WPJA.com HomeWedding Photojournalist Association

Wedding Photos of Portrait session

For Couples / Wedding Photos of Portrait session

The following “Portrait session” 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 “Portrait session” 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.

Enter Keywords:  
Before their ceremony, the couple slips away into Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado for a peaceful escape portrait session, surrounded by wild natural beauty and mountain vistas.
Couple Escapes Into Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park For Peaceful Portrait Session With A View
viewcoupleparkColoradopark weddingbeautyEstes Park
During blue hour in Cancun, a couple is photographed with flash against distinctive architecture, with the lighting conditions emphasizing the background and structural elements around them.
Distinctive Architecture and Blue Hour Lighting Emphasize Couple’s Portrait Session in Cancun Mexico
Blueemphasizeblue hour weddingDistinctivelightingarchitectureflash
The couple is featured in a straightforward wedding portrait during sunset at Château d'Aubiac, France, documenting the pair in the venue’s setting.
Pair Portrait Captured at Sunset in Château d'Aubiac France During Their Wedding Portrait Session
paircapturedportrait sessionvenueChateau dAubiacdocumentingportrait
At Vanderbilt Mansion in New York, the couple is face to face, surrounded by blooming spring flowers both overhead and reflected beautifully below.
Couple Portrait Session Amid Spring Blooms and Reflections at Vanderbilt Mansion
portrait sessionbloomingreflectionfloralengagedgardenNew York
In Boston, MA, the couple celebrates at the water’s edge, framed by city lights in an urban night shot illuminated by the photographer’s lighting.
Couple Portrait Session by Boston’s City Lights as He Playfully Lifts Her
Bostoncity lightsengagedeveningMassachusettslovehe lifts her
In the Catskills, New York, the couple stands side by side with backs to a clean wall, heads turned in profile, their shadows stretching across the surface in a striking black-and-white sunset shot.
Couple Portrait Session in the Catskills With Striking Sunset Shadows
Dramaticcoupleheads in profileloveportrait sessionsunsetside by side
In the Catskills, NY, the couple enjoys each other's company in the woods, their smiling reflection captured in a handheld mirror framed by lush green foliage.
Couple Portrait Session in the Catskills With Reflections in a Woodland Mirror
couplecreativeoutdoorshandheld mirrorengagedromanceNew York
At Innisfree Garden in New York, the couple connects around a castle-like stone structure: she stands below in an arched doorway, while he sits high above her on the stones.
Couple Portrait Session at Innisfree Garden With Castle Stone Structure
scenicarchitectureportrait sessioncoupleOutdoorNew Yorkcastle stone structure
In Grado, Gorizia, Italy, a couple portrait shows him hugging her from behind, with vibrant violet flowers framing the right foreground of the image.
Engaged Couple Embraced Among Violet Flowers During Portrait Session in Grado
Goriziaengaged coupleviolet flowersItalian settingembraceportrait sessionromantic
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
scenicengaged couplesunlightItalyilluminatedcandidFriuli-Venezia Giulia
In Portopiccolo, Sistiana, Trieste, Italy, the couple stands back to back beneath a sunlit blue sky, captured in minimalist and symmetrical framing.
Engaged Couple Back to Back Under Blue Sky in Portopiccolo Portrait Session
romanceSistianaPortopiccoloback to backblue skysunlitItaly
In Venice, Italy, the couple stands face to face, silhouetted in black and white between urban buildings, creating a striking and romantic city portrait.
Engaged Couple Silhouetted Face to Face in Urban Venice Portrait Session
strikingromanticVeniceblack and whiteDramaticsilhouettemoody lighting
In Grado, Gorizia, Italy, a couple portrait in black and white captures an urban street scene as the silhouette of a woman on a bicycle with her dog in the basket passes by in the foreground.
Engaged Couple Urban Portrait in Grado With Bicycle and Dog Silhouette
black and whiteFriuli-Venezia GiuliaItalycandidItalian townGradoengaged couple
In Grado, Gorizia, Italy, the couple sits together on a bench facing a beautiful, historic building, enjoying the charm and elegance of their surroundings.
Engaged Couple on Bench in Grado at Historic Building for Portrait Session
historic buildingcityscapescenicItalian towncandidRelaxedElegance
