Wedding Photos of Storytelling

The following “Storytelling” 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 “Storytelling” 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.

At Eglise d'Urrugne in Pyrénées Atlantiques, France, the photographer captures the young attendants waiting patiently on the church steps after the religious ceremony, highlighting composed innocence and skillful storytelling.

Young Attendants Wait Patiently On Church Steps After Ceremony At Eglise d'Urrugne Pyrénées Atlantiques

At a reception in Hérault, Occitanie, the photographer captures the groom erupting with laughter as his groomsmen kneel to tie his shoes, exemplifying timing and candid storytelling.

Groom Laughs As Groomsmen Kneel To Tie His Shoes At Hérault Occitanie Wedding

groom storytelling timing groomsmen laughter Occitanie candid storytelling

At home in 's-Hertogenbosch, Noord Brabant, the photographer captures a little girl lying on the couch watching the bride get dressed, beautifully highlighting quiet anticipation and skilled storytelling in a candid pre-wedding moment.

Little Girl Watches Bride Get Dressed At Home In 's-Hertogenbosch Noord Brabant Pre-Wedding Moment

Noord Brabant Pre Wedding anticipation storytelling girl pre wedding moment candid

At Town Hall Hotel in London, the photographer captures the maid of honor toasting the couple, expertly freezing heartfelt emotion and celebratory spirit with a keen eye for candid storytelling moments.

Maid Of Honor Toasts Couple At Town Hall Hotel London - Heartfelt Emotion And Celebration

Spirit London London celebration toast heartfelt toast emotion maid of honor

At Château de Chignat, France, the photographer captures the bride smiling and softly laughing as she gently frees her veil from a door, showcasing a tender, candid moment and exceptional storytelling skill.

Bride Smiles And Laughs Freeing Veil From Door At Château De Chignat France

veil Château de Chignat wedding door Château de Chignat tender storytelling laughter moment

Emotional documentary-style photo taken on the wedding day in Marietta, GA, capturing a touching moment as the ring bearer sheds tears before walking down the church aisle.

Tears of Joy: Emotional Wedding Moment in Marietta, GA Captured During Ring Bearer's Procession

storytelling ceremony church aisle candid ring bearer tears Marietta GA

Documentary wedding photograph of groom reading letter at Mission Santa Clara - Bay Area Wedding photography  at Freedom Hall and Gardens

Documentary wedding photograph of groom reading letter at Mission Santa Clara at Freedom Hall and Gardens

love letter intimate moment Mission Santa Clara vows groom emotional heartfelt

The Case Restaurant, Leicester | Grandad using hand gestures to talk to the pageboy who appears to be holding his own in the conversation

Generations Communicate: A Conversation at The Case Restaurant

restaurant Leicester venue talk Leicester wedding photographer listen intergenerational hand gestures

Malaysia Documentary wedding photography at Malacca with kids at table

A Day to Remember: Capturing Love and Laughter at a Malacca Wedding

Malacca laughter special day wedding photography Documentary Memorable love

Wedding pictures by Los Angeles photographer - Cielo Farms Bridesmaids

Glimpses of Grace: Cielo Farms Bridesmaids Through the Lens

black and white candid Los Angeles photographer anticipation LA Bridesmaids preparation bridesmaids

Solvang, California wedding photojournalism image of a couple riding the bus - kissing hand while blindfolded

Whispers of Love: Riding the Bus to Forever in Solvang

ride love affection California couple riding candid love story

Documentary wedding photography at England reception with megaphone and lights at the party

Echoes of Celebration: A Wedding Reception in England

reception storytelling megaphone United Kingdom haze Reception Photography fog

Wedding photo shoot in Sacramento with bridesmaids helping bride with her dress

Sacramento Wedding Photo: Bridesmaids Assist Bride In Dress

candid getting ready dress preparation Teamwork storytelling assistance

Wedding shoot with Taiwan couple with microphone and large screen behind them on stage

