Wedding Photos of Waterfront

The following “Waterfront” 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 “Waterfront” 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.

A couple shares a kiss along the waterfront in Grado, Gorizia, Italy, gentle seaside light illuminating their engagement portrait as they sit together in the relaxed coastal atmosphere.

Portrait Of A Couple Sharing A Kiss Along The Relaxed Coastal Waterfront Of Grado Italy

Along the waterfront venue in Ortaköy, Istanbul, the couple enjoys their pre-wedding photo session, with views of the Bosphorus and neighborhood’s iconic backdrop grounding a sense of modern romance.

A Couple Enjoys Bosphorus Views During Their Engagement On Scenic Waterfront Venue In Ortaköy, Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul waterfront portrait vibrant scenic bridge expansive urban waterfront

Engagement portrait of a couple framed by weathered concrete ruins at the edge of the water at San Francisco’s historic Sutro Baths, sharing a quiet, affectionate kiss.

Engaged Couple Sharing A Tender Kiss Amidst Weathered Concrete Ruins At San Francisco’s Historic Sutro Baths

waterfront intimate pose weathered textures engagement portraits urban landscape romantic kiss quiet affection

At Herrington on the Bay, North Beach, MD, the bride and groom walk along the wooden pier just after their ceremony, sending gulls scattering into the sky as they enjoy their beautiful waterfront surroundings.

Bride And Groom Walk Pier At Herrington On The Bay As Gulls Scatter

Herrington on the Bay outdoors wooden pier bride walk North Beach Gulls

In San Francisco, CA, a Northern California engagement portrait shows the couple face to face in a heartfelt hug, symmetrically framed with the old pier pilings behind them.

Engagement Portrait of a Couple Hugging With Pier Pilings in San Francisco

heartfelt hug San Francisco symmetrical framing outdoor session Northern California Face to face couple

In Karaköy, Istanbul, a pre-wedding photo session shows her holding an umbrella as the couple walks together by the boat docks along the waterfront.

Walking by the Boat Docks in Karaköy With an Umbrella: Pre-Wedding Couple Portrait Session

city destination Pre Wedding engaged waterfront Rainy day walking

At South Lake Tahoe, CA, the couple walk hand in hand along the shore, with brilliant blue water and sky creating a stunning backdrop to their proposal.

Hand in Hand Along the Shore at South Lake Tahoe Couple Portrait Session

couple shore love Hand in hand portrait session scenic California - Northern

At South Lake Tahoe, CA, the couple poses against a stunning lakeside backdrop, as she proudly displays her engagement ring, capturing their excitement and joy.

Lakeside Joy and Engagement Ring Reveal at South Lake Tahoe Couple Portrait Session

engaged excitement Lake Tahoe Lakeside love scenic couple

Sait Halim Paşa Yalısı, Istanbul — In a symmetrical wedding day portrait, the bride ascends the stairs while the groom walks down and away, positioned lower and center in the frame, creating a dynamic and artistic image at the historic waterfront mansion.

Symmetrical Artistic Wedding Portrait On Stairs At Sait Halim Paşa Yalısı Istanbul Mansion

historic waterfront Sait Halim Paşa Yalısı photography groom walks down Istanbul artistic wedding image symmetrical

The bride and groom pose for a classic wedding portrait outside the rustic Islesford Dock Restaurant, overlooking the scenic waterfront of Islesford, Maine.

The Couple Poses For A Classic Portrait Outside The Rustic Islesford Dock Restaurant In Coastal Maine

dock waterfront Maine Islesford Dock Restaurant boats Islesford ME Islesford Wedding Portrait

Portopiccolo, Sistiana, Trieste, Italy — A couple walks hand in hand by the waterfront as she leads and looks back at him, creating a playful and romantic portrait.

An Engaging and Romantic Walk Hand in Hand in Portopiccolo, Italy

couple walking Looking back Portopiccolo PreWedding Session Hand in hand Portopiccolo waterfront playful

Couple embraces on concrete jetty along Caorle, Venice waterfront; vertical black-and-white shot capturing intimate, seaside embrace..

