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Wedding Photos of Sunlight and shadows

For Couples / 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.

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At the old city wall in Beijing, China, a couple kisses in sunlight, surrounded by dappled shadows from nearby trees in an urban setting.
Beijing Old City Wall Engagement Photography: Couple Kissing in Sunlight with Dappled Shadows
Dappled Lighturban settingold city walltreesChinaBeijingsunlight and shadows
Sunlight illuminates an embracing couple's closeness in the shadow of a doorway on Shanghai's historic Bund.
Sunlit Embrace: Couple’s Intimate Portrait in Doorway Shadows on Shanghai Bund
historic locationShanghaiChinasunlight and shadowsThe Bundback to backShanghai PreWedding Session
Polish newlyweds enter their reception venue, captured in contrasting light, from a distance, surrounded by guests.
Capturing a Polish couple's entrance into their wedding reception, bathed in contrasting light
contrasting lightPolish newlywedsPoland wedding photographyentering venuesunlight and shadowsPoland
Couple walks their bicycles side by side down a leafy street in Atlanta's Inman Park.
Bicycling Side By Side Through The Leafy Streets Of Atlanta's Inman Park
walking bicyclesAtlantaInman ParkAtlanta engagement sessionsunlight and shadowswalking in roadriding bikes
LECTOURE, France — A couple shares a romantic kiss, silhouetted in an ancient archway at The Castelnau. This intimate engagement portrait captures their passion and timeless connection.
A Passionate Kiss, Silhouetted in an Ancient Archway at The Castelnau, LECTOURE
sunlight and shadowsGersThe Castelnauintimate portraitancient archwayLectouresilhouetted
LECTOURE, France — This engagement portrait captures a couple's playful dance at The Castelnau, with the groom-to-be silhouetted against his future bride, who is bathed in sunlight.
Dancing At The Castelnau, France: A Playful Engagement Portrait
Lectoure PreWedding Sessionplayful danceThe Castelnausunlight and shadowssilhouetteGersLectoure
Engaged couple stands before sunlit wall in Baeza, Jaén, Spain; dramatic shadows enhance atmosphere.
Couple Bathed in Spanish Sunlight, Shadows Dramatize Engagement Portrait
Baeza PreWedding PhotographySpainsunlit walldramatic lightsunlight and shadowsBaezaJaén
Bride and groom pose at sunset outside Stowehouse, Bucks, UK
Bride and Groom Pose at Sunset Outside Stowehouse, Bucks, UK, Golden Glow
sunlight and shadowslayered portraitBuckinghamshirecouple poseBuckinghamshire Wedding portraitsunset portraitStowehouse
Couple running and laughing together near Portland Headlight lighthouse
Couple Runs and Laughs Together Near Iconic Portland Headlight Lighthouse in Maine
Portland MEPortland Headlight Lighthousesunlight and shadowsvertical compositionPortland ME Engagement Portraitrunning and laughing
Couple stands at stone building in Chantaburi, Thailand, sunlight casting dramatic shadows around them.
Dramatic Shadows and Sunlight: Engaged Couple at Stone Building in Chantaburi, Thailand
Thailandsunlight and shadowsChantaburi PreWedding Portraitvertical compositiondramatic shadowsstone buildingChantaburi
Pre-wedding portrait in Baeza, Jaén, Spain; she stands in sunlight, he in shadows with rim light on face.
Sunlit Bride, Shadowed Groom: Radiant Pre-Wedding Portrait in Historic Baeza, Spain
rim lightJaen PreWedding Portraitsunlight and shadowsSpainsunlightBaezablock wall
A couple in Utrecht laughs together, playfully interacting with the warm, golden sunset light, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Golden Sunset Laughter: Playful Couple In Utrecht Creates A Joyful, Radiant Atmosphere
warm lightUtrecht Engagement Photographysunlight and shadowslaughinginteractingUtrechtsilhouetted
Newlyweds pose stylishly beneath striking geometric shadows at Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, China, exuding modern elegance together.
Newlyweds Pose Under Geometric Shadows at Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, China
sunlight and shadowsShanghai Wedding PortraitmodernPortman Ritz CarltonShanghaistylishblack and white portrait
In Istanbul, Turkey, the couple's portrait captures her bathed in sunlight and him in shadows, set against an old-world building. The contrast highlights their connection amid the city's historic charm.
Light and Shadow: Romantic Contrast Against Istanbul's Historic Charm and Timeless Beauty
Istanbul wedding portraitIstanbulsunlight and shadowshistoric charmOld World Buildingbathed in sunlightcontrast
In Istanbul, Turkey, the couple is bathed in sunlight, standing against an old-world building. Arched shadows add a graceful element, highlighting the architecture's historic charm.