The Perfect Union: Taiwan Couple's Ceremony on Stage Together

staged ceremony modern event capture storytelling microphone stage

Wedding photojournalism image of ring bearers walking in at Trancoso/BA - Brazil

Wedding Photojournalism: Ring Bearers at Trancoso, Brazil

timeless image ceremony Entry wedding processional Trancoso Traditional ring bearers

Wedding picture of bride in limo - Reggio Calabria photographer captures moment with mom saying goodbye

Emotional Farewell: Bride and Mom in Limousine on Wedding Day

limo natural light storytelling bride Reggio Calabria intimate candid

Campinas wedding shoot with a couple and their dog in a suit coat at their ceremony

Couple And Their Dog Dressed In A Suit Coat Celebrating At Their Campinas Wedding Ceremony, São Paulo

ceremony photography Campinas lively storytelling fun inclusion unique

Family time by William Lambelet Wedding PhotoJournalist for India

Montpellier, Indian Wedding Photograph Showing Family Time Together Captured By Wedding Photojournalist

storytelling Montpellier candid Documentary Cultural family time connection

Montpellier, FRANCE documentary wedding photo of the bride having her hair styled as bridesmaids look at a phone on the bed

Montpellier Bride Has Hair Styled As Bridesmaids Look At Phone On Bed, France

getting ready storytelling bridesmaids casual Bridal prep Montpellier candid

Documentary wedding photograph at a Hoi An Vietnam Hotel of the bride showing her dress for the first time to her friends, the bridesmaids

Bride Shows Her Dress To Bridesmaids At Hoi An Vietnam Hotel Before Ceremony

excitement storytelling getting ready first look friends candid bridesmaids

Mooreland Mansion Cleveland Ohio - Bride and Groom listen to Barbershop Quartet singing

Mooreland Mansion Cleveland Ohio Bride And Groom Enjoy Barbershop Quartet Singing Together

connection music reception Mooreland Mansion storytelling performance groom

Wedding photojournalism Image from a Pornic Church of the bride and her father entering this ceremony with the wind blowing her veil

Bride Enters Pornic Church With Father As Wind Lifts Her Veil Dramatically, Angers, France

scene setter wind Dramatic bride veil Pornic entrance

Groom hugging relatives at wedding ceremony in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada

South Lake Tahoe Nevada Groom Hugs Relatives During Emotional Wedding Ceremony Celebration

connection relatives South Lake Tahoe storytelling candid wedding photo hug emotional

The bride and groom are greeted by a hedge of honor of military medicine after their religious ceremony - Wedding Photography in La Rochelle - The exit of church of the newlyweds under a guard of honor

La Rochelle Newlyweds Exit Church Under Guard Of Honor From Military Medicine After Religious Ceremony

guard of honor bride ceremony church storytelling Documentary Wedding Photography La Rochelle

Noord Brabant wedding photograph of the bride applying mascara to her eyes as a woman man and baby look on

Noord Brabant Bride Applies Mascara As Family Watches On During Wedding Preparations

preparation intimate family candid onlookers storytelling mascara

Orvieto wedding shoot with a groom looking to the sky as he attempts to recite his vows in the church

Orvieto Groom Looks To Sky While Reciting Vows During Church Wedding Ceremony In Italy

candid expressive photography church Orvieto emotion groom vows

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes documentary wedding photo of a bride tangled in string as her friends help to free her

A TANGLED TALE: BRIDE'S FRIENDS RESCUE HER IN BW WEDDING PHOTO

friends tangle storytelling playful rescue string black and white

first dance | Wedding in Burlington, Ontario.

ELEGANT WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY: FIRST DANCE IN BURLINGTON, ONTARIO

formal Elegance graceful dance image storytelling first dance couple

Kiss under the table - Valencia Spain bride and groom during their reception

Romantic Kiss Beneath the Table - Valencia, Spain Wedding Reception Scene

groom under table unexpected bride Valencia Wedding Day Photo emotional

Grand hotel victoria | A curious moment of the wedding on this Italian-south african couple was when the little groom's nephew fall asleep during speeches just close to his uncle

A Curious Nap: Little Nephew Dozes Off During Speeches

speeches Grand Hotel Victoria storytelling Perugia slice of life family nephew

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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.