Wedding Photos of Soft lighting

The following “Soft lighting” 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 “Soft lighting” 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.

The couple shares an intimate embrace by a rock wall in San Francisco, California, softly lit to highlight their closeness in this warm and heartfelt engagement portrait.

Engaged Couple Sharing An Intimate Embrace By A Rock Wall In San Francisco With Soft Lighting

In the courtyard of Podere Palazzo, Cesena, Italy, tree lights softly illuminate an intimate wedding table at night. Two glasses rest side by side, setting a romantic and tranquil end-of-day scene.

Tree Lights Illuminate Intimate Wedding Table At Night In Podere Palazzo, by Photographer Caterina Errani

Cesena Italy Forlì-Cesena soft lighting Night end of day two glasses

The Loft at Lena’s, Alexandria, VA — The couple share an intimate gaze during a pre-dinner portrait, seated together at a table near tall windows, with soft indoor lighting highlighting their connection in the restaurant setting.

An Intimate Gaze at The Loft at Lena's, Alexandria, VA

soft lighting The Loft at Lenas tall windows pre dinner portrait Virginia restaurant setting intimate gaze

In LOVE Park, Philadelphia, a couple stands wrapped up in each other, expertly lit by the photographer. The urban setting and soft lighting create an intimate, romantic atmosphere for their engagement portrait.

Intimate Embrace Illuminated By Soft Light In Romantic LOVE Park Engagement Portrait

soft lighting LOVE Park Engagement Session intimate portrait romantic Love Park lit portrait urban setting

At Domaine du T near Toulouse, a couple embraces outdoors at night under the rain. Illuminated by soft lighting, raindrops glisten around them, creating a dreamy, romantic atmosphere.

Couple Embraces Under Glistening Rain at Night, Bathed in Soft Light at Domaine du T Near Toulouse

Night soft lighting scenic wedding raindrops Toulouse dreamy

At Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the couple poses face to face for a vertical, artistic portrait. Their intimate connection is beautifully highlighted by creative composition and soft lighting.

Intimate Face-to-Face Couple’s Portrait With Artistic Composition and Soft Light at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

artistic vertical Thailand Mandarin Oriental Bangkok hotel elegant portrait

A black and white detail shot with soft side lighting, capturing a tender, emotional moment as a grandfather tightly holds the new bride's hands at Harrogate Registry Office, England.

Black and White Detail: Grandfather Tenderly Holds Bride's Hands at Harrogate Registry Office

Emotional moment North Yorkshire bride and grandfather soft lighting Harrogate Wedding Photography Harrogate Registry Office bw image

The bride at Chateau Lartigolle, Auch, France, holds a glass of orange juice, set against a black background with soft lighting.

Chateau Lartigolle: Bride with Orange Juice, Soft Lighting, Black Background

soft lighting Chateau Lartigolle Occitanie bridal robe orange juice Auch Auch Wedding Details

Bride stands elegantly silhouetted with soft lighting in a dim background at Galleria, Shanghai, China, radiating timeless beauty.

Elegant Bride Silhouetted in Soft Light, Galleria Shanghai, Radiating Timeless Bridal Beauty

profile image Shanghai dim background Galleria Shanghai Bridal Portrait Shanghai bride soft lighting

A couple shares an intimate, joyful moment in a cozy Paris hotel room, surrounded by soft lighting and elegant decor.

Joyful Engagement Amidst Soft Lighting in a Paris Hotel Room

Paris engagement session elegant decor cozy Paris bw portrait soft lighting intimate

At the Dance party at Boubier, the bride and groom embrace tenderly on the dance floor. The soft, low lighting adds an intimate and romantic ambiance to their special moment.

Bride and Groom's Tender Embrace on Dance Floor Amidst Soft Lighting at Boubier

dance floor Boubier low lighting celebration romantic france wedding Boubier Venue

In a dimly lit room in Paris, the bride gracefully plays with her veil, the soft lighting casting an ethereal glow that highlights her elegance and captures the intimacy.

Elegant Parisian Bride Plays with Veil in Intimate Wedding Portrait Session

veil intimacy Paris bride Elegance serene portrait soft lighting

A skilled WPJA photographer captures a thoughtfully composed portrait of a recently engaged couple at Rialto Market in Venice, Italy. The artful use of soft lighting adds depth to this intimate, up-close shot.

Pre Wedding Photographer Shoots Tight: Engaged Couple at Venice Rialto Market

Venice engagement photography intimate Rialto Market close up shot soft lighting Venice

A WPJA photographer captures a captivating image in Venice's San Marco district, as a young, newly-engaged couple poses lovingly at the base of a grand staircase, enveloped in soft lighting.

Professional Wedding Photographer Creates Engagement Portrait in Venice

soft lighting Venice vertical format venice engagement portrait San Marco District stairs posed couple

Engagement session captures romantic couple at Plage du Grand Crohot, Lège-Cap-Ferret, France. Stunning beach setting with sand, water, dramatic puffy clouds, and soft afternoon lighting.

