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.

Portrait of Wedding Photographer David Butler II
PNW Wedding and Elopement Photography by Brianna Parks
California wedding and elopement photographer Annie Bang
Kirill Brusilovsky wedding photography for creative couples
Colorado Elopement and Wedding Photography by Trent Gillespie
Emie McGee wedding photography studio - Emie's Photo LLC
Kent wedding reportage and elopement photography by David Burke of England United Kingdom
Engagement, elopements and wedding photography by Sujith Kumar of Incognito frames
Adventure elopement and wedding photography by Mike Kory
Annie Kheffache wedding photography
Jerome Pollos Self Portrait, a wedding and elopement photographer of the WPJA
Engagement Portraits by top Wedding and Elopement Photographer Sylvain Bouzat
Wedding Photography by Thinh Phan
County Wicklow wedding photography by Katie Kavanagh of Leinster Ireland
Capture beautiful moments on your special day with the talented wedding photographer Chris Werner in Northern California's stunning Lake Tahoe.

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

Philip Thomas, of Texas, is a wedding photographer for San Antonio, Texas

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.

Sunlit rooftop wedding in Paris, as the audience and couple share laughter during the groom's heartfelt vows, surrounded by the warm glow of the low sun against a serene blue sky
Bride at 320 Ranch Wedding in Big Sky, MT, enjoying a drink with the assistance of a female friend from a giant champagne bottle
Mother of the Bride helping her daughter put on jewelry at their home in Maine-et-Loire, France during the wedding preparations
In Denver, Colorado, at a reception venue, a documentary wedding photographer captured this award-winning image of a couple's first dance. They are beautifully framed between two floating candle holders.
A couple and their friends hike to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain for a wedding ceremony overlooking the beautiful White Mountains in New Hampshire. The photographer captures this scene, earning them a WPJA award.
Bridesmaids having a blast, dancing under colorful DJ lights by a charming stone wall at Hunstmill Farm in Buckinghamshire
A documentary wedding photographer captures this WPJA award-winning photo in Atlanta, Georgia. The image shows the bride and groom sharing a bite of food during the Paebak ceremony while dressed in traditional clothes.
At Domaine des Templiers, the bride's daughter is disappointed for not catching the bride's bouquet during the ribbon game.

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.

Capturing the essence of cocktail hour at Saint Martin de Ré, Île de Ré, an artistic wedding photographer composes a striking image featuring glasses on a table, set against a wood plank wall with the shadows of toasting guests.
A talented wedding photographer captured this incredible pic at Nanping Park in Fujian. The image highlights the beauty of an indoor wedding during a snowy day, creating an award-winning artistic shot.
At Arapahoe Basin, a bride and her parents ride the chair lift to the mid-mountain ceremony. The photographer captures this stunning image, showcasing the unique venue and creating an award-winning image.
An artistic wedding photographer captures a beautiful detail shot at the bride's home in Rome, Italy. The award-winning image showcases the engagement ring delicately balanced between the bride's stunning and elegant wedding shoes.
Award-winning wedding photographer captures the couple's intimate pose at Ambient Studio in Atlanta. The artistic silhouette portrait highlights their love against the backdrop of exquisite drapery.
A creative wedding photographer captured a stunning detail of the bride at La Seigneurie d’Alleray. The golden hour highlighted the bride's beautiful curves against a dark background, with her white dress illuminated by a spotlight.
Capturing every intricate detail, the creative wedding photographer immortalizes the bride's astonishment as she uncovers her name delicately engraved on the groom's suit collar at La Grange 1868 in Seine-Maritime.
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.

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 a serene Italian village at Castello di Gorizia, a couple sits atop a garden wall, surrounded by lush leaves, creating stunning patterns in a relaxed and romantic engagement portrait.
The Elliots Beach engagement portrait captures the couple against a sky filled with birds at sunrise in Besant Nagar, Chennai, India.
Paris - Bagatelle gardens. A pre-wedding engagement session capturing a tender embrace between the couple in love amidst the beauty of nature.
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.
Captured in Bourne, Massachusetts, this engagement portrait showcases a couple in a joyful mid-air jump in their backyard, with nature enhancing their energy.
A couple shares a kiss on a rock at Arapaho National Forest, CO, with a breathtaking mountain view in the background, symbolizing their everlasting love.
In San Francisco, CA, this engaged couple is captured in a romantic scene by the bay. The serene backdrop adds to the sweetness of their love.
A romantic engagement portrait captured in black and white at Catton Park, Norwich. The groom kisses his soon-to-be bride's forehead in a wildflower meadow, exuding a timeless and vintage aesthetic.

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 wedding photographer captured a timeless moment of love and joy as the bride's grandparents danced in an embrace at the Mountain Top Inn in Vermont
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 photographer captured a beautiful and emotional moment as a Bari bride lovingly greeted her ailing grandmother, who was unfortunately unable to join the celebration of her special day
The photographer captured the emotional moment of the bride picking up her friend in a foggy embrace on the dance floor of her Montpellier wedding
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 and her father shared an emotional moment as he kissed her head in the back of the limo just before the ceremony, captured perfectly in their wedding photo from Trieste, Italy
The photographer captured a beautiful moment of a hug between the bride and groom at Palacio de los Cordova, Granada, Spain, after receiving and giving comfort through the Chinese tea ceremony gifts from the parents, full of emotion and true love
The photographer captured a beautiful moment of double happiness, with the bride giving a sweet touch on the cheek and a loving hug from behind at Strabrechtse Hoeve Mierlo