Funny Moments

In "Limbo Rock," Chubby Checker asks, "How low can you go?" This photographer dropped down low—and captured a fairly gravity-defying maneuver by one limber guest. It's one of those peak moment images that captures the whole story in a fraction of a second.

More and more often, couples are choosing to include their furry family members in the wedding celebration—but maybe not in the head count for the caterer! The photographer perfectly captured this funny interaction with a hopeful (and hungry) pup.

Where the photographer is permitted to create them, images from behind the officiant are a nice way to show the couple's faces during the ceremony (unlike shots made from the back of the church). Here, the photographer quickly ducked down with a wide-angle lens to add a fun twist. Taking advantage of the backlighting made it possible to capture the rabbi as a shadow. In addition to a bit of levity, this keeps the primary emphasis on the bride and groom.

Remote wedding locations sometimes call for inventive facilities. But the real story is happening just beyond the door, where the photographer caught the bride and her helper trying to negotiate with a big, poofy gown in a teeny-tiny space—all while evading the attention of their next-door neighbor. The primary colors of the stalls, grass, and sky in the late-day light add to the charm of this offbeat image.

No one can escape the paparazzi these days! From cell phones to DSLRs, everyone came equipped to document the event. The bride and groom seem to be the only ones going analog. It's a funny—and not atypical—depiction of a modern wedding in the 21st century.

No one is immune to the heightened spirits that sometimes suffuse a wedding day. We may never know exactly what prompted this display, but the tilted horizon and high contrast presentation seem to play perfectly into the chaos and energy of the moment!

When the girls are getting ready, everyone pitches in—even the bride. The laid-back attitude of all the ladies is a perfect counterpoint to the the formality of the setting and their attire. Whether it's posed or totally natural, it feels like the girls are just hanging out, relaxing, and waiting for the events about to unfold.

The plans for a seaside wedding seem to have gone a little awry—the guys are up to their ankles in the surf and the bride is inches from the waves. The photographer kept shooting, though, and captured their wonderfully confused reactions to the situation. The bright sun from behind keeps the mood feeling light to match the bemused attitude of the wedding party.

For the groom who really wants to bust a move on the dance floor, restrictive tuxedo pants simply won't do. The crazy pattern of these leggings is outpaced only by the marvelously distorted, wide-angle perspective on his maneuver—and the static framing of the bride's feet directly below his torso. Fun, edgy, and totally engaging!

Whatever the rules of this drinking game might be, it's clear that the men are completely engaged in its execution. The photographer didn't miss a beat in dropping to the floor for an improbable snake's-eye view from directly below the belly of the drinker. Hard light from the side perfectly popped out the glass and wonderful expressions.

"Getting ready" images used to be pretty much about the brides—but more and more men are getting in on the opportunity to have photos made showing their side of the big day. This groom's attendants look committed to their tasks: getting the tricky bowtie knotted and helping the groom relax. It's a nice addition to the wedding-day images to see these natural moments between the guys.

These attendants were really on the ball and ready to attend to the groom's every need—and the couple's photographer was perfectly poised to capture their reactions to the silliness. The authentic warmth of their big smiles makes the image something truly special.

The price of beauty? No pain, no gain? While there are a lot of worn-out platitudes that might be used to describe this moment, the image itself feels decidedly unexpected. Verging on macabre, there's definitely a dark sense of humor at work here—but it's handled with a delicate that keeps the "creepy" from outpacing the "pretty."

A top this unusual would grab any photographer's attention—but this one was smart enough to capture it in a clever way. Cropping just above the woman's lips elevated the shot from mere documentary to true art. Including a rosy cocktail was icing on the cake.

You've got to love a bride who goes with the flow—and admire the photographer who is right there with her! The strong leading lines of the railings direct our gaze to the strongly centered subjects making clever use of a kiddie pool to shelter from the rain.

