Wedding Photos of Sunlight

The following “Sunlight” 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” 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.

Wedding portrait captured in Aveyron, featuring a stunning sunset backdrop. The couple gazes at each other in partial silhouettes, framed by foliage surroundings, basking in warm tones and sunlight.

Aveyron's Spectacular Sunset: A Captivating Love Story Amidst Nature's Embrace

Wedding portrait of couple at Tenuta di Polline - Lago di Bracciano - Italy. Partial silhouettes of the couple holding hands on the lake shore, with warm tones and sunlight.

Romantic Embrace: Eternal Love with View of Italy's Lago di Bracciano

holding hands Lazio Artistic Portrait Lazio sunlight water lake shore warm tones

A couple celebrates their marriage in a peaceful field at the Avenue in Sarver, PA. The groom joyfully lifts his bride, enveloped in the warm glow of sunlight, creating a romantic wedding day portrait.

Sarver Serenity: A Joyful Lift in the Warm Sunlight

field Pennsylvania Server PA sunlight warm glow The Avenue Sarver Pennsylvania Artistic Portrait

Bride and groom share a heartfelt embrace atop Tent Ridge in Kananaskis, Canada. Against a stunning orange sunset, their love creates a romantic portrait to treasure forever.

Tent Ridge Embrace: Love's Portrait Amidst a Fiery Sunset

Canada daytime sunshine Kananaskis artistic portrait sessions outside creative portrait

Wedding photo taken at Domaine de Rennepont, Haute-Marne, shows the couple in an intimate embrace, about to share a kiss, with radiant sunlight highlighting the surrounding foliage.

Embracing Love at Domaine de Rennepont, Haute-Marne's Enchanting Haven

Intimate wedding couple Artistic wedding photographer Haute Marne radiant Haute-Marne bride and groom portraits Capturing Love Domaine de Rennepont wedding photographer

At Château des Broyers, Saône-et-Loire: Tranquil wedding couple portrait showcasing the newlyweds, locked in an affectionate embrace against the backdrop of a sunset, amidst their reception.

Romantic Reverie: Newlyweds Embrace at Château des Broyers, Saône-et-Loire Sunset Reception

sunlight artistic wedding photographer Château des Broyers venue Back Lighting Saone et Loire Weddings backlit portrait photography

Creative wedding day portrait captured at a reception venue in Toulouse, France. The bride and groom tenderly embrace as the sun sets behind them, evoking a truly romantic atmosphere.

Romantic Toulouse: A Sunlit Embrace Captured on Wedding Day

Artsy sun outdoors France creative portrait bright light day

In a wedding photo, captured at Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey. The bride sits on a bench in the foreground, while the groom lays on his back on another bench in the background.

Wedding Spectacle: Love Portrait Amidst Istanbul's Historic Splendor

Artful married couple outdoors sunshine sunlight wedding couple Artsy

In this award-winning wedding photo, taken in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square, the groom gracefully supports his bride's dress train as they walk together. The romantic scene is enhanced by the burst of sunlight at the top.

Sultanahmet Serenade: Love Awakens in Sunlit Istanbul's Heartbeat Square

sunlight sun light of day outdoors bride and groom outside daytime

Lifestyle couple portrait at City Hall Philadelphia showcasing a creative and picturesque scene. The couple walks together, hand in hand, with the magnificent Philadelphia City Hall serving as an impressive backdrop. The sunlight highlights them.

Love Blooms in the Shadow of City Hall: An Engagement Portrait Capturing Romance and Urban Beauty

stroll Pennsylvania Philadelphia Philadelphia engagement session City Hall Philadelphia sunlight large buildings

The bride and groom pose for a romantic portrait in front of the Teatro Adolfo Mejía in Cartagena, Colombia, capturing the charm of the city on their special day.

Cartagena Charm: A Romantic Portrait at Teatro Adolfo Mejía

Artsy Colombia outside sun sunshine daytime outdoors

A photographer captured a romantic embrace on a beach in Brittany, France. Despite the rain, the couple embraced as sunlight gave a golden glow to the grasses surrounding them.

Golden Grasses Embrace: Artistic Wedding Photo on Brittany Beach

artistic wedding photographer Golden portrait photography raining Brittany photographer grass rain

In this award-winning picture, taken in Icart, Guernsey, the groom and his groomsmen are seen enjoying a relaxing chat on a balcony as they prepare for the ceremony. The picture captures the bright sunlight and the breathtaking view of the ocean.

Groomsmen bonding under the sun on Icart's heavenly balcony

bright light Guernsey Artistic Scene Setter Icart groom balcony Guernsey light of day

Gently caressed against the stunning backdrop of Emerald Lake in Crested Butte, Colorado, a devoted groom affectionately embraces his wife, their love illuminated by the rim light, as they face each other on their wedding day.

A Romantic Embrace at Emerald Lake's Radiant Glow

Emerald Lake sunshine married couple bride and groom wedding couple mountain range Artful

A beautiful wedding photo captured at a reception venue in Cleveland, Ohio. This sunset image showcases the rings and key details of the special day.

