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.

BW studio portrait of adventure wedding photographer Eliza Slobodzian
Jason Kaczorowski, Destination Wedding Photography - USA
Lifestyle Portrait of BreeAnna Lasher, a Seattle WA Wedding Photographer
São Paulo wedding and elopement photography by Thiago Gimenes of Brazil
Wedding and elopement photography by Amanda Lamb
Documentary wedding photography by Janina Brocklesby
Portrait of Munster Wedding Photographer Kevin Kheffache of Ireland
Portrait of James Mieszkowski - Sugarbird Photography of Weddings
California Couple Portrait Sessions and Wedding Photography by Stephanie Secrest
Boston wedding and elopement photography by Kayla Rice of the Massachusetts FPJA
Palermo wedding photography by Debora Corvaia of Sicily, Italy
BW studio portrait of New Hampshire & New England wedding & elopement photographer Robert Ortiz
Lyon wedding photography by Mallory Davies of the Rhone Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes France
Kobe Vanderzande creates artistic and documentary images from marriage ceremonies and reception parties
Annie Kheffache wedding photography
North Carolina wedding photography by Joe Payne

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

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...

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...

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Katie Kaizer, of Massachusetts, is a wedding photographer for
Jenny Rutterford, of West Sussex, 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.

A wedding photographer in Bristol, RI captures a joyful moment as a bride and groom share a laugh during a speech by the best men at Mount Hope Farm, resulting in an award-winning image.
Bride and groom on boats and paddleboards on the River Rother, Newenden, East Sussex. Love is in the air as the groom reaches out to hold the bride's hand, their vessels perfectly aligned. An idyllic wedding day moment captured on the water.
In Charente, the bride shares a heartfelt embrace with a friend after the ribbon cutting ceremony for her bouquet. A beautiful moment of love and joy captured on her wedding day.
Wedding guests celebrate on the action-packed dance floor at Nieuw Westert Restaurant, with a saxophonist captivating the crowd. The lively atmosphere brought together many people for a night of joyous festivities.
California Wedding Dance Party: Groomsmen having a blast in the 'photo booth', spicing up the celebration with party hats and fun photo props
At Lieu de la cérémonie, the bride's grandfather stands up and tells a joke to make the crowd and the newlyweds laugh just before the start of the secular ceremony.
At New House Farm in Cumbria, UK, wedding guests react as a game of Jenga comes crashing down. This candid moment perfectly captures the fun and excitement of the celebration.
In Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a mother shields her daughter's eyes as the bride and groom share a heartfelt kiss during the wedding ceremony

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.

At a Wedding Farm in Assis Chateaubriand/PR, an artistic photographer captures a mesmerizing close-up showcasing the bride lifting her muddy dress, revealing her white sneakers.
A wedding photographer captured a stunning black and white image of a couple at Buitenplaats Land van Es in Strijen, South Holland. The picture shows the couple in a beautiful and intimate pose during their wedding day photoshoot.
Bride's getting ready at her home. Witnesses are applying nail polish for the bride just before she leaves. The wedding photographer captured this artistic detail in Indre.
At Uzbaş Arboretum in Urla, İzmir, Turkey, a beautiful photo captures the bride and groom on their wedding day. The couple is portrayed in a high angle shot, relaxed on couches at their wedding venue.
An artistic wedding photographer captures a close-up image of the bride's bleeding feet, as the groom lovingly helps her buckle her white wedding shoe on the vibrant green grass in Edmonton, Canada.
In this award-winning image, the bride and groom embrace each other tightly on the renowned British Pullman train, as they embark on a journey to their wedding ceremony in England.
An award-winning wedding day detail picture captures the intimate scene when a couple, after their portrait session, returns to their guests at Espace Maitena, Anglet, France, holding hands tightly.
In this award-winning wedding detail picture, the artistic photographer captures an intimate embrace at the bride and groom's house in Tarn, France. The tight, detailed image emphasizes a big hug, with the focus on the arms holding each other.

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.

Capturing the romance of their love, this engagement portrait features a couple sitting on a cliff by the water at île du Grand Gaou in Six-Four-les-Plages, Var, France.
In Phalsbourg, France, a couple embracing and laughing, captured in a black and white portrait session with a vintage feel.
In a serene Aix les Bains location, this engagement portrait captures a couple deeply in love, framed by interior building elements, holding each other close, radiating relaxed energy.
The sand dunes of Cidreira Beach, RS, set a romantic scene for this stunning couple's engagement portrait session, capturing their love in a breathtaking setting.
A romantic engagement portrait in Lyon, capturing the couple indoors with a warm light illuminating their intertwined hands and showcasing the engagement ring.
A breathtaking engagement session in Ploumanac'h, Brittany. The couple stands on a small outcropping of rocks, basking in the sunlight, showcasing their love amidst the stunning scenery.
In Newport, RI, a couple embraces on a historic wharf for their engagement session. The black and white portrait exudes a timeless, vintage vibe.
Captured in Norwich's Waterloo Gardens, this portrait showcases a couple strolling through the enchanting wisteria pavilion, emanating a serene and romantic atmosphere.

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 tears of joy from the groom and ring bearer as the bride walked down the aisle at the Westin Playa Conchal in Guanacaste, Costa Rica were captured beautifully in the wedding photo
The wedding photojournalist captured the beautiful and emotional moment of the Bride as she reads her heartfelt vows in the sunshine beneath the trees at Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine
The groom's touching encouragement of his witnesses to make a speech at his outdoor ceremony at Les tables de Crespin, the reception venue in Tarn, France, was captured beautifully in this wedding photo
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 beautiful reaction to seeing her special best man seated in the front row was captured by the photographer at Chácara Caiambá - Pedro Leopoldo - Minas Gerais
The beautiful moment of a bride wiping away her mother's tears of joy at Help Beach, Fethiye, Mugla was captured by the wedding photographer
The brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
The photographer captured the beautiful, emotional moment between the bride and groom after they exchanged their rings in Trieste, Italy