Wedding Photos of Sunlight and shadows

The following “Sunlight and shadows” 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 “Sunlight and shadows” 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.

Professional wedding photo taken at Domaine de Messenas in Roissard, Isère, France. Features bride's ring and glasses illuminated by a ray of light.

Elegant Bride's Ring Sparkling in Sunlight at Domaine de Messenas Wedding in France

Ethereal Romance: Bride Glows in Sunlight at Domaine Etxe Zahar, Pyrénées Atlantiques, France

Pyrénées Atlantiques wedding photography Domaine Etxe Zahar sunlight and shadows sunlight Pyrénées-Atlantiques shadow groom profile

Captured in San Francisco, a couple lovingly embraces on a city street in a black and white urban shot, with a garage door framing their romantic hug.

BW City Romance: Embracing Love in Urban San Fran Portraits

garage door black and white city street urban portrait SF E Shoot sunlight and shadows San Francisco

Beautiful engagement portrait taken at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. A woman in a mini kilt fixes her hair in the sun with her fiance's silhouette in the foreground shadows.

Sunshine and Shadow Love: Capturing Romance at Colorado College Campus

mini kilt Colorado Springs Engagement Portrait foreground shadows silhouette Colorado College sunlight and shadows fixing hair

A couple portrait taken in the city by a North California wedding photographer, showcasing a creative composition with sunlight filtering through a glass panel railing with geometric curves and shadows in San Francisco.

CITY SHADOWS: CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA

filtered sunlight glass panel sf engagement photographer San Francisco layered portrait sunlight and shadows vertical frame

A couple engagement portrait captured by a France wedding photographer in Saint Martin de Ré, where the couple is having fun in the afternoon sunlight.

French Riviera Sunlit Engagement Portrait in Saint Martin de Ré

France france engagement photographer Saint Martin de Ré sunlight and shadows French Riviera afternoon sunlight smiles

This award-winning image captures the exquisite lighting and attention to detail at Domaine du Petit Malherbes. The artistic wedding photographer beautifully showcases the table decoration in a stunning light.

Domaine du Petit Malherbes: Captivating Illumination of Table Decoration

Gard Artistic Details exquisite lighting sunlight and shadows Domaine du Petit Malherbes table decorations stunning light Gard

Capturing love's tender embrace, this award-winning photograph showcases a bride and groom at the picturesque Domaine de Conseillant. Against a backdrop of a stone block wall, their silhouettes softly touch noses.

Domaine de Conseillant - Love's Embrace: A Photographic Masterpiece at Sunset

stone block wall Gironde Artistic Portrait artistic portrait sessions sunlight and shadows creative portrait Cubzac les Ponts outdoors

Capturing their love amidst artistic inspiration, this award-winning portrait encapsulates the love on their wedding day. The spotlight highlights their connection as he tenderly kisses her, harmonizing with the blue window light and graphic shadows.

Ethereal Affection: Love Illuminated in Artistic Inspriation at their Wedding

Atlanta Artistic Portrait Atlanta graphic shadows sunlight and shadows window light Blue

Award-winning wedding photographer captures an urban groom and his sister striking a pose in the radiant sunlight. The beautifully composed black and white image frames them artistically, with a soft focus on the sister in the foreground.

Radiantly Urban: A Beautifully Composed Black and White Wedding Portrait

Ancona sunlight and shadows groom and sister black and white striking a pose Ancona Artistic Portrait soft focus

Wedding portrait at Chateau de Balarin in Montréal du Gers, France. The bride and groom in a stunning silhouette, with the bride leaning back, embracing the golden sunlight on her face while the groom stands profiled in shadows.

Luminous Love Portrait: Allure of Shadows and Sunlight at Chateau de Balarin

golden sunlight stunning silhouette sunlight and shadows Montreal FR Gers Artistic Portrait Gers black and white

An award-winning wedding portrait captured by a talented photographer at The Foundry Room in Edmonton, Alberta. The bride is beautifully illuminated by the window's harsh light, creating a stunning image of elegance and beauty.

Elegant Illumination: Award-Winning Wedding Portrait at The Foundry Room

harsh light window light Edmonton Edmonton bride illuminated bride Edmonton Bridal Portrait Alberta

At Giardini La Pergola in Alessandria, a wedding photo captures the bride moments before the ceremony. The vertical image features half of her face in shadow, with closed eyes.

Shadowed Elegance: A Captivating Glimpse of Pre-Ceremony Tranquility at Giardini La Pergola

Alessandria Bridal Portrait sunlight and shadows vertical frame half of face closed eyes Giardini La Pergola Alessandria

In Buggiano Castello, Tuscany, the engaged couple enjoys a sun-soaked picture session, with their backs to a warm-toned wall, wearing matching sunglasses. - Sunny Bliss: Tuscan Wall Romance

Buggiano Castello Bliss: Tuscan Sun-Kissed Engagement Session

warm toned wall sunlight and shadows Buggiano Castello sunglasses Tuscany Engaged Couple Tuscany

In the charming town of Casole d'Elsa, Siena, Tuscany, this engagement portrait captures the couple in the Tuscan Winter sunlight and shadows, creating a captivating interplay of warm hues.

