Oftentimes when people are considering a venue for their weddings, they search for a location away from home, whether that be ten minutes or ten hours, all just to find what they already have: a place that holds meaning for them, that feels comfortable, or that they find...Read more
Virginia Wedding Photographers
Virginia Wedding Photographers
Our Virginia photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Hampton, Roanoke, Portsmouth, Arlington, Williamsburg, Luray, and Leesburg
Virginia Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements
Intimate Wedding Photography in Virginia - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Virginia photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the joy and intimacy of your wedding day.
By planning a simple Virginia elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. Given the fact that many couples feel more natural and at ease in intimate settings, it's no surprise that some of the most breathtaking wedding images come from elopements.
The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Virginia documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Virginia Photographers for Large or Small Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small Virginia wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.
United States WPJA members are ready to document any fast, city hall, small, or elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.
View Award-Winning Pictures from Virginia Wedding Venues
35 Virginia Wedding Photographers...
Drawing from her background in professional lighting design, Brittany Diliberto, an East Coast USA-based photographer, applies a documentary approach to her visual storytelling. Through her artistic lens, she skillfully captures spectacular moments, creating a visual...
4250 (USD)
Xiaoqi Li is a destination wedding photographer who is dedicated to capturing the genuine and meaningful moments of couples' special days. With a deep appreciation for the importance of photographs in preserving memories, she aims to provide peace of mind to her...
0 (USD)
USA-based wedding photographer Johnny Shryock has been documenting incredible moments since his own brother's wedding, ten years ago. He puts couples at ease, building a connection with them that allows him to capture the special moments of their wedding day.
4250 (USD)
Megan Rei is a Washington metropolitan area wedding photographer with a background in dog photography. She enjoys traveling and is open to new adventures. Megan lives with her husband Neal and their dog Rui, and she strives to capture natural and candid moments in her...
4000 (USD)
Anastasiia Polyakov's documentary style, paired with her artistic eye, enables her to beautifully capture the essence of existence through wedding photography, memorializing moments with compassion and expression.
3500 (USD)
Lauren Barkume is a Washington Metro Area wedding photographer with a passion for nature, travel and joy. She has a unique photographic style, creating beautiful images with soul and story. Lauren believes in helping people feel seen and empowering them to be their true...
4990 (USD)
Mike Kropf is a native Charlottesvillian and passionate wedding photographer. Fueled by his love of camping and exploring, Mike discovered his passion for preserving memories through artful photography in the Middle East.
3000 (USD)
Sarah Sta Ana is a documentary wedding photographer based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. With a love for storytelling, she has a knack for capturing raw, pure, and beautiful moments.
1800 (USD)
Heather Hughes Ostermaier is a Virginia wedding photographer with over 8 years full-time experience. She and her husband Rob both have extensive backgrounds in photojournalism and have been published in various notable publications. They provide unobtrusive and creative...
2999 (USD)
Emie McGee, a talented documentary wedding photographer from Lynchburg, VA, brings her expertise and passion for film photography to capture your special day in a unique and unforgettable way.
3200 (USD)
Wes Shinn, a documentary wedding photographer with a decade of experience as a military photojournalist, beautifully documents every detail and narrative of your wedding, creating powerful and cherished memories.
3400 (USD)
Amber is a highly acclaimed wedding photographer based in Richmond, Virginia. With over ten years of experience in capturing beautiful wedding moments, her work has been featured in top wedding publications. Amber specializes in weddings in the greater Virginian area and...
4750 (USD)
With his documentary approach, Michael Freas weaves a visual narrative that tells the unique story of the wedding day. His dedication to capturing authentic moments and allowing couples to fully celebrate has established him as a highly respected wedding photographer.
Michael Freas
Asheville in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3800 (USD)
Neil Thurston is a destination wedding photographer with a unique background. As a graduate of NESOP, he spent several years in action sports photography. With extensive international experience, Neil has applied his creative skills to become a renowned photojournalist...
