Wedding Photos of Silhouettes

The following “Silhouettes” 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 “Silhouettes” 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.

Couple’s portrait in Grado, Italy, framed by silhouettes of people walking in the foreground.

Engaged in Grado, Italy: Silhouettes Frame Couple's Portrait

The Inn at Little Washington, Washington VA: Fireworks burst in the background, with the couple's silhouettes softly blurred in the foreground as they look at each other.

Fireworks at The Inn at Little Washington: A Silhouetted Romance

softly blurred The Inn at Little Washington Virginia wedding portrait Virginia fireworks silhouettes

In Haute-Saône, France, guests are silhouetted against a dramatic sky during the cocktail hour, captured by a WPJA photographer.

Silhouetted Guests Against Dramatic Sky During Cocktail Hour in Haute-Saône, France

silhouettes dramatic sky Haute Saone Wedding Photography evening light Haute-Saône cloudy sky

A captivating pre-wedding portrait session in Maceió captures a couple framed by delicate branches, silhouetted against a stunning sunset. Photographed by a professional from the Wedding Photojournalist Association.

Silhouetted Love: Pre-Wedding Portrait Amid Delicate Branches At Maceió Sunset

silhouettes framed in branches sunset tree branches Maceió Maceio PreWedding Portrait

Silhouetted flower girl gently pets a horse at an Atlanta, Georgia wedding, capturing a tender moment during festivities.

Silhouetted Flower Girl Shares Tender Moment, Gently Petting Horse at Atlanta Wedding

tender moment Atlanta Georgia girl and horse silhouettes low angle Atlanta Documentary Wedding Photography

In Mont Brouilly, Beaujolais, a couple embraces atop a staircase, surrounded by lush foliage and glowing backlight, forming a romantic silhouette.

Romantic Silhouette: Couple Embraces Atop Mont Brouilly Staircase, Surrounded by Foliage and Glowing Backlight

Beaujolais stairway glowing backlight romantic Mont Brouilly Mont Brouilly Engagement lush foliage

A couple stands by a tidal pool at Tunnels Beaches, Devon, with birds flying overhead.

Love by the Tidal Pool: Birds Soar Above Couple at Tunnels Beaches

birds overhead silhouettes beach birds in flight sunset Devon United Kingdom

Domaine du T, Balma, France: Bride gets emotional support from witnesses before dining room entry.

Domaine du T, Balma: Bride Receives Emotional Support From Witnesses Before Entering Dining Room in France

Balma Domaien du T emotional bride Bride Arrival Occitanie wedding photography Occitanie Occitanie bride

In the charming village of Saint Sulpice sur Lèze, France, a couple sits on the grass with the low sun behind them, creating an inviting scene captured by a talented WPJA photographer.

A Romantic Engagement Portrait in Saint Sulpice sur Lèze, France

silhouettes Haute Garonne Engagement Portrait Saint Sulpice sur Lèze Haute-Garonne tower structure sitting on grass low sun

Bride and mother share a tender head-to-head moment at the bride's private villa in Cesena, Italy.

Bride and Mother Head-to-Head - Silhouette at Private Villa in Cesena, Italy

Cesena head to head Cesena Wedding Photography bride and mother window light silhouettes Italy

Cappadocia pre-wedding: Sunlight and shadows highlight groom's silhouette and bride's red lipstick smile in Göreme, Turkey.

Sunlight, Shadows, Groom's Silhouette, Bride's Red Smile in Göreme

red lipstick sunlight and shadows Cappadocia silhouettes illuminated lips Cappadocia PreWedding Photography Goreme

A couple shares a tender embrace at Milton Olive Park as the Chicago skyline glows at sunset.

Sunset Serenity in Chicago: A Couple's Tender Embrace with a Black and White Cityscape Backdrop

Chicago PreWedding Photography Milton Olive Park Chicago sunset glow silhouettes cityscape Chicago skyline

At Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, Colorado, a couple leans in for a kiss as the sun glows between them. The scene features a dark sky, with their silhouettes framed alongside a bare tree to the left, enhancing the dramatic atmosphere.

Couple at Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins, Colorado | Leaning in for Kiss with Sun Glowing Between Them | Dark Sky and Silhouettes Framed by Bare Tree

silhouettes Fort Collins Dramatic sun glow Horsetooth Reservoir Colorado love

At Villarino Park in Santa Fe, Argentina, an engaged couple stands face to face near a row of trees as the sun sets. The backlit warm glow creates silhouettes, capturing the romance and timelessness in this picturesque rural setting.

Engaged Couple at Villarino Park, Santa Fe, Argentina | Standing Face to Face Near Trees at Sunset | Backlit Warm Glow Creates Silhouettes, Capturing Romance

rural picturesque warm trees Santa Fe-AR backlit setting

In the serene countryside of Crete Senesi, Tuscany, an engaged couple stands face to face near a row of trees. The backlit sun creates beautiful silhouettes, enhancing the romantic and timeless feel of their portrait in this picturesque rural setting.

Engaged Couple in Crete Senesi, Tuscany, Stands Face to Face Near Trees | Backlit Sun Creates Silhouettes, Enhancing Romantic and Timeless Portrait

scenic love timeless couple silhouettes Tuscany face

At the reception venue in Poitiers, Vienne, the bride sits calmly during her makeup session, showcasing a serene moment as she prepares for her special day surrounded by an air of excitement and beauty.