Sunlit Promise: Arched Shadows Enhance Historic Charm in Istanbul's Timeless Romance
sunlight and shadowsIstanbul wedding portraitOld World Buildingbathed in sunlightarched shadowsarchitectural charmhistoric
At Soho House in Istanbul, a tight portrait of the bride captures her face half bathed in sunlight and half in shadow, creating a dramatic and captivating contrast.
Dramatic Sunlit Contrast: Bride's Captivating Portrait at Istanbul's Soho House Ceremony
sunlight and shadowsDramaticIstanbulhalf in sunlightIstanbul Bridal portraitcontrasttight portrait
A couple embraces in Ceparana La Spezia, bathed in dramatic sunlight and shadows, a study in love.
Ceparana Embrace: Dramatic Sunlight and Shadows Capture a Study in Love's Tender Moment
sunlight and shadowsLa SpeziaCeparanaCeparana Engagement Photographydramatic lightbathed in sunlight
A couple strolls hand-in-hand through Gorizia, Italy, bathed in soft, warm golden hour light.
Golden Hour Stroll in Gorizia: Hand-in-Hand, Love's Light Embraces the Italian Charm
sunlight and shadowsbathed in lightHand in handGorizia PreWedding Sessionsoft lightGoriziagolden hour
A pre-wedding photo in Karakoy, Istanbul, framed by a stone arch, bathed in sunlight and shadows.
Sun-kissed Istanbul Embrace: Stone Arch Whispers Love in Pre-Wedding Portrait
Karakoy PreWedding Photographystone archwaysunlight and shadowsIstanbulembracingkarakoyframed in arch
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
illuminated lipsGoremeCappadocia PreWedding PhotographyCappadociared lipsticksunlight and shadowssilhouettes
In Campinas, a bride's portrait at sunset with shadows on the venue's white stucco wall, captured with tall vertical framing.
Campinas Wedding: Bride's Portrait at Sunset with Shadows on White Stucco Wall, Tall Vertical Framing
vertical portraitsunsetsunlight and shadowsCampinas Bridal Portraitstucco wallCampinas
In Campinas, a bride's portrait at sunset captures her in profile, partially silhouetted against the venue's white wall.
A Campinas Bride's Sunset Profile Portrait, Partially Silhouetted Against Venue's White Wall
Campinasprofile of brideafternoon LightCampinas Bridal Portraitwhite wallsunlight and shadowssilhouetted
A sunlit bride-to-be and shadowed groom-to-be pose at a brick corner in Toronto's Distillery District.
Timeless Toronto: Sunlit Bride-to-Be and Silhouetted Groom-to-Be at Distillery District's Red Brick Corner
sunlight and shadowsbricksilhouettecorner of buildingToronto Engagement PortraitToronto Distillery DistrictToronto
A couple in love stands by the ocean in Maceió, Brazil, with a charming chapel casting beautiful shadows.
Oceanside Love: Embraced by Chapel Shadows in Maceió
Maceio PreWedding PhotographyMaceiósunlight and shadowssilhouetteBrazilOceansidecross
A romantic photograph of a engaged couple captured by a wedding photographer at Cascina Ranverso in Buttigliera, Italy. The couple stands in front of a brick wall, basking in the sunlight as the man lovingly embraces his partner from behind.
Embraced in Sunlight: Romantic Moments at Cascina Ranverso
Piedmontsunlightbasking in lightsunlight and shadowsromanticButtigliera Altabrick wall
At IMS in São Paulo, Brasil, a striking image captures a woman bathed in light while the man beside her remains in shadow, creating a dramatic contrast.
Striking Portrait at IMS São Paulo, Illuminating Woman in Light while Man Beside Rests in Shadow
sunlight and shadowsdramatic contrastbathed in lightSão Paulo engagement photographyIMSshadowSão Paulo
A romantic couple dances in the urban setting of Antalya, Turkey, captured in the warm rays of sunlight and shadows.
Romantic Dance in Sunlit Urban Setting, Antalya, Turkey Wedding Celebration
Turkeyurban settinghigh angleAntalya Wedding Photographysunlight and shadowsAntalyacouple dancing
In the town of Alsace, France, the couple gazes towards the sun in their portrait.
Couple Gazes Towards the Sun in Alsace, France Portrait
Alsacesunlight and shadowsstone buildingalsace engagement photography
Lecco bride radiates elegance at wedding reception in picturesque setting.
Elegant Bride Shines at Wedding Reception in Picturesque Lecco Setting
ItalyLecco wedding photographyLecco Bridesunlight and shadowsLeccopicturesque settingElegance
A captivating image from a pre-wedding portrait session at the iconic Bund in Shanghai, China. The engaged couple stands amidst the tree, lost in their own worlds with eyes closed, framed by beautiful sunlight and shadows.
Pre-Wedding Portraits: Bund Session in Shanghai by Pro Wedding Photographer
sunlight and shadowsThe BundChinaShanghai PreWedding Portraitframed in treesShanghaieyes closed

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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.