Couple's Engagement Portrayed in the Scenic Plage du Grand Crohot

water Lege Cap Ferret soft lighting sand puffy clouds Plage du Grand Crohot Gironde engagement session

Emotional pre-ceremony detail shot captured at the beautiful Pau castle in Pyrénées-Atlantiques. A tender scene as a mother and daughter clasp hands, highlighted by the vibrant contrast and lighting.

PAU CASTLE | Emotional Moment between Mother and Daughter | Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Love between family soft lighting Pau candid shot Pyrénées Atlantiques wedding venues tender embrace Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Intimate and joyful portrait of a wedding couple at Gut Hahn, Haan, Germany, sharing a second under her veil with smiles and soft lighting.

GUT HAHN, HAAN, GERMANY | An Intimate Wedding Portrait Under the Veil

German couple Haan Joyful Couple Smiling soft lighting light wedding day Wedded bliss

This pre-wedding engagement portrait captures the romantic couple kissing in Sardinia, Italy. The soft lighting and dark background add a dramatic touch.

Sardinian Romance: A Pre-Wedding Engagement Portrait of Love and Passion in Italy's Idyllic Setting

romantic kiss Pre Wedding Photos in Sardinia Italy Sardinia Italy Engagement Sardinia Italy Sardinia Engagement Sardinia Engagement Portrait

Engaged couple poses in front of historic London architecture with soft lighting.

Engaged Couple's Enchanting Portrait with Historic London Architecture and Soft Glow

soft lighting historic London Architecture soft glow columns London London e shoot

The newlyweds share a tender portrait session in a picturesque laneway outside their wedding venue, The Olde Post Inn in Cavan, Ireland. Soft lighting add to the romantic atmosphere.

Newlyweds Capture the Romance in Cavan: A Portrait Session at The Olde Post Inn

Cavan Wedding Portrait Ulster Ireland Cavan The Olde Post Inn County Cavan soft lighting

Beautiful wedding day portrait at Watford's Hare Krishna Temple in the United Kingdom. Captured in a serene green setting with soft lighting.

Captivating Wedding Portrait at Watford's Hare Krishna Temple in the UK

United Kingdom Watford UK couple portrait Watford UK Watford UK photographer soft lighting Hare Krishna Temple Watford UK wedding venue

The bride is moved to tears as her mother gives a heartfelt speech at her wedding at Château de Resteigne in Belgium. The soft lighting adds an intimate touch to the emotional moment.

Mother's Emotional Speech Brings Tears to Bride at Belgium Wedding

Belgium wedding photography Emotional moment Belgium tears Château de Resteigne heartfelt speech soft lighting

A pre-wedding portrait of a couple taken at La Alhambra in Granada, Spain, features a black background and soft lighting highlighting their faces, creating a vintage monochromatic look.

Vintage Elegance in BW: La Alhambra Portrait in Granada

La Alhambra Granada faces highlighted black and white monochromatic Granada Engagement Portrait Spain

A young boy gazes in awe at a towering wedding cake in a softly lit reception venue, filled with pastel purple hues in Denver, CO, USA.

Denver Reception Delights: A Young Boy's Enchantment with the Towering Wedding Cake

enchantment young boy denver wedding photographer Denver reception venue child wedding cake gazing denver weddings

A romantic couple in New Jersey enjoys a candlelight dinner, captured by a NJ wedding photographer. The intimate indoor setting is illuminated by soft lighting, creating a warm and cozy ambiance with beautiful bokeh.

Captured Romance: Candlelit Love in New Jersey by Skilled Wedding Photographer

bokeh soft lighting New Jersey candlelight dinner illuminated New Jersey couple intimate setting

A WPJA wedding photographer captures a stunning engagement photo at sunrise in Honolulu, HI, featuring soft lighting as he tenderly kisses her forehead

Radiant Love: A Honolulu Sunrise Engagement

Hawaii vertical format sunrise engagement kiss on forehead tender kiss Honolulu soft lighting

A French couple in Naples captured in a beautiful engagement portrait, hugging affectionately against a rock wall, with soft lighting

Naples Amour: Embracing Romance in the Shadows of a Rock Wall

Love in Naples hug Naples Engagement Portrait French Couple rock wall soft lighting Naples

The couple, surrounded by soft lighting, share a loving embrace on their wedding day in Auch, Gers, France

Love Illuminated: A Romantic Embrace in Auch, Gers, France

Auch Wedding Portrait loving embrace soft lighting Auch Gers

A couple shares a romantic kiss in front of Lake Saint Vaast les Mello in France during the blue hour, with soft lighting enhancing the atmosphere

Captured in the Blue Hour: An Enchanting Engagement Portrait by Lake Saint Vaast les Mello, France

lake romantic kiss blue hour Oise soft lighting Saint Vaast les Mello Saint Vaast les Mello Lake

A romantic couple gazes adoringly at each other in the enchanting barrel room of District Winery in Washington DC

Enchanting Romance: A Gaze in the Barrel Room at District Winery

adoration DC Washington DC romantic special occasions sweet love District Winery

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.