Couple Embraces On Jetty In Black-And-White Caorle Waterfront Seaside Photo

black and white Carole vertical format waterfront Venice Venice PreWedding Photography Seaside Embrace

A couple enjoys a romantic engagement photo shoot at Race Street Pier, Philadelphia, where the city skyline and waterfront create a perfect scenic backdrop for their love.

Romantic Engagement at Race Street Pier, Philadelphia, with Scenic Waterfront Backdrop

Race Street Pier love connection Philadelphia romantic portrait urban

Stunning drone shot of newlyweds after a waterfront ceremony in Zuid Holland, Netherlands.

Bird's-Eye Romance: Newlyweds by Waterfront in Zuid Holland Drone Capture

Dutch ceremony Netherlands birds eye wedding scene drone aerial view stunning newlyweds

Newlyweds and their furry dog companion illuminated by off camera flash in a picturesque Scottish reception venue, Lodge on Loch Lomond. The happy trio poses on a stone wall with a serene lake as their backdrop.

LODGE ON LOCH LOMOND | Newlyweds and their Dog Posed Against Serene Lake at Scottish Venue

Lodge on Loch Lomond Happy trio couple posing Scenery lodge backdrop illuminated

A romantic portrait of a couple at the scenic Arrecife de las Sirenas in Cabo de Gata, Almería, Spain, surrounded by rocky cliffs and a boat launch site.

ARRECIFE DE LAS SIRENAS in CABO DE GATA | Couple's Portrait at Boat Launch

Almeria romance relationship intimate sunlight water silhouette

A beautiful bride boards a water taxi in Portland, Maine, heading towards her Peaks Island wedding ceremony on a sunny day.

Bride Boards Water Taxi for Peaks Island Wedding in Portland, Maine on Sunny Day

boat Portland-ME dock Maine destination celebration reception

A couple takes a walk along the waterfront in Portland, Maine, with a floating wooden boat dock as the backdrop for their engagement picture, captured by a professional WPJA wedding photographer

Love on the Waterfront: Capturing the Magic of Engagement in Portland, Maine

floating dock Marina boats harbor boat dock waterfront Maine engagement photography

At the waterfront Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the groom shared a special preceremony moment with his nephew, high-fiving on a wooden deck overlooking the ocean

The groom and his nephew high-fived on the Beauport Hotel's deck overlooking the ocean in Gloucester, MA

high fiving preceremony moment Massachusetts romantic beach wedding wedding photo wooden deck Ocean view

This engaged couple is enjoying their blissful connectedness, relaxing in a stunning setting of sunset light at the waterfront near Port de la Madrague, Hyères, Var

The couple's love radiates in their engagement portrait, capturing the beauty of the sunset and their connection in the tranquil Port de la Madrague

stunning setting waterfront Hyères dock Var Port de la Madrague sunset light

A couple poses for their engagement announcement portrait in Positano, Italy, near the waterfront beneath the trees

Positano, Italy - Engagement Announcement Portrait Under Trees by Waterfront

Italy trees Positano Silhouetted couple waterfront Positano engagement photography

The couple posed for their engagement announcement portrait while sitting on a boat by the waterfront in Montpellier, France

Montpellier, France: Engagement Announcement Portrait on a Boat by Water

matching clothing France Montpellier waterfront Montpellier Engagement Photographer water boat

The bride and groom captured in a getaway portrait session with a breathtaking view of the water at Col de la Chambotte in Aix les Bains

The newlyweds celebrated their union with a picturesque portrait session overlooking the waterfront

Col de la Chambotte bird eastern France waterfront Aix les Bains Photographer lake breathtaking view

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town mini posing couple photo session with light bouncing from the reflective buildings for the gorgeous engagement portrait

buildings Cape Town couple photo session Cape Town weddings reflective waterfront Cape Town

Lake Tahoe, CA wedding bride and groom dance on a private waterfront pier during an outdoor portrait session under the clouds

The bride and groom danced on a private waterfront pier during an outdoor portrait session under the clouds, in a vertical image, for their wedding

pier portrait Lake Tahoe session Outdoor private Lake Tahoe CA wedding

Old Town Alexandria, Virginia | A couple engagement session on the waterfront

A couple engagement session on the waterfront dock, shot from above

Anastasiia Polyakov Alexandria engagement images couple engagement waterfront Old Town Alexandria Alexandria engagement photography Alexandria

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.