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.

Serenay Lokcetin - Wedding Reportage Photographer
Portrait of Wedding Photographer David Butler II
Kevin Bergthold, adventurous wedding photographer of Berg Berg Photography Studio
Wedding and Engagement Portrait Photographer Steven Herrschaft
Italy wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Simone Miglietta
Jerome Pollos Self Portrait, a wedding and elopement photographer of the WPJA
Ufuk Sarisen Wedding Photography
Bangor, Maine wedding photography by Hