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.

Intimate wedding photography by Wayne La
Couple Portraits and Wedding Photography by Tsvetelina Deliyska
Foggia wedding photography by Pino Coduti of Apulia, Italy
Portrait of Maria Hunter, Wedding and Elopement Photographer
Wedding reportage and elopement photography by Clive Blair Photos
Loic Nicoloso wedding photography in Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, France
Hauts-de-Seine wedding photography by Benjamin Hoffmann of the Île-de-France WPJA
Creative wedding and elopement photography by Ernie Savarese
Self portrait of Var marriage photographer Cynthia Arena, of the PACA WPJA
Studio portrait of Wes Shinn - owner / wedding and elopement photography studio
Chandan Sojitra is an Engagement Portrait, Wedding and Elopement Photographer
Engagement, elopement and wedding photography by Nicola Hudson
Portrait of Florent Fauqueux, Photographer for marriage ceremonies and engagement sessions
England engagement, wedding and elopement photography by Hollie Mateer of M and G Wedding Photography
California Couple Portrait Sessions and Wedding Photography by Stephanie Secrest

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

Fille Roelants, of Antwerpen, is a wedding photographer for
Oliver Parini, of Vermont, is a wedding photographer for
Kristian Leven, of London, 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.

Cartagena, Colombia: Witness an impressive feat as the bride savors an upside-down bite of cake, carried by her exuberant guests, captured by a destination wedding photojournalist
A traditional turmeric ceremony for the bride takes place in Jaipur, India, with women surrounding her and wiping turmeric paste from her face
Valley View Farm wedding photo: A flower girl gazes through open windows of a porch-like room at Haydenville, MA, checking if it's still raining during the ceremony
A skilled wedding photographer in Jaén captured this award-winning image of a bride fearlessly taking the stage and rocking out with the band at her wedding reception held at Salon Las Palmeras in Arjonilla, Jaén, Spain.
At The Estate at River Run in Maidens, VA, two eager dogs on leashes sniff the adorable toddler flower girl
Kids at Villa Ekaterina playing with the haze fog machine during the first dance at a wedding. A playful moment captured on the special day.
Bridal party enjoying a group lunch on concrete benches under a shade canopy at Nanping Fujian park wedding
A beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California, as the couple says their vows surrounded by trees and a rock formation

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 love in the Italian Alps, this award-winning portrait showcases a passionate couple bathed in warm, romantic light during a breathtaking sunset in Biella, Italy.
Capturing the scene with exquisite detail, the photographer beautifully frames the bride as she applies her vibrant red lipstick, enhancing the stunning red hues of the luxurious British Pullman train.
An award-winning wedding picture captures the couple on a water taxi, showcasing the newlyweds between tall buildings in Venice, Italy. The warm sepia tones add an artistic touch.
Talented photographer captures the essence of eternal love at Tenuta del Sole, Lake Maggiore, Italy. A striking black and white shot showcasing their hands and wedding bands, taken from a unique low-angle perspective.
Embracing Love: In the heart of Túnel Verde, Rio Grande do Sul, a couple shares a passionate kiss in the middle of a car roadway, encapsulating the essence of love and togetherness on their wedding day.
An image captured in black and white as the bride and groom strike a pose, embracing the enchanting backdrop of Nauyaca Waterfalls in Costa Rica.
A professional wedding photographer captured this award-winning image at Bellinter House in Ireland. The bride is shown with a big smile, just after putting on her wedding dress.
A captivating embrace in the rain, symbolizing their love's journey. This award-winning portrait captures the scene shared by the newlyweds at The Estate at River Run, Maidens VA.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - May 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.

At the prewedding shoot in Sondrio, Italy, the couple wore bike riding attire and helmets while they took pictures on their bikes before their wedding.
A couple in love goes to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado for pictures, where they stand in a creek, share a kiss, and pose together under the sunshine, surrounded by nature.
During their engagement portrait session, the couple having fun on the beach at Isla Saona, Dominican Republic.
At Porlock Beach, a couple sits together on the rocks, laughing and dressed warmly for their engagement portrait session before their upcoming wedding.
In Breckenridge, Colorado, a couple in love posed for pictures before their wedding day, smiling warmly and playfully while he carried her on his back.
In the beautiful setting of Lac de Petichet, France, a couple holds hands and joyfully runs across the frozen lake, creating a stunning symmetrical frame for their upcoming wedding.
At the Bund in Shanghai, China, a couple getting married posed for pictures in the spotlight of an urban shaft of light during their engagement portrait session.
During their engagement portrait session at Trilha das 8 cacheiras in São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, this couple captured a love story as timeless and captivating as the lyrics of Eddy Grant's "Romancing the Stone."

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 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
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 wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The bride's parents' emotional embrace and tears at the Chinese tea wedding ceremony in Sanya, Hainan, China was truly a beautiful moment to be captured by the photographer
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 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