Neil Thurston
Nags Head in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.500/hour (USD)
Christine Hochkeppel, a New England documentary wedding photographer, brings a decade of experience in capturing weddings and has contributed to publications including Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Cape Cod Times, and the Boston Globe.
Christine Hochkeppel
Osterville in Massachusetts, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3675 (USD)
Kenneth Clapp takes a documentary approach to wedding photography, focusing on storytelling through his visuals. With a keen eye for capturing emotions and moments, he crafts stunning images that truly reflect the essence of the couple's big day.
Kenneth Clapp
Baltimore in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3000 (USD)
As a skilled wedding photojournalist, Song Johns, the creative genius behind Blooming Dreams Photo, specializes in capturing the intimate and authentic moments of couples and families.
Song Johns
Charlotte in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2900 (USD)
Lacey Butler, a wedding photographer with a strong background in traditional photography, studio lighting, and English literature. With over 400 documented weddings, Butler values capturing authentic, heartfelt moments over staged ones. By using her skills and experience,...
Lacey Butler
Asheville in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2000 (USD)
With a background in art history and photography, Matt Kolf has established himself as a reputable documentary wedding photographer, renowned for his ability to document Catholic weddings in Spain and on the East Coast.
Matt Kolf
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3500 (USD)
Natasha Lamalle takes a documentary approach to her photography, drawing on her fifteen years of experience as a journalist. With her keen eye and storytelling abilities, she skillfully captures the authentic and emotional moments of love.
Natasha Lamalle
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4000 (USD)
In journalistic style, Ken Pak, a visual storyteller, freezes the most natural once-in-a-lifetime moments through his lenses, making them as beautiful as the couple remembers them.
Ken Pak
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3900 (USD)
Morgan O'Neil is a visual storyteller who expertly captures authentic and candid moments in vibrant coastal wedding photos. With 8 years of wedding experience, she also enjoys taking film photos in her free time and has a passion for boating, skiing, and live music.
Morgan O'Neil
Baltimore in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4800 (USD)
With a documentary style, Breanna Shaw captures love and connection in her photography, dedicating her life to sharing these moments with clients as she travels the world.
Breanna Shaw
Reisterstown in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3850 (USD)
Utilizing a documentary approach, Andrew Morrell showcases his distinctive storytelling ability. Through his visual style, he artfully captures weddings and elopements, combining art, technology, and an element of improvisation.
Andrew Morrell
Cleveland in Ohio, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3600 (USD)
In her journalistic style, Colleen Stepanian, a visual storyteller and freelance photographer, captures poignant moments that preserve present reality for future nostalgia. She is driven by human connection, relationships, and vulnerability, embracing the responsibility to...
Colleen Stepanian
Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4800 (USD)
In a journalistic style, Anji Martin, a visual storyteller, has been capturing moments with her camera since childhood. Specializing in wedding and elopement photography, she primarily serves couples in the Washington, DC, area but is available for destination weddings.
Anji Martin
Washington in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4450 (USD)
With a documentary approach, Mary Kate McKenna, an experienced wedding photographer, competently tells the visual story of couples. Specializing in small weddings, courthouse weddings, and destination micro weddings, she captures and preserves the genuine moments that...
Mary Kate McKenna
Frederick in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2500 (USD)
Ryan Rayburn brings nine years of photographic journalism experience and a degree in photography to bear on capturing all the memories of couples’ special day. His considerable skill and proven track record ensure that couples’ wedding experience will be permanently...
Ryan Rayburn
Bethesda in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2200 (USD)
Dan Harris is a US based wedding photographer with over 20 years experience working in newspapers. His lifelong affinity for photography was born when he was 8, learning about his mother's Kodak Brownie II camera. He has won several prestigious awards worldwide and has...
Dan Harris
Jacksonville in Florida, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.400/hour (USD)
Brian Mullins is a North Carolina wedding photographer based in Raleigh. With a background in photography, cinematography, and concert lighting, Brian's unique visual arts experience has shaped his photography style and vision. He creates beautiful imagery that...