Tuscan Winter Delight: Captivating Engagement Portrait in Casole d'Elsa, Siena, Tuscany

warm hues Tuscany Siena engagement photography Casole dElsa Siena sunlight and shadows

In Casole d'Elsa, Siena, Tuscany, this engagement portrait during the Tuscan Winter features the couple standing near building arches. The sunlight delicately illuminates the shaded area, creating a captivating interplay of light and shadow.

Tuscan Winter Romance: Engagement Bliss in Casole d'Elsa, Siena

arches Siena engagement portrait Tuscany sunlight and shadows Casole dElsa sunlit Siena

Engagement portrait in Nice, France captured by a top pre wedding photographer. The couple poses in the sunlight and shadows, highlighting the city's beautiful backdrop.

Love Alight in Nice: Unveiling Romance in the Heart of France's Riviera

Nice Engagement Photography couple poses sunlight and shadows France Nice sidewalk

Engaged in the enchanting backdrop of a medieval castle in Brescia, this soon-to-be-wed couple embraces each other while capturing their love with a talented Brescia wedding photographer.

Brescia's Medieval Castle: A Captivating Engagement Portrait of Love

Brescia sunlight and shadows Medieval castle enchanting backdrop Brescia Engagement Portrait

In this stunning black and white image, this intimate couple is enveloped in a tender embrace, surrounded by the architectural beauty of Bergamo. Captured by a talented Bergamo wedding photographer

Bergamo black and white Bergamo Engagement Session sunlight and shadows intimate

Romantic pre-wedding photo of a couple at Lyon parc Blandan, taken by a Lyon wedding photographer. The high angle shot captures them walking in the beautiful sunlight.

Loving Steps in Lyon: Capturing Romance at Parc Blandan

sunlight and shadows Parc Blandan Lyon couple walking Lyon engagement photography high angle

In the scenic location of Baeza, Jaén, Spain, a couple enjoys a pre-wedding photoshoot filled with sunlight. The radiant bride-to-be leans gracefully against a striking stone wall, while her soon-to-be husband stands as a silhouette in the foreground.

A Captivating Engagement Portrait: Love Illuminated in Baeza, Jaén, Spain

Baeza Engagement Photography Jaén silhouette sunlight Spain brick wall sunlight and shadows

Black and white portrait of the groom, standing elegantly by a grid of window shadows at Château de La Ferté sur Aujon on his wedding day

Shadowed Elegance: The Groom's Timeless Charisma Shines at Château de La Ferté Sur Aujon

Grand Est black and white window light window grid groom portrait Haute-Marne sunlight and shadows

The bride is in her home in Zuid Holland, Netherlands. She is preparing for her wedding day, the sun shining through the windows as she puts on her earrings.

Sun-Kissed Bride: A Serene Morning in South Holland

bridal preparations sunlight and shadows Zuid Holland netherlands bride sun shining earrings Netherlands Wedding Photography

At Tours, a couple stands in the shade of trees. Dappled sunlight filters through the branches, illuminating their skin. They pose for a portrait on their wedding day.

The Idyllic Embrace: A Captivating Wedding Portrait Amidst Tree-Enveloped Tours

Tours Wedding Portrait Tours dappled sunlight shade filtered light sunlight and shadows

A couple embraces the timeless beauty of Hampstead Heath Pergola in London, sitting serenely among the arches, basking in the soft shadows

Romantic Embrace: Captivating Engagement Portrait amidst Hampstead Heath Pergola's Timeless Splendor

sunlight and shadows soft shadows London London engagement photography Hampstead Heath Pergola arches

Engaged couple gracefully dances amidst a stunning steel sculpture in Palo Alto, California. Warm sunlight enhances the sculpture's burgundy and rust tones, creating a timeless portrait.

A Captivating Symphony: Engaged Couple's Graceful Dance Embraces Palo Alto's Steel Sculpture Amidst a Sunlit Haven

rust tones dancing Palo Alto sunlight and shadows Palo Alto Engagement Photography timeless portrait California - Northern

A stunning wedding photo taken at Domaine Le Mezo in France. The bride stands at the stone stairs, holding a beautiful bouquet as the sunset creates a romantic ambiance.

Captivating Romance at Domaine Le Mezo: Bride's Bouquet Shines on Stone Stairs as Sunsets

Domaine Le Mezo morbihan wedding photography bouquet Morbihan Ploeren sunlight and shadows romantic ambiance

A couple bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun in Cortona, Italy during their engagement photo shoot

Captured Moments: Love Illuminated in the Radiant Sunset of Cortona, Italy

Cortona Cortona Engagement Photography radiant sunlight Arezzo sunlight and shadows warm glow

The engagement portrait was taken at Chateau de Valmy in Argelès-sur-Mer, showcasing the couple standing in front of a white wall with shadow stripes, while joyfully laughing together

Chateau de Valmy Engagement Portrait: A Joyful Couple Laughing in front of a Striped White Wall

laughing Chateau de Valmy Pyrénées Orientales Argelès sur Mer France engagement session silhouette sunlight and shadows

The couple embraced in the sun in Chartres, as the bride-to-be kissed her groom-to-be's neck

Chartres couple embraces in the sun as bride-to-be kisses groom-to-be's neck

Chartres Engagement Photography wall art couple embraced Chartres sunlight and shadows kissing neck

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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.