This shot has good feelings written all over it—literally. There's just enough foreground focus to let us read the balloon and wonder what all the fuss is about. Peeking past it, we find the happy newlyweds locked in a kiss. It's a clever and satisfying composition.

Someone has stolen the show—and this image of the singer's scowling reaction in the background is kind of a show-stopper, too. It's a great storytelling moment and a wonderful little vignette from the reception.

This bumpy ride may have gotten all the wedding-goers flustered—but the photographer stayed totally cool and ready for action. The wild expressions, clutching gestures, and slightly tilted composition make the shot just as exciting and full of energy as the moment must have felt.

Sabrage, a technique for opening a champagne bottle with a saber, has been used for ceremonial occasions since the days of Napoleon. This photographer caught the peak action—with glass and bubbly still flying and the groom grimacing in the background. Incredible timing!

Whether it was the result of great timing or a well-executed vision, the raw humor in this image makes it hard to resist. Shifting the focus to the background and keeping the bride in the foreground a little soft makes our gaze ricochet back and forth between their faces—and the perfect juxtaposition between the two "subjects"!

E-cigarettes and vaping are all the rage, so this shot has a timeliness to its content. The face-off moment between the two women and the smoke frozen in midair add another level of humor—but it's the reactions of the onlookers that really take the shot to a whole new level!

Okay, so maybe it's a little irreverent, but who could resist the perfectly coordinated poses? Certainly not this photographer. Photographed from a low angle with a wide view, the officiant's broad gesture seems almost larger than life. The image also maintains just enough detail outside the windows for us to appreciate the natural beauty of the setting.

There's no telling what a bridesmaid may be called upon to do on the wedding day—especially when the facilities are on the rustic side. This pair may have escaped the notice of the guests in front of the church, but nothing gets past a Fearless Photographer. The bride's awkward pose and laughter makes this juxtaposition of public and private all the more humorous.

Playing a subtle trick with color directs our gaze to the key elements and makes this image truly outstanding. By letting the room go quite blue, the photographer shifted the emphasis off the general scenery and onto the subtle orange tones of the candle-lit elements—most importantly, the fire-eater at the center of the frame. Unusual subjects don't intimidate Fearless Photographers; they inspire them!

Capturing the familiar gesture of the officiant—perhaps he is someone who has known the groom for a lifetime?—makes this wedding portrait stand out for its personalization. Every couple's wedding is special, but great photographers know how to spot those subtle interactions that are charged with meaning.

Wedding photography can be about big moments or tiny twinklings like this one. Trailing inches behind the bride, this devoted canine companion seems eager to perform his or her part of the big day. But be careful not to step on anything important!

No one likes to be left out of the fun—and that includes pets. Although they're only meeting through the glass, these pups seem happy to see the bride and share whatever connection they can. The photographer exposed for the dogs and the outdoor light, keeping the bride and her gown a bit more subdued.

The photographer pulled in close to capture a centered, symmetrical view of this young man and his guest. Of course, what totally makes the shot are his extremely crossed eyes. But how else are you supposed to see the ladybug on your forehead?

This crowd of ladies doesn't seem quite willing to give up on the groom—although he's clearly indicating that he's off the market. Positioning the groom's body horizontally in the frame manifests the threat that he's about to be carried off. Skimming light brings out all the detail. And do we even need to mention the hand poses?

The groom's attendants are arranged along a pew that recedes diagonally into the background—and the movement of the composition seems to pull us the same way. Until, of course, we see the one face that's turned back toward the lens, and observe the affirmative connection unfolding between the big guy and the little one. Sweet and subtle, yet totally unforgettable, it's a perfectly captured moment—and a testament to the photographer's attentive observation.

Fancy dance moves aren't the only things that sometimes bust out at weddings. The photographer probably just expected some crazy acrobatics—but a wardrobe malfunction made the whole episode a whole lot more memorable!

Truth is stranger than fiction, and fearless photographers excel in capturing those expectation-defying moments. As helpers tried to wrangle the bride into the car, her uplifted train was momentarily transformed into a picture-perfect backdrop for the young cyclist—and a screen to capture her shadow in perfect profile.