Sunset Splendor: Cleveland Wedding Shines with Radiant Rings

daytime wedding ring Detail Wedding Picture details Ohio wedding details Artful

A wedding photographer in Tuscany captures a special moment as the bride and her father step toward the outdoor ceremony venue at Villa Grabau. The father wipes his face with a handkerchief under the sunlight.

Tuscany Outdoor Wedding: Bride and Father Step Towards Venue, Emotional Tear Captured at Villa Grabau

tuscany weddings face handkerchief bride and her father sunlight Lucca special moment

Wedding photo taken at Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, PA. Shows the bride in her room with a view, captured in a portrait shot with a natural sunlight ambiance.

Sunlit Window Splendor: A Breathtaking Bridal Portrait at Loews Hotel, Philadelphia

natural sunlight window Loews Hotel Loews Hotel view artistic wedding photographer Philadelphia bride Pennsylvania wedding photography

Sunlit Stroll: Urla Love Story - In Urla, İzmir, Turkey, a couple shoot captures the bride and groom walking, holding hands in the sunlight on the grass under tall palm trees. The scene radiates a sense of love and connection.

Urla Love Story: Sunlit Stroll in İzmir, Turkey

holding hands İzmir symmetry urla tall palm trees Urla Engagement Photography sunlight

At Alcsúti Arboretum, this portrait captures a reflection in sunlight as the couple embraces. The scene seamlessly combines the surroundings with the intimacy of the engaged couple.

Alcsúti Arboretum: A Sunlit Embrace in Nature's Reflection

couple embrace Hungary Engagement Portrait Hungary Alcsúti Arborétum vertical format sunlight intimacy

In London, UK, this couple portrait features the pair sitting on a tall wall with the urban skyline behind them, bathed in sunlight. The scene blends romance with the dynamic energy of the city.

London Lovin': A Skyline Soiree

cityscape London sunlight romance United Kingdom London engagement session sitting on wall

A WPJA wedding photographer captured a beautiful picture of an engaged couple in Colorado Springs, CO during a sunrise session, with the sunlight accentuating their romantic dip

Sun-Kissed Love: Enchanted Engagement in Colorado Springs

sunlight romantic dip Colorado Springs sunrise session Colorado Colorado Springs engagement photography

A photographer specializing in weddings from the WPJA captured a beautiful engagement picture of a couple in Mylapore, Chennai, India, showcasing their undeniable love for each other

Undeniable Love: Capturing the Essence of a Chennai Engagement

Mylapore Engagement Session India head to head minimalistic portrait Sky sunlight Mylapore

In Napoli, Italy, a couple shares a romantic kiss in the streets of the marketplace, with the soft glow of sunlight shining from behind

Amore in Napoli: A Serenade of Sunlight and Passion

marketplace Naples romantic kiss Naples Engagement Portrait city strees sunlight soft flow

A couple in Maine is captured by a wedding photographer from the WPJA, standing on a small hill covered in dry grass, with beautiful sunlight shining down on them

Maine's Enchanting Light: A Captivating Engagement Portrait

sunlight Maine engagement photography Maine dry grass Cumberland County ME small hill Scarborough

An engagement photo of a couple in Rugby, UK, taken by a wedding photographer from WPJA, shows the couple embracing in traditional Indian clothing, with the sunlight creating a beautiful glow behind them

Rugby Radiance: A Sunlit Embrace in Timeless Indian Attire - WPJA Captures an Engaged Couple's Love

afternoon glow sunlight United Kingdom Warwickshire Rugby Engagement Session Rugby traditional Indian clothing

An engagement portrait taken in Boston Public Gardens, showing a couple touching foreheads on a park trail, illuminated by beautiful sunlight

Romantic Radiance: Boston Public Gardens Embrace Love's Glow

park trail Boston Boston engagement session Boston Public Gardens sunlight

A couple embraces outdoors in Amneville - enveloped in their deep affection for one another

Amneville's Natural Love: A Couple Captivatingly Embraced in the Great Outdoors

Moselle Engagement Session Amneville outdoors Moselle sunlight affection embracing

A romantic couple in Paris, France, embraces and smiles outside, with the beautiful sunlight in the background creating a dreamy effect

Parisian Love: Embracing the Dreamy Sunlight in the City of Romance

dreamy effect sunlight smiles Paris Engagement Portrait Paris Ile-de-France bw portrait

In the picturesque caves of Cappadocia, Turkey, this striking engagement portrait showcases the couple's depth and passion, captured expertly by a renowned wedding photographer based in Turkey.

Cappadocia's Captivating Romance: A Mesmerizing Engagement Portrait by a Celebrated Turkish Wedding Photographer

Turkey Cappadocia shaft of light looking up sunlight Cappadocia engagement photography

This stunning romantic portrait was captured in Beverly Hills by a talented and creative Southern California wedding photographer, showcasing a head-over-heels couple basking in the sun with lush palm trees surrounding them.

Beverly Hills Bliss: A Gorgeous Engagement Portrait in the Heart of Southern California

palm trees city street Beverly Hills sunlight Beverly Hills Engagement Photography Southern California

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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.