I’m proud to share that four of my photographs were recognized in WedAward Collection 132.
As an award-winning New Jersey wedding photographer serving couples in New Jersey, Florida, and beyond, recognition like this is meaningful. However, the people and experiences behind these photographs will always matter more than the awards themselves.
These four images move through very different parts of a wedding day, from a crowded reception and a carefully composed portrait to a joyful ceremony exit and an overhead view of the newlyweds surrounded by everyone they love.
WedAward Collection 132 at a Glance
🌎 Photographers from 10 countries participated
📸 2,421 photographs were submitted
🏆 Only 92 photographs were selected
🎉 Four selected images were created by Nicholas Yee Photography
Only about 3.8% of all submitted photographs were selected for WedAward Collection 132. Having four of my images included among the final 92 is an incredible honor.
Each one began with a real wedding, a moment that could not be repeated, and a couple who trusted me to preserve it.
What Is WedAward?
WedAward is an international community of wedding photographers that holds monthly photography competitions. Photographers from around the world submit their work, and the selected images are featured in WedAward’s online collections.
These awards also contribute to the organization’s annual rankings. At the end of each competition year, the photographers with the most recognized photographs are included in WedAward’s Top 10 list.
Being selected is significant because every image is considered alongside work created in different countries, cultures, venues, lighting conditions, and photographic styles.
My official WedAward photographer profile currently includes 95 awards, and I was named a Top 10 WedAward photographer in 2023.
Awards are not the reason I create, but I appreciate what they recognize: consistency, timing, technical skill, creative awareness, and the ability to identify a meaningful image while an actual wedding is unfolding.
Why Four Winning Photographs Matter
These four images are not variations of the same photograph. Each one required a different approach.
The reception image depended on anticipation and quick timing. The formal portrait required careful control of composition and light. The ceremony exit involved movement, changing expressions, and bubbles flying in every direction. The overhead photograph required finding a perspective that could show the scale of the ceremony without losing the couple at its center.
That range is important because wedding photography is not one-dimensional. Couples deserve more than a few strong portraits. They need someone who can document every part of the day consistently, from the planned photographs to the moments no one could have predicted.
Above the Celebration
The bride and groom are raised on chairs above a crowded wedding reception while guests gather around them. The groom looks toward his bride as she reaches across the space between them, both completely caught up in the celebration.
Several elements come together to create the energy of this photograph. Guests are lifting the chairs, people are clapping and reacting from every direction, purple light fills the ballroom, and a bright flash appears behind the groom.
A moment like this gives me very little time to make decisions. The chairs are moving, people are crossing the frame, and expressions change within seconds. I have to find a strong position, watch the couple, and remain aware of everything happening around them.
I love that the final photograph does not simply show what happened. It carries the excitement of being in the middle of it.
Framed by Light
This wedding portrait places the bride and groom between tall wooden doors, with sculptural circular lights glowing behind them.
The architecture creates a natural frame around the couple. The warm light and rich wood contrast with the bride’s structured white gown and the groom’s black tuxedo, while the symmetry gives the photograph a polished and intentional appearance.
Instead of both looking directly at the camera, the couple looks in opposite directions. That choice gives each person a distinct presence while still allowing them to feel connected within the composition.
A wedding venue should be more than a background. I’m always looking for architecture, reflections, patterns, and unexpected light that can be used to create something specific to the couple and the space they chose.
A Kiss in a Sea of Bubbles
The newlyweds share a kiss outside the church while their wedding party, family members, and young attendants surround them with bubbles.
The bubbles catch the sunlight and create movement throughout the frame. Raised bouquets, extended arms, the bride’s veil, and the reactions of the people on both sides bring even more personality to the photograph.
The couple remains at the center, but the smaller interactions around them make the image complete. Children operate colorful bubble machines, guests lean forward to participate, and everyone contributes to the celebration in a slightly different way.
It is joyful and unpredictable, which is exactly why it works. Those are often the photographs that bring couples back to the personality of their wedding rather than only showing them what everything looked like.
Together in the Aisle
Photographed from above in black and white, this image shows the newlyweds standing hand in hand in the aisle as their guests gather around them.
The elevated perspective reveals the full ceremony setting, including the rows of chairs, standing guests, wedding party, floral arrangements, and the bride’s veil trailing behind her.
Even with so many people in the frame, the structure of the aisle leads the eye directly to the couple.
Converting the photograph to black and white removes the distraction of competing colors and places more attention on the shapes, movement, and people within the scene. From ground level, the same moment would have told a much smaller story. From above, the photograph shows the couple and the community surrounding them as they begin this next part of their lives together.
Award-Winning Wedding Photography in New Jersey and Florida
Awards are meaningful, but they are not the full measure of a wedding photographer.
Couples need someone who can work through changing light, keep portraits organized, manage limited time, recognize emotional reactions, and remain ready for moments that cannot be recreated.
That preparation begins before the wedding day. I take time to understand what matters to each couple, help them develop their photography timeline, learn about their venue, and prepare for the different environments we may encounter.
You can learn more about the planning, communication, and guidance included in the Nicholas Yee Photography wedding experience.
My style combines photojournalistic wedding coverage with creative, highly stylized portraiture. I step in with clear direction when it is helpful, then give couples room to remain present when a moment needs to unfold naturally.
This balance can be seen throughout my New Jersey and Florida wedding photography portfolio. The goal is not to make every wedding look the same. It is to create a complete collection of images that reflects the people, atmosphere, and personality of each celebration.
More Wedding Photography and Planning Resources
These four WedAward-winning photographs represent only a small part of what goes into documenting a complete wedding.
On the Nicholas Yee Photography blog, you can explore recent weddings, New Jersey and Florida venues, engagement sessions, photography advice, and practical planning resources.
These articles are designed to help couples understand what is possible while giving them useful information as they make decisions about their wedding.
Planning a Wedding in New Jersey or Florida?
If you are searching for an award-winning New Jersey wedding photographer or Florida wedding photographer who can balance creative portraits with genuine, unscripted moments, I would love to hear what you are planning.
Inquire with Nicholas Yee Photography to share your wedding date, venue, and vision.
