming Beijing Wudaoying Hutong, this engaged couple showcased joy and playfulness while walking through the narrow alleyways for their portrait session.

Navigating Love in Beijing's Wudaoying Hutong: A Playful Engagement Portrait

walking Wudaoying Hutong playfulness Beijing PreWedding Photography urban portrait alleyway Beijing

At Crested Butte, Colorado, the newlyweds share a joyful pose on a playground swingset, radiating happiness as they celebrate their wedding day in a picturesque setting.

Newlyweds Embrace Joyful Playfulness on Crested Butte Swingset

Swingset bride and groom Artistic Crested Butte Wedding Photography Newlywed portraits celebrating love newlyweds Broomfield Colorado weddings

Young flower girls had fun on swings hanging from ropes in a magnificent tree at Domaine de Valbonne. This captivating image captures their joy and playfulness.

Swinging Joy and Playfulness: Flower Girls at Domaine de Valbonne

young flower girls under tree playfulness swing Gard ropes Gard Documentary Wedding Photography

Vieux Lyon couple e-session in France with playfulness below the stairs during a love session in old Lyon

France playfulness Castille Alma love session lyon engagement Lyon couple engagement Vieux

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.