Brian Mullins
Apex in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3499 (USD)
Washington, D.C. native Susannah Stevens, an MA graduate in multimedia journalism from the Corcoran College of Art & Design, specializes in intimate weddings, micro-weddings, and elopements. Offering short-notice availability, she prioritizes meaningful moments. With an...
Susannah Stevens
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.1100 (USD)
Annalee Durland-Jones is a wedding, travel, and adventure photographer based in New England. She discovered her passion for photography in high school and has been capturing authentic and sentimental moments ever since.
Annalee Durland-Jones
Boston in Massachusetts, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.6000 (USD)
As a wedding photojournalist based in the Eastern U.S., Tom Waldenberg uses his keen eye and storytelling skills to capture raw and authentic moments for couples. When he's not behind the lens, you can find him strumming his guitar for local bands or nurturing his...
Tom Waldenberg
Raleigh in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3000 (USD)
Maryland-based photographer Aira Hickman, a mother and Navy veteran's wife, skillfully captures genuine moments with an organic approach. Passionate since picking up her first camera, she prioritizes authenticity, aiming to make clients feel confident and loved.
Aira Hickman
Gambrills in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.880 (USD)
Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Virginia Couples
Wedding Venue Pictures by Virginia Wedding Photographers
Please select a venue below to view all associated contest-winning Virginia wedding photos.
Virginia Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers
Below are some Virginia wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Virginia marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Virginia engagement portrait sessions with couples.
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Searches Related to Virginia Wedding Photography Vendors
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Virginia wedding day?
A: While wedding photojournalists strive to capture candid moments on the wedding day, our photographers also are skilled artists who can compose powerful portraits. If you have a specific vision of what types of images you want from your wedding day, look at the top-ranked Virginia wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.
Q: Where can I find a photographer for a short-notice, small Virginia wedding?
A: There are many WPJA photographers who are able to help you out at a moment's notice. We understand that sometimes love happens and there's simply no time to lose. We can ensure that you can get married as quickly as possible — and have incredible photographs to remember your Virginia wedding day by.
Q: How can couples find top-ranked Virginia wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Virginia photographers you see at the top of your search results page have recently won the most — and the most recent — contest awards. Our contests judge photographers based on their creativity, style, composure, and ability to capture the heart of any couple's story on their wedding day.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
While some of us were fortunate enough to be born as extroverts, not everyone feels the same way. For a good chunk of the population, any number of the typical wedding day traditions can inspire anxiety and existential dread. This day is all about you, yes, but does that...Read more
Traditionally speaking, often times it is the couple’s families who help pay for their wedding. However, unfortunately that’s just not possible for everyone, especially these days when the cost of weddings can quickly and easily get out of control. Some couples find...Read more
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND Virginia WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Laura & Bryan
Photo by Heather Hughes Ostermaier
Hi Heather! Thank you!! We are so excited to see the pictures. Thanks you so much for being a part of our day and capturing all our special moments. We will treasure these forever. Feel free to share any photos you'd like. Thank you again so much! I hope that one day our paths might cross again. Until then, I wish you and your family all the best!
Liz & Cameron
Photo by Xiaoqi Li
Xiaoqi, Cameron and I cannot thank you enough for making our wedding day so special and capturing it all beautifully. Many of our guests commented on how kind, talented and helpful you were. You made everyone posing feel comfortable in front of the lens, which can be a tough task for a photographer I'd imagine! We will definitely recommend you to others as more of our friends and family get married. Can't wait for the big reveal and maybe we will see you down in Charlottesville! -Lizzy
Corley & Don
Photo by Neil Thurston
Hi Neil and Lisa, Don and I are beyond thrilled with our pictures! The quality, detail, and beauty of the pictures is just so obvious. Aside from all those things, we love that you captured the sequence of events in a photojournalistic fashion. I've gotten comments from many of my friends/family that these are the best pictures they have ever seen, and of course we are just so proud that they are our pictures. I also have to chuckle a little because you guys were such an organized but chill vendor and as a project manager myself, I know how much preparation you both did behind the scenes to make that work. We couldn't be any happier and if you ever need a reference - email, phone, whatever - please do not hesitate to call.
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.
