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.

Texas wedding and elopement photography by Kristin Bednarz
New York City and Queens wedding photography and elopement sessions by Natasha Singh
Kirill Brusilovsky wedding photography for creative couples
Engagement shoots + wedding photography and elopements by Luan Nguyen of France
Lifestyle portrait of Colorado wedding and elopement photographer Nina Larsen Reed
Creative wedding and elopement photography by Ernie Savarese
Bordeaux, Gironde wedding photography by Pierre Cassagne
Lifestyle Portrait of Tommy Loska, a Destination Wedding Photographer
Wenjie Han is an engagement and wedding photographer for NY
Portrait of Savannah lifestyle portrait and wedding photographer Morgan Powell
California wedding and elopement photographer Annie Bang
Italy elopement and wedding photography by Andrea Sampoli
Wedding photography by Clementine Labrosse for Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Hauts-de-Seine wedding photography by Benjamin Hoffmann of the Île-de-France WPJA
NL documentary wedding and elopement photography by Elke Teurlings - Azcona Fotografie
Studio portrait of wedding and elopement photographer Erica Dietz
UK wedding reportage photographer, Matt Ebbage

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

Franck Petit, of , is a wedding photographer for Nerac, France
Marion Pomes, of Hautes-Pyrenees (65) , 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 Muggia, Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy: A stunning wedding moment captured as the bride and groom share a romantic kiss amidst the spectacular display of cake and firework fountains outside at night.
Religious ceremony at Lacenas Church in Beaujolais. The bride's brother performs a song while his son watches adoringly. A heartwarming moment captured on the wedding day.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Reception Venue: Bride tasting desserts from the dessert table while the groom playfully takes lactaid pills before joining in
La Cour des Montys, near Nantes, France: Guests on their devices patiently await the couple's first dance, experiencing wedding fatigue after a night of celebration.
Young girl running with a balloon on a string during the cocktail hour in the outdoor venue of Domaine de Messenas in Maissenas, Roissard (Isère)
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.
At Bali, Indonesia. Hotel - The shoe game in after party for bride and groom at night on the grass
Philadelphia Pennsylvania reception venue: Groomsmen sharing dance floor moments with their significant others

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.

A wedding photograph taken during a nighttime couple portrait session at a reception venue in Normandy. The couple poses with a classic convertible car behind him and their embrace.
A black and white photo taken in the streets of Paris, France, featuring a couple during their wedding photo shoot, captured in the reflection of a motorbike mirror.
Bride and groom embrace in a lush garden at Carmen de los Mártires, Granada, Spain. The romantic setting adds to the beauty of this award-winning wedding day portrait.
A detailed black and white shot captured in Wallonie, Brabant Wallon. The bride's best friend is seen closing the back of her wedding dress, revealing a tattoo.
An artistic wedding photographer captures the intricate details of wedding rings against the rustic backdrop of a roaring fireplace at a cozy Chicago winery, embracing the romantic ambiance with warm bokeh circles.
In this award-winning portrait, captured at the bride's childhood home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the bride is beautifully framed within the front door. The photographer expertly captures the essence of the wedding day.
Capturing the essence of love amidst the beauty of nature, this award-winning black and white portrait at Villa Bonomo in Trieste, Italy showcases a couple embracing amidst a backdrop of olive trees, bathed in the romantic glow of the sunset.
Capturing the essence of love, this award-winning wedding day portrait exudes artistic flair. Against the enchanting backdrop of Suwanee, Georgia, the couple shines beneath a mesmerizing canvas of vibrant blue lines.

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.

In the picturesque Dolomites of Italy, a close-up portrait captures a couple gently embraced by the wind, elegantly framed off-center in a romantic engagement photo session.
In the heart of Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado, this couple basks in the charming glow of downtown twinkling bokeh lights. A relaxed and romantic engagement portrait session.
Capturing a tender scene in the enchanting Chopwell Woods, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. A couple shares a kiss amidst a soft, pastel-toned autumnal forest setting.
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 captivating engagement portrait of a couple at Crosby beach in Liverpool, England. Together, they share a tender gaze by the water's edge.
Engagement portrait in black and white, captured in Atlanta's West End. The couple, sporting sunglasses, strike a pose in front of a mural depicting sunglasses.
At the Bund in Shanghai, China, a couple gazes into the future, with urban streets as backdrop. A romantic portrait session capturing their love story.
Capturing the joy and playfulness of a couple in Beijing's Wudaoying Hutong, this engagement portrait session in a Chinese courtyard exudes fun and happiness.

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 Ancenis, France captured a heart-warming moment of the bride holding hands with her father-in-law as he saw her for the first time in her wedding dress before the ceremony
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 photographer at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Richmond, Virginia captured a beautiful moment of the bride and bridesmaids tearfully witnessing the groom's heartfelt vows
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 photographer captured the beautiful moment of a wedding guest giving the bride a big hug and a kiss on the cheek at the Private Home in Congham, Norfolk, UK
The brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured 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
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