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SMALL WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS | choose love, not fear

WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.

WPJA Spotlight

Exceptional Wedding Photography Showcase

Explore top-tier imagery captured by WPJA members. With special badges and recognition, these exceptional images from weddings showcase the unparalleled talent of our photographers. Dive into dedicated slider galleries within Member Profiles and Spotlight Galleries to witness the artistry and skill that sets our members apart.

In this candid shot from a wedding day in Fredericks, Islington, London, a beautiful floral bouquet is tossed playfully in the air, expertly captured in a moment of joy and excitement during the party celebrations.
Mark Wallis
Captivating wedding day moment at Museum Hülsmann in Bielefeld, filled with genuine emotions and joy as a woman embraces the bride with beaming smiles in an outdoor setting.
Nadine Lotze
A bride getting ready in front of a grand mirror at Schloss Herten, Germany, on her wedding day, delicately adjusting her earrings.
Monique De Caro
In a picturesque moment at Chateau de Balarin in Gers, France, the bride gazes out the window, bathed in a cascading stream of warm sunlight as she prepares for her wedding day.
Isabelle Bazin
Outside a charming church in Bardos, France, the bride and her father waiting to enter in a vintage VW bus. A unique and whimsical addition to their special day.
William Desse
A beautiful bride, surrounded by friends, is putting on the finishing touches to her attire at Domaine Etxezahar in Bardos, France. The palpable emotion in the air is captured in this stunning wedding day image.
William Desse
View Spotlight 2024 Round 1

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

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

Robin Goodlad is a UK based Wedding Reportage and Elopement Photographer
Engagements, Weddings and Elopement Photographer Lucy Schultz
Wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Anastasiia Polyakov, of So Tender Is Humanity
Mayenne elopement and documentary wedding photography by Anne Russocki of Isere Pays de la Loire France
Lyon Wedding Photography by Elise Julliard of Rhone, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
UK photographer: Martin Dabek
Lifestye portrait of Boston wedding photographer Channing Johnson, of the Massachusetts WPJA
London elopement wedding reportage photographer Lyndsey Goddard, of England UK
Studio portrait wedding photographer Mike Greener
Var wedding photography by Marion Deletraz of PACA France
Portrait of French wedding photographer, Solène Lagant
Bulgaria Wedding and Elopement Photographer Metodi Zheynov
Southern California wedding photography and engagement portraits by Attila Iuhasz
One of the most touching things about wedding photography is how quickly you find yourself thrown into the heart of such an important, intimate occasion. It's a responsibility only a fool would take lightly.- Harry Richards, WPJA Member
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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:

2024 Pre Wedding Couple Portraits - Diamond Awards

2023 v04 Artistic Guild

2023 v06 Photography Competition

Engagement Portrait of Couple in Sunlight - Custom Engagement Sessions - Couples Gift Photography

2023 Lifestyle Couple Engagement Portraits - Diamond Awards

2023 v05 Photography Competition

View More Contests

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

A Sunshine Solemnization - Outdoor Weddings in Nature

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...

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Kobe Vanderzande, of Limburg, is a wedding photographer for

Wedding Reception Tents: A Creative Photo Palette

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

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View Wedding Articles

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Neil Thurston, of North Carolina, is a wedding photographer for
Brittany Diliberto, of Virginia, is a wedding photographer for
Sven Soetens, of , is a wedding photographer for beveren

Two people making a commitment of marriage want to remember the day for the rest of their lives. Shouldn’t the wedding photography that commemorates their celebration reflect the personal moments and honest emotions they will remember?

A love for authenticity in wedding photography — finding art in the actualities of a marriage celebration — led to the founding of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) in 2002. Out of respect for our clients, the wedding photographers and photojournalists accepted for WPJA membership have a demonstrated talent for candid originality and a dedication to the documentary approach in wedding photography. To maintain their standing in the WPJA, member photographers must adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards.