Bride's Makeup Session at Poitiers Wedding Venue

bride getting ready Makeup session silhouettes window light Poitiers Wedding Photography Poitiers

At The Heritage Centre in Cremona, a romantic photograph features the bride and groom facing each other in a room illuminated by candles. The warm ambiance and backlit silhouettes enhance the intimate atmosphere.

Bride and Groom's Silhouettes Illuminate Intimate Candlelit Portrait at The Heritage Centre in Cremona, Italy

Alberta room romantic facing warm candlelit groom

At their reception in Fribourg, Switzerland, the bride and groom stand under the lights in the hallway of the function room. A high-contrast black-and-white shot captures the scene, emphasizing the couple's silhouettes and the dramatic light.

Bride and Groom's Silhouettes Highlighted Under Lights in High-Contrast Black-and-White at Fribourg Reception Hall

Fribourg Switzerland high contrast switzerland wedding high contrast wedding hallway dramatic light Fribourg groom

At Domaine de la Grand Maison in Oytier-Saint-Oblas, the couple enjoy time together in the warm sun, which is low behind them, creating a glowing frame that highlights their rim lit silhouettes.

Couple's Rim Lit Silhouettes Glow in Low Sunlight at Domaine de la Grand Maison, Oytier-Saint-Oblas

Domaine de la Grand Maison sun glow rim light silhouettes French estate Domaine de la Grand Maison newlyweds radiant silhouettes

In Hamilton, Montana, guests wearing cowboy hats are casting shadows and making silhouettes on a rustic wooden wall.

Montana Wedding: Cowboy Hats Cast Shadows on Rustic Wooden Wall

wooden wall shadows western Montana capturing western ambiance Hamilton cowboy silhouettes cowboy rustic

At Domaine aux Anges in Hautecourt-lès-Broville, France, a backlit black-and-white night shot captures the couple enjoying their evening, framed by the beautifully illuminated gates of the venue.

Backlit Black-and-White Scene of Couple Framed by Illuminated Gates at Domaine aux Anges Wedding

wedding couple Grand Est illuminated beauty France couple Hautecourt lès Broville romance

A wedding photo from Château de Manou captures an evening dance scene. Red and blue flashes outline the silhouettes of dancing guests, adding a vibrant and energetic atmosphere to the celebration.

Dynamic Silhouettes Emerge in Red and Blue Flashes at Château de Manou Wedding

Blue Flashes Eure-et-Loir Lights festive atmosphere movement energetic

At Villa Cavriani in Barbasso, Mantova, Italy, a tightly framed backlit shot captures the couple's toast during the reception. The lighting adds a warm, glowing effect, highlighting the intimacy and celebration of the moment.

Backlit Shot of Couple’s Toast at Villa Cavriani Reception Highlights Intimacy and Celebration in Warm Light

Barbasso toast sipping on champagne mantua wedding photography glowing effect backlit shot Villa Cavrian

In Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, the wedding cocktail hour creates a stunning play of shadows. Beautiful graphic lines cast over the gathering produce dynamic silhouettes of the guests.

Wedding Cocktail Hour in Cabo San Lucas Creates Stunning Shadow Play and Dynamic Silhouettes of Guests

Cabo San Lucas light and shadows graphic lines silhouettes Cabo San Lucas Wedding Photography Baja California dynamic

At Smith Historic Playground, a unique in-camera multiple exposure artfully blends the couple outside their venue with the reflections of a disco ball table setting. This imaginative composition creates a dynamic and festive image.

Couple Blends with Disco Ball Reflections in Creative Exposure at Smith Historic Playground

Philadelphia wedding photography Smith Historic Playground reflections table setting silhouettes artfully created Philadelphia

Capturing the essence of love at sunset, the happy couple strikes a pose during their pre-wedding portrait session by the water. In a beautiful display of affection, the pair's silhouettes create a romantic scene against the stunning backdrop.

Sunset Silhouettes: A Timeless Love by the Water

beach sunset shoreline England engagement shoot England silhouettes stunning backdrop

Engaged couple poses against a minimalist white sky while a stray bird flies overhead during their pre-wedding portrait session at Bai Am UK.

Whispers in the Sky: An Elegant Pre-Wedding Portrait at Bai Am UK

Bai Am UK flying bird minimalistic portrait London silhouettes UK engagement shoot off center

A happy couple strolls through a hallway tunnel in romantic Venice, Italy, their silhouettes beautifully backlit to create a stunning pre-wedding engagement photo.

Romantic Stroll through Venice: Backlit Silhouettes in Pre-Wedding Engagement Photo

couple Strolling Venice PreWedding Session tunnel backlit Venice silhouettes

Engaged couple at sunrise in the mountains of Font Romeu, France. They stand together in a fun embrace, dancing in the silhouette of the rising sun.

Playful Sunrise Embrace: Couple Dances in Font Romeu Mountains of France

Odeillo lift Odeillo Engagement Photography rising sun Font Romeu sunrise mountain engagement

Silhouettes of newlyweds holding hands at sunset in front of a picturesque canoe field in Mantova, Italy, known as the Ritratti.

Sunset Silhouettes: Newlyweds Holding Hands Beside Picturesque Canoe Field in Mantova

canoe field beauty romantic newlyweds picturesque captivating sunset scene sunset Mantua Sunset silhouettes

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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.