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.

Manchester wedding photography by Philip Salisbury of England United Kingdom
Portrait of Wedding Photographer Sarah Priestap
Destination wedding photography by Inokss Ina
Wenjie Han is an engagement and wedding photographer for NY
Serenay Lokcetin - Wedding Reportage Photographer
Wedding and elopement photography by Amanda Lamb
Zuid Holland Wedding Photographer Ingeborg van Bruggen
Northern California wedding photography by Drew Bird - Creative Storytelling
Chicago wedding and elopement photography by Milan Lazic of Illinois United States
Lifestyle Portrait of Documentary Wedding Photographer Emily Fonseca, of Framed by Emily
Engagement Portrait Pro, Wedding and Elopement Photographer Johnny Shryock of the WPJA
UK wedding photography and elopements by Anna Mikulich
Tracey Buyce Wedding Images
County Wicklow wedding photography by Katie Kavanagh of Leinster Ireland
Portrait of James Mieszkowski - Sugarbird Photography of Weddings
Color wedding photography by Iris Hu

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

Julian Kanz, of Genova, is a wedding photographer for
Zhiwen Liu, of , 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.

At Maple Leaf Events in Stevenson, Washington, USA, the mother of the bride shares a poignant moment with her daughter, gently wiping away a tear as they make their way up the aisle. A touching display of love and emotion on this special wedding day.
Bridesmaids having a blast, dancing under colorful DJ lights by a charming stone wall at Hunstmill Farm in Buckinghamshire
WPJA awarded photographer captures the entrance of the bride and groom at the extravagant Jamberoo Resort in Kiama. Dressed in matching bright yellow attire, they make a stylish and memorable arrival.
At Shenzhen, Guangdong, the groom is carrying the bride outdoors under confetti and a red parasol, creating a romantic and picturesque scene on their wedding day.
In this WPJA award-winning wedding day photo, taken at a rustic estate in Normandy, the groom's best man is applying makeup using a plate as a mirror. A unique and charming moment captured by the talented wedding photographer.
Bride and groom participate in a tradition Filipino money dance at the Community Rowing Boathouse in Brighton, Massachusetts, with money pinned to their clothes. This lively and vibrant wedding custom adds a unique touch to the celebration.
Chigwell Marquees in the UK showcases a happy bride and groom surrounded by friends celebrating their Hindu wedding ceremony
Pro documentary wedding photographer captured a moment of guests delighting in the food at the Orangerie des Demoiselles. The image received an award from the WPJA.

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.

A talented wedding photographer captured this playful and artistic portrait in downtown Cleveland, using a scooter to add a fun touch to the couple's special day.
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.
The Indre wedding photographer captured the bride and groom in a stunning family salon at their wedding reception venue. The image is a work of art and has won an award.
In Budapest, Hungary, at a church, this wedding photo portrays the bride and groom lying on their backs at the bottom of a tunnel, forming a spiral of love.
Award-winning wedding day pic taken at the Crown Casino Hotel in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This captivating black and white photo captures the symmetrical frame with guests mingling.
Wedding photo taken in Morbihan, Brittany, on the beach. The bride poses against a rustic wood boat adorned with a beautiful artistic mural, creating a vibrant and captivating portrait.
This award-winning portrait showcases the modern beauty of a couple walking near a tranquil pond at New Haven's Tourterelle Inn, with the stunning Adirondack Mountains as a backdrop.
Award-winning photo of the bride's radiant beauty against the backdrop of a rustic, warm-toned peeling stucco wall in Florence, Tuscany.

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 moody and dramatic setting in Cappadocia, Turkey, the couple stands close together, bracing against dark clouds as they exude relaxed and romantic energy in their engagement portrait.
A stunning engagement portrait of a couple captured in the city of Aix les Bains, gazing into each other's eyes in a reflection in a puddle on the urban streets.
A romantic engagement portrait capturing a couple's love at Boston Mills Visitor Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as they gaze into each other's eyes under the concrete interstate overpass.
A couple lying down in a ying/yang pose, kissing at the Sierra Nevada. A timeless and romantic black and white portrait in Granada, Spain.
A stunning sunrise in San Mark Square, Venice, captures the couple embraced by historic buildings in a wide-angle shot, creating a romantic and relaxed portrait session.
A romantic silhouette of a couple with trees against a beautiful sunset sky at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, capturing their love in an artistic way.
At their Brookline, MA home, a couple and their dog pose on the couch for a cozy engagement portrait capturing the essence of their love and companionship.
In a beautiful setting at Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins, Colorado, the man sweeps his joyful fiance off her feet, both smiling and having fun during their playful engagement portrait session.

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 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
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 emotion of the proud parents hugging their son, the groom, as he prepared for his wedding day at House of the Groom in Siderno, Reggio Calabria was so beautiful it was captured as a timeless moment by the photographer
The photographer captured the beautiful, emotional moment between the bride and groom after they exchanged their rings in Trieste, Italy
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 wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The photographer captured a beautiful moment of the bride joyously embracing her best friend on the dance floor of her San Francisco wedding reception
The tears of joy from the groom and ring bearer as the bride walked down the aisle at the Westin Playa Conchal in Guanacaste, Costa Rica were captured beautifully in the wedding photo