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Charleston Wedding Photographers

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Charleston Wedding Photographers

Our Charleston photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Ansonborough, Charleston Historic District, Daniel Island, Dewees Island, French Quarter, Hampton Park Terrace, Riverland Terrace, Wagener Terrace, West Ashley, Wilson's Farm, Wraggborough

Charleston Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Charleston - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Charleston 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 Charleston 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, Charleston documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Winter frozen wind swept Lake sunset portraits after elopement ceremony
Brittany Bugaj
The sun glowed beneath the horizon as their cliffside ceremony unfolded, providing a beautiful backdrop of the sea and creating a truly magical and romantic experience for the newlyweds
Carlos Porfírio
The bride and groom stood facing each other, holding hands, as their friend officiated their small wedding ceremony outside in a park
Danielle Gardner

Charleston Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Charleston 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.

South Carolina WPJA members are ready to document any mini, quick, justice of the peace, 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 Charleston Wedding Venues

Charleston Wedding Photographers...

Charleston Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some Charleston wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Charleston marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Charleston engagement portrait sessions with couples.

Charleston, SC wedding ceremony images | The organist's point of view of the ceremony with the bride and groom
Charleston wedding photographer uses mirrors creatively as we see the groom in the rear view mirror of the car focusing on the dirt road ahead while the bride applies lipstick in the sun visor mirror
Charleston wedding photographer captures from a distance the best man giving his speech under a curtain of twinkle lights
The bride and groom jump off a cliff into a lake as people watch in boats below in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
The bride begins to walk downstairs as her father waits for her below in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
Groomsmen watch the groom as he gets emotional reading a card in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
A woman hugs a man from behind in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
The bride stands next to a man playing the saxophone during the reception in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
The bride and groom can be seen sitting in their car at night in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
The bride sits with guests as one of them massages her foot in the reception hall, surrounded by candles in this photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
The groom and groomsmen are dressed and wait for the ceremony to begin in this black and white photo by a Charleston, SC wedding photographer.
Charleston wedding photographer captured this black and white image of the bride and groom dancing at night under strings of twinkle lights

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find reviews of Charleston wedding photographers?
A: We call them Client Letters. At the WPJA, we decided more than 20 years ago to avoid incorporating those third-person testimonials and endorsements that are found all too often in advertisements. Instead, we elevated our listings with the use of Client Letters, which represent the actual words and feelings of the clients who booked those Charleston wedding photographers for their own wedding.
Q: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston wedding day by.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
Small Weddings - How to Budget and Save
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
An Unforgettable Romance: The Intimacy of an Elopement
While some people live for the hustle and bustle of a big wedding with extravagant décor and an impossibly long guest list, others find these kinds of weddings to be too much hoopla, preferring instead something simpler and quieter, allowing for more intimacy between them...Read more
jperlman elk cove inn ceremony
Top 4 Types of Small Weddings to Make Your Day Truly Yours
Everyone always says that your wedding day is all about you. But let’s face it; that’s not always actually the case. Many couples stress over guest lists, planning, expenses, and all the frills and traditions of your standard large wedding that they may or may not even be...Read more

WPJA Communiqué: Viewpoints
Elopements: Traditional and Modern
The oldsters among the WPJA ranks no doubt remember when 'to elope' meant, in Merriam-Webster’s definition, “to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental consent.” Many wedding photographers have gone on the lam with couples who did just that. However, even Merriam-Webster now acknowledges that “elope appears to have become shorthand for ‘ small destination weddings ,’ a ‘ wedding that is not financially insane ,’ or a ‘ wedding that allows us to not invite all the people we would rather not invite .’” Smaller Weddings are... Read more
What is Reportage?
On Instagram and elsewhere, one can see images labeled as #photojournalism or #reportage when they are, in fact, merely photos. I say "merely," even though photography has been my career's great passion. But it's because of that passion and my respect for the work of actual photojournalists that I am particularly bothered to see wedding photographers call their work "reportage." That word properly used actually means something important beyond just a stylistic conceit. By contrast, however, I'm the lead cheerleader for those practitioners of #weddingphotojournalism ... Read more

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.