Portrait photography can run the gamut in type and style—everything from the traditional “head and shoulders” shot to lifestyle and environmental, candid and street, glamour, boudoir, maternity sessions and much more. View some of the eye-catching wedding portraits and photos that stopped us in our tracks this week—a closeup of wedded bliss, the human form emphasized with strobes, a bouquet fight to the finish, veiled beauty and a colorful glimpse of rich cultural heritage.

Mike Wakefield of Pura Vida Cornwall says he loves to do a few tight shots towards the end of a wedding couple’s portraits once they get used to the camera.

“I can stand right next to them with the 35mm and it feels as if you’re part of the moment instead of watched from afar,” he says. “I think it feels more intimate and it’s just 100 percent about the couple and not the location. All I see when I look at this photo is the love and happiness between bride and groom. The details—dress, suit, tie, flower crown—are just a bonus.”

Wakefield continues: “I love that you can see their scrunched up faces from them smiling so hard. I usually like to have a bit of fun and distract them with a game, which always gets a giggle and gives me some natural intimate photos.”

The photographer also asks the couple to see how close they can get to kissing without actually kissing, as in this image. “One of them always gives in and goes for a quick kiss,” he says. “It’s the moments right before the kiss when they are fighting the urge to lock lips and giggling. They have usually forgotten that I’m there by this point as they are too wrapped up in each other.”

[Read: How to take a Synchronized Shot Under Water]

Tomasz Rossa says this image is part of an ongoing underwater photo project. “I have realized that my work centers around my fascination with the human form,” he explains, “and I am always trying to find interesting angles and positions of my subjects. I like shooting after dark and lighting the pool with strobes positioned over the water. I find light patterns and overall light to be quite interesting and different.”

Photographed in Rossa’s pool in Las Vegas, the image is of his friend, contemporary dancer and actor William Credell. “We have shot on numerous occasions before and it always results in something mesmerizing. The only real challenge for me was the limited time we had to be submerged.”

Taken at Rancho Las Lomos in Silverado, California, by Los Angeles wedding photographer Kate Bunny Hampson, this image shows the lengths some women will go to to catch the bride’s bouquet at a wedding (this image was one of five in the series Hampson photographed in the moment).

“I love this series of wedding portraits,” says Hampson. “At first it really looks like the guest with the floral dress is going to win, but the red dress guest really went for it! Weddings bring up the most interesting stories, but this bouquet toss will go down as the funniest and most competitive I’ve ever shot. The guests hugged and made up afterwards too.”

Hampson used on-camera flash, as bouquet tosses, she says, are so unpredictable. That’s definitely an understatement in this case!

Photographed in their bedroom, this striking image by Ottawa wedding photographers Joel & Justyna gets a thumbs up by the duo, especially for the lighting in this portrait. “It was just a creative collaboration by us, the makeup artist and the model,” say the photographers. “We just wanted to shoot something that day!”

‘”Lighting in this way never produces the same result twice,” they explain, “so there’s really no predicting with complete certainty what we’ll achieve.”

[Read: Oh Canada, By Joel & Justyna]

They remember beginning to see it going in a painterly direction, so they decided to continue emphasizing that vibe. “The shadows give it that chiaroscuro look and the model’s expression is reminiscent of 16th/17th century Italian paintings that employed the technique to great effect. I’m not sure if we actually achieved anything close to that, but with the slower shutter lending itself to less-sharp lines, we suppose it looks a little more painterly than had we used a faster one.”

Makeup: @facesbynoah
Model: Erin at @mimmodels

This image—titled “Mama Zando”—is part of a photo project by Harper Bella called “Primitive Wilderness”. “It’s a celebration of immigrants, as well as a call for the humane and ethical treatment of all migrants in our nation,” says Bella. “Early on in the United States, immigrants have long played an instrumental role in this country. Foreigner’s travel from distinct lands bringing along their skills and expertise, art, food, and clothing, which makes this country unlike any other. In ‘Primitive Wilderness’, photographs explore the beauty of immigrants from the continent of Africa in New York City, from the garments worn and the food consumed by our fellow newcomers.”

The image is also part of the New York chapter of The American Society of Media Photographers’ (ASMP) upcoming exhibition Uncovering The Laws of Perseverance, which Bella conceived, produced and curated with NYC textile artist Gabrielle Vazquez.

“Uncovering the Laws of Perseverance addresses the many ways people of color resist systemic oppression,” Bella explains. “The exhibition contains compelling visuals that give glimpses of reclaiming inner peace despite harrowing circumstances.” [ASMP New York’s “Uncovering The Laws Of Perseverance” exhibition opens on November 29 at The Triangle Loft in New York City.]

[Read: Photo Education at its Best: The Bridge Gives Emerging Photographers a Safety Net]

The award-winning photographer was born into rich Caribbean heritage (Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados) and her work often explores the experiences of African descendants in the U.S.

Sponsors of ASMP New York’s Uncovering the Laws of Perseverance show are as follows:

Joe Lombardo for Curated Artists, Inc. (@curated_artists_inc  
@curated-artists  @iamjoelombardo) 

Matt Seminara for Seminara Artists, Inc.  (@@matt_seminara) 

The Workbook Photo
(@theworkbookphoto)  

At-Edge @at-edge 

Frank Meo, The Photo Closer (@frankmeo)  

Tanissa Carmon for Untourage The Label
(@untourage @untouragethelabel) 

Cool Benson/Daelyanna Benson
(@beatbycool  @daelyanna_dailyASMP NY @asmpnyASMP National @asmpnational)

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more compelling and eye-catching portraits.