SMALL WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS | choose love, not fear

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

Since 2002, the WPJA has been connecting couples with the best, most artistic wedding photographers from around the world.

Istanbul wedding photography by Emre Kasap of the Turkey WPJA
New England engagement and wedding photography by Idena Beach
Colorado wedding photography and CO couple engagement portraits by Joe Pyle
Couple engagement portrait sessions + wedding and elopement photography by Xiang Qi of Jian Impression
Italy wedding and elopement photography by Alessandro Di Noia
Kitchener, Ontario wedding and elopement photography by Lori-Anne Crewe - Canada WPJA
Wiltshire Wedding Reportage Photography by Alex Buckland of Cotswolds England United Kingdom
Portsmouth Wedding Photography and Elopements by Eric McCallister, of New Hampshire
Indra Simons - iSi weddings - Dutch wedding and elopement photographer
Wedding and elopement photography by Jonathan Ryder
Emie McGee wedding photography studio - Emie's Photo LLC
Studio portrait wedding photographer Mike Greener
Kirill Brusilovsky wedding photography for creative couples
Poitiers wedding photography by Corentin Azamoun of the Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France WPJA
United Kingdom elopement and wedding reportage pictures by Alex Benyon

Authentic Photography

The WPJA organizes various wedding photography rounds annually, recognizing and honoring exceptionally captivating images.

Take a look at the previous victors by clicking on the links below:

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

Kobe Vanderzande, of Limburg, is a wedding photographer for

There’s nothing quite like an intimate wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements...

Not everyone has a lagoon or glacier next door, but there's no rule saying you can't have a small wedding in the great outdoors. Take advantage of natural...

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Thomas Jongbloed, of Utrecht, is a wedding photographer for
Annie Kheffache, of Dublin, is a wedding photographer for

WPJA Contest Photos - January 19th, 2024

Any wedding photographer is going to want to please their clients — but they also want their work to be appreciated on a broader scale. This is one of the reasons why the Wedding Photojournalist Association members love our regular photography competitions. These popular contests give our photographers the opportunity to submit their best images in hopes of being selected as a winner and being recognized for their creativity and effort. Our contests are judged by a panel of notable and respected working photojournalists and picture editors in the news industry, which adds an element of prestige to our awards.

At Villa Ekaterina, the groom is joyfully tossed into the air by his friends on his wedding day. A moment of celebration and happiness captured in a beautiful photo.
At the Ceremony laique in Brittany, France, parents and child engage in a religious ceremony, exchanging heartfelt promises and consent
At Private Residence in Nobleboro, Maine, the bride and her mom share a sweet moment, blowing kisses to each other before the wedding ceremony. A heartwarming image capturing the love and excitement of this special day.
At Coulibri Ridge - Soufriere, Dominica, the bride's sister gives a heartfelt toast during the intimate and joyous wedding reception captured by the wedding photojournalist
Downtown Pittsburgh, PA: Local woman assists bride by brushing off invasive species lanternfly from her gown as she heads to her wedding ceremony with her maids
A guest at Glewstone Court Country House in Herefordshire, UK, succumbs to the post-dinner slump on a wedding day. The tranquil ambiance and food made for a memorable celebration.
Maid of Honor captures a candid image with the bride and groom in a fun selfie at Maple Leaf Events in Stevenson, Washington, USA, showcasing their joy on their wedding day.
In Switzerland, a child walks past the camera during the groom's bouquet toss at the reception party on the grass lawn

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 31st, 2024

The Artistic Guild competitions are distinctly different from our other WPJA contests because this category is specifically for photographers who use their talent to create digitally-enhanced images, staged portraits and dramatic detail images. This competition attracts documentary wedding photographers who also view themselves as artists who are constantly looking to create their next masterpiece.

