Playful Couples

People do tend to get carried away on their wedding days, but this groom looks like he's about to carry away the veil! The laughing bride looks well-equipped to stop him—and the quick-acting photographer captured all their goofy antics against a beautiful hilltop locale with a touch of backlighting to separate them from the scenery.

A softly focused rustic scene is the perfect background for this couple's arrival in their blue vintage car. The photographer filled the whole foreground with the back of the car, creating leading lines that pull us forward to the silhouettes of the couple framed in the windscreen. The bride's triumphantly raised blue bouquet is a wonderful complement to their celebratory expressions.

Wedding photos that show an unexpected side of the day are always appealing—but it's not too often we see the bride from the soles of her feet up! This spirited moment, with the groom looking on happily, feels wonderfully special and engaging.

It's wonderful to see couples laughing together—and these two seem to be having a marvelous time in the water! The photographer shot down from a high angle, making it feel like we're glimpsing a private moment. Keeping the water dark lets us appreciate the swirl of her wet gown and the little waves crashing around them.

The groom (with a little push from his bride) seems intent on mastering this loop-de-loop bike track—truly an unexpected wedding prop, Even the surfers wandering past in the background look a little surprised. Crisp lighting pops the red bike and blue suit out from the background.

Outdoor weddings come with some unique challenges—but Fearless Photographers know just how to transform problems into opportunities. This lovely setting with beautiful late-day light had all the makings of a quiet, classic portrait . . . except that the bees had other plans. The photographer rolled with it and captured a charming image of the bride trying to rescue her new husband from the stinging insect that hovered inches from his face.

The contrast between the urban setting, the elegant attire, and the cute nose-to-nose pose—it all adds up to a sweet image. Posing the couple on two different planes, vertical and horizontal, makes it all the more captivating.

If there's a special event nearby (say, a World Naked Bike Ride event), you'd be crazy not to take advantage of it, right? The photographer posed his couple right in the center of the action and waited for the perfect moment as the bride and groom observed the riders—and the cyclists swirling around them offered congratulations to the newlyweds.

Windswept and semi-submerged, this unexpected composition captures a playful and romantic moment between the bride and groom. The soft, tropical colors enhance the mood and harder lighting picks up the droplets on their glistening skin.

A sunny blue sky and fresh gold field form a clean canvas that lets us zoom in on the story: the cheerful turquoise car and the couple jumping for joy. Their mirrored composition at either end of the frame makes the viewer's gaze linger, bouncing back and forth between the car and the exuberant bride and groom.

Complex scenes present definite challenges when it comes to keeping the emphasis on your subject—and it doesn't get much more complex than a crowded subway car! The photographer made it work here by getting up high and shooting down at the couple's faces. The converging lines of the roof and center pole also help guide our eyes in toward their smiling faces. The fairly substantial depth of field is an added perk, letting us enjoy the onlookers expressions and appreciate how much they seem to be enjoying the moment, too.

Running toward the camera with reckless abandon, the bride's expression lights up the foreground while the groom's crazy posture brings up the rear. The unusually graphic—and slightly precarious—location is full of lines that keep drawing your eyes back to the playful couple.

Of course it's a fake scene made for the camera. Maybe its goal is to illustrate trust? If so, this groom seems to have a happy future all sewn up. The silly situational pose and composition set this photograph well on its way to success, but it's the bride's expression of intense concentration (and maybe concern) that really sells it.

Posing head-to-head on the ground for a shot down at doggie level—it all sounds good . . . until someone's face gets stepped on! Happily, the photographer didn't stop shooting and captured the groom's laughter. The resulting shot may have been unplanned, but probably feels even more real to the couple than if everything had gone "right."

What photographer could resist this marvelously colorful and illuminated setting? It's the perfect spot for a silhouette. Here, the warm color of the wall plays perfectly with the bride's slightly saucy pose. Both the bride and groom are shown in silhouette, for a sleek perspective on their figures and a nice view of their faces.

This is definitely not your grandmother's wedding photography. Adventurous couples deserve a photographer who will dive right in with them—and capture every breathtaking moment!

The cat had somewhere to be, and a silly photo shoot wasn't going to stop him. The quick-thinking photographer nimbly captured the unexpected triple-stack in a image that is sweet, surprising, and a whole lot of fun.

Many beach portraits are all about water. This photographer took a different approach and shot from a low angle to show the the late-day light on the rippled sand as the bride and groom streaked by, nearly silhouetted, in the background. Best of all, her trailing veil streams out over the figure of a distant surfer, adding even more whimsy to the portrait. A kiss of sun flare was the perfect finishing touch.