  • For Engaged Couples planning a wedding: Hire a WPJA photographer so you can reproduce and retell the beautiful, unique story of how your celebration unfolds — as you will want to remember it and have it told for generations.
  • For Professional Wedding Photographers with a photojournalist’s talent for capturing moments, not stage-directing them: Join the WPJA to have your expertise accredited, to help promote and further our craft, and to let the WPJA introduce you to the ideal clients for your work.

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.

In Georgia Botanical Gardens, the groom joyfully celebrates after the ceremony, yelling out and gesturing with excitement, adding a memorable twist to their special wedding 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
At Domaine de Montireau, the bride surprises her husband with a dance during their evening reception
In Delden, Netherlands, a heartwarming image captures the bride and groom reflecting in a mirror as parents stand near them, sharing smiles and happiness
Wedding day at White Castle in Scottsdale, AZ, where a unique tradition has guests throwing onions at the happy couple. This White Castle wedding showcases the bride and groom in stunning historic costumes.
A guest sprinkles confetti on the bride's head while giving her a hug at Scotties Garage in Seaford, Melbourne. This image won an award from the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA).
Lyon Rhône Church Exit: Guests and the bride and groom celebrate their wedding day with a burst of color and joy, as they play with smoke bombs outside the church after the ceremony.
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.

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 whimsical spirit of the couple's wedding day, the artistically skilled photographer captured a stunning image as the couple playfully tossed their rings into the air, only for them to land back in their hands.
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.
In the picturesque Seigneurie d’Alleray, Loir-et-Cher, a stunning wedding photo captures the newlyweds sharing a passionate kiss at sunset, beautifully highlighted by warm sunflares and rimlighting.
In the rocky landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey, a wedding photographer captured a beautiful scene. The bride and groom share a tender embrace under the warm desert sun, with a backdrop of a stunning blue sky dotted with hot air balloons.
The bride and groom embrace in an intimate pose at the enchanting Larmer Tree Gardens in Wiltshire, UK, beautifully captured by an award-winning wedding photographer.
Captured at the Larmer Tree Gardens in Wiltshire, UK, this award-winning photograph showcases the artistry of a wedding photographer. The bride and groom gracefully stand together under an umbrella, embracing the magic of a rainy evening ceremony.
A view from above at San Galgano Abbey, Siena captures the intricate details of the bride's white wedding shoes resting on a vivid red metal chair.
In this award-winning photograph, the stylish and contemporary bride strikes a pose within the boat house at The Ravenswood reception venue in Sussex, UK.

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 whimsical engagement portrait captured at Paris-Orsay Museum, with a vintage aesthetic. Their premonitory photo taken before their wedding ceremony adds a charming twist to their love story.
A romantic engagement portrait captured at Espiguette Beach in Camargue, France. The couple dances on the beach at sunset, with him lifting her up and spinning her around.
In the charming Beijing Wudaoying Hutong, this engaged couple showcased joy and playfulness while walking through the narrow alleyways for their portrait session.
In this engagement portrait, a couple in Nice-Côte d'Azur is captured about to kiss, with sunbeams and a bright blue sky adding a backdrop to their joy, playfulness, and fun.
A romantic engagement portrait in Lyon, capturing the couple indoors with a warm light illuminating their intertwined hands and showcasing the engagement ring.
In the picturesque Dutch nature reserve, this couple enjoyed a leisurely engagement shoot filled with laughter and romantic gestures, creating a relaxed and charming portrait session.
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.
In Phalsbourg, France, a couple poses in front of heart-shaped green shutters for their engagement portrait, showcasing love and charm.

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 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 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 wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The black and white photo of the friend hugging the bride, and groom has tears of joy whiped at Kasteel Maurick Vught - a beautiful and touching moment at their 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 wedding photojournalist captured the tender moment of the bride being embraced by her friend during the outdoor patio reception at Le fou Gascon in Prechac, Gers, France
The wedding photo taken at West Haven, Connecticut captured a touching moment of a groom shedding tears as his mother lovingly does his hair for the big day
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