In this award-winning detail picture, the artistic photographer captures the bride's intricately designed arrow tattoo on her foot and the elegant blue toenail polish as she carefully straps into her shoes at The Shore Club, Spring Lake, New Jersey.
At Château des Broyers, Saône-et-Loire: Tranquil wedding couple portrait showcasing the newlyweds, locked in an affectionate embrace against the backdrop of a sunset, amidst their reception.
Wedding photo captures a couple on the rooftop of a reception hall in Paris, France, gazing over the city's rooftops, creating a bold and dramatic image against the stunning sky.
Embracing the rustic charm, this award-winning portrait captures the couple's love and connection as they lean against the red brick wall, admiring each other and her beautiful wedding bouquet at Residence House, Ruse, Bulgaria.
A serene moment amidst the festivities, guests gather outside El Peregrino Restaurant in Navarre, Spain, exchanging conversations and enjoying a smoke break during a pause in the dance. This striking black and white scene sets the ambiance.
Two grooms strike a pose in front of a majestic mountain range at Gunnison National Forest, Colorado. The modern and stylish portrait captures the contemporary essence of their wedding day.
In an award-winning photo captured by an artistic wedding photographer at Trieste, Italy, the bride's hand delicately touches her necklace, beautifully illuminated by the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing and detailed image.
In Denver, Colorado, the wedding ceremony takes place in a spacious venue. The photo captures the couple exchanging vows, seen from the back of the venue.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - April 8th, 2024

Couples who are searching for a wedding photographer often want a pre-wedding engagement portrait session as well as wedding day photography services. Engagement photographers need to rely on their skill and expertise in order to help their couples select a meaningful location for their portrait session. These awards allow engagement photographers to submit their most moving engagement images in hopes of being recognized for their creativity and skill.

A joyful couple recently engaged in Venice, captured in a serene portrait on a boat floating on the picturesque waters of St. Mark's Basin.
In the cozy foyer of the Stanley Hotel, nestled in Estes Park, Colorado, a couple sits together on a wooden bench for a relaxed and romantic portrait session.
At Grays' Beach in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, this portrait captures the engaged couple's joyful connection as they embrace tenderly on a tranquil boardwalk at sunset.
In the peaceful Pentland Hills of Edinburgh, Scotland, a soon-to-be-wed couple enjoys a relaxed evening portrait session in a romantic natural setting.
A romantic engagement portrait captured in Cappadocia, Turkey. The couple is relaxed on a bench in a carpet vendor marketplace.
A tender session captured in black and white at Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, where a man lovingly kisses his fiancé, sitting close and cozy. Vintage vibes are exuded from this monochromatic portrait.
In a charming setting in West End, Atlanta, a couple gazes into each other's eyes at a wooden table under an umbrella next to a brick wall.
Capturing a couple's pre-wedding session in Cappadocia, Turkey, as they stand in formal attire amidst launching balloons against a dark blue sky.

TLC - True Love Captured - March 3rd, 2023

This WPJA photography competition is focused on the emotions that are on display throughout any wedding event. The images showcase the powerful emotions that the couple are experiencing, and any of the feelings that any wedding guests may go through. The TLC contests follow a long-standing WPJA category tradition of capturing raw emotions.

The photographer at the W Hotel in Chicago, IL captured a beautiful moment of the bride kissing her grandma right before walking down the aisle
The photographer at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Richmond, Virginia captured a beautiful moment of the bride and bridesmaids tearfully witnessing the groom's heartfelt vows
At the stunning Mont La Salle in Napa, CA, the moment a bridesmaid holding flowers ran to hug the bride was truly a beautiful and emotional one that the wedding photographer was able to capture
The wedding photojournalist captured a beautiful moment as the bride embraced her friends in a group hug at the reception of Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine
The photographer captured a beautiful moment of the bride joyously embracing her best friend on the dance floor of her San Francisco wedding reception
The photograph captured a beautiful and emotional moment as the bride held back tears while saying her vows outdoors at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, WI
The bride's tearful joy and the groom's humorous charm were beautifully captured in a wedding photo at Snowmass, Aspen Colorado with a backdrop of fall colored trees during their outdoor ceremony
The bride's parents' emotional embrace and tears at the Chinese tea wedding ceremony in Sanya, Hainan, China was truly a beautiful moment to be captured by the photographer