Wouldn't we all just love to know what happened in the moments leading up to this capture? However we got here, there's no disputing the intrigue and humorous appeal of the shot—or the technical skills and great timing it took to capture it!

Take my hand! Facing straight forward, this little girl seems to know exactly what is supposed to happen next. The little boy, pigeon-toed and frowning, is definitely not so sure he's ready for any of it. Shooting from a low angle captured the sweet moment with ethereal backlighting from the open doors.

Does the five-second rule apply at weddings? On hands and knees in his dapper dress, the gentleman seems to be counting it off. From a low angle, the photographer caught his querulous expression and the whole mess strewn across the floor.

Being ready for the unexpected is a huge part of the wedding photographer's job. After all, no one ever teaches you how to photograph a bride blow-drying her feet! Here, the photographer shot wide to capture the bride's long leg extending into the frame and the amused grin on her helper's face. A bit of blur throughout the enhances the sense of the action rapidly unfolding.

There's some childish behavior going on here—but it's not on the part of the child. How these men ended up piled together on a swing is anyone's guess, but the photographer's awareness of the moment and choice to juxtapose them with the little girl made for a marvelously intriguing image.

When you've got a big emotion, why not put it front and center? That's what the photographer did here, placing the bride's perfect profile dead-center in the photo and boxing it in with the elements of the door and window. Despite the complexity of the scene and background, her fantastic expression steals the show (and makes us wonder what in the world she's seeing through the windshield!)

Even when in position for fairly traditional altar shots, great wedding photographers don't let themselves take too narrow a view. Quickly shifting focus to the foreground allowed this photographer to capture the flower girl's saucy wink. It's a subtle moment that adds meaningful depth to the overall story.

As the family looks on, the bride and her grandmother share a special moment. The photographer captured their locked gazes and a lovely contrast between the generations. In black & white, those emotions all come to the forefront.

It sure would be interesting to know what in the world is going on here—and that's part of what makes it a great photo. The gestures and and facial expressions are utterly fascinating; we can't help but linger, circling the composition again and again in the hopes of attaining some kind of revelation.

The moment when the bride and groom are pronounced man and wife is certainly cause for celebration—but this young man seems to be extremely excited. The photographer smartly shifted a little bit away from the expected subjects and captured this amazingly jubilant reaction.

Wedding suits are rarely birthday suits, but this groom seems comfortable in his own skin. Aside from the shock value of the subject matter, what really makes the shot is the photographer's decision to include the reactions of the other couple strolling along the beach that day. A perfect counterpoint!

As wedding images go, this is certainly one of the more unusual ones. There's no denying, however, that it's an attention-grabber—even if it leaves us with more questions than answers. Like, who are these creatures? And where is the groom's head?

Walking your daughter down the aisle seems like a grown-up moment—but this gesture from the sidelines seems to say, "You're still a kid to me!" That's part of the beauty of weddings: the generations come together and the family gets to express their unique dynamics. Happily, this photographer was at the ready to capture the moment—and give us a wide view of all the reactions!

Low-angle shots of the bride slipping into her dress are pretty common in today's wedding coverage. This photographer smartly turned our expectations on their head by capturing two children playing amidst the crinolines—with the young lady in precisely the same arms-up pose we'd expect from a bride!

There are always bumps along the highway of marriage—but these newlyweds seem to have encountered one sooner than expected. The photographer captured not only the bride's troubled expression, but the supportive friends, straining to lend a hand. Great wedding photographers are always ready for these unexpected—sometimes troublesome—events that make a wedding unique.

Where there's a will, there's a way. Great photographers find beauty in unexpected places—like this Cirque de Soleil–style approach to changing a light bulb. The vastness of the empty ballroom emphasizes the boldness of the cringe-inducing endeavor. Presented in black & white, there are echoes of Three Stooges antics.