On San Giorgio Island in Venice, Italy, the couple walks together with the iconic cityscape of Venice beautifully visible in the background.
Engaged Couple Walking on San Giorgio Island With Venice Cityscape
walking togetherItalian architectureurban explorationItalyloveromanceoutdoors
In Venice, Italy, the couple is beautifully captured with their reflection in a window, set against the backdrop of the city's iconic scenery.
Engaged Couple Reflected in Window With Iconic Venice
travelcandidportrait sessionItalian architectureengaged coupleItalyiconic scenery
At Chapelle Saint-Aubin in France, the couple is staged with minimalist framing beneath a vast blue sky and wispy clouds, highlighting the serene setting.
Pre-Wedding Portrait of Engaged Couple at Chapelle Saint-Aubin Under a Blue Sky
tranquilengaged coupleSartheoutdoorsFrancecountrysidearchitecture
At Chapelle Saint-Aubin in France, the couple sits close together in tall, dry grass, embracing with eyes closed, conveying intimacy and peaceful connection.
Engaged Couple Embracing in Tall Grass at Chapelle Saint Aubin Portrait Session
connectioncountrysidePays de la Loiresitting closeembracingChapelle Saint AubinFrance
At Lac Chambon in France, the couple sits close together among moss-covered boulders in a lush forest, surrounded by the serene natural beauty.
Engaged Couple Portrait Among Moss Covered Boulders in Lac Chambon Forest
scenicportrait sessionlush forestsitting closenaturenatural beautypeaceful
In Philadelphia, the couple shares a tender hand kiss beside a tranquil pond, surrounded by vibrant trees and a bright blue sky overhead.
Engaged Couple Sharing a Tender Hand Kiss by a Pond in Philadelphia
scenicpeacefulcandidhand kissPre WeddingCity Parktranquil pond
At Cypress Grove in Mendocino, CA, the couple joyfully runs down the center of the street, the yellow painted lines leading the eye straight toward their laughter and energy.
Engaged Couple Running Down the Street at Cypress Grove in Mendocino
candidjoyPre Weddingoutdoorsyellow street linesrunninglaughter
At Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia, the couple shares a playful dip in the sunshine amidst shimmering waters, radiating joy and a love that flows endlessly.
Engaged Couple Playful Dip in Sunshine at Longwood Gardens Philadelphia
Longwood Gardensengaged couplePhiladelphiascenicjoyromanceportrait session
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
eveningscenicPre Weddingengaged couplePennsylvaniaportrait sessionromance
At Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia, the couple dances beneath the glowing lights of their enchanted treehouse, wrapped in color and laughter, captured from a low angle.
Engaged Couple Dancing Under Treehouse Lights at Longwood Gardens
engaged couplelow angleoutdoorsdancingPhiladelphialoveNight
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he lifts her joyfully under the bright blue sky, both framed by the bridge and the sparkling waters below.
Engaged Couple by the Bridge With Sparkling Waters in Philadelphia
bridgePre Weddingjoycityromanceportrait sessioncelebration
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
starsPre Weddingby waterloveoutdoorsengaged couplephotographer lighting
Beneath the timeless arches of Philadelphia City Hall, the couple shares a joyful, urban dip—full of playful style and grace—where their forever begins.
A Joyful Urban Dip Beneath the Arches of Philadelphia City Hall in a Pre-Wedding Portrait Session
historic locationDowntownurban dipengaged coupleloveromancePhiladelphia
At a street corner on the Bund in Shanghai, China, he holds her close in a sweet pause amid the city's rush, captured from a low camera angle.
A Sweet Pause on the Bund at a Shanghai Street Corner for a Couple's Pre-Wedding Portrait Session
urbanPre Weddingcandidcityscapeembracelovecity rush
On Yu Yuan Road in Shanghai, China, the couple's near-kiss is romantically framed by curved black iron railings in a black-and-white portrait.
Near Kiss Framed by Curved Iron on Yu Yuan Road in a Shanghai Pre-Wedding Portrait Session
romanticblack and whiteengagedintimatedestinationcoupleurban
On the Bund in Shanghai, China, the couple leans toward each other in front of a tall building, radiating pure joy under the shining sun.
Radiant Joy in Front of a Shanghai Landmark During a Couple’s Pre-Wedding Portrait Session
ChinaThe Bundsunlightromanceurbancoupleradiant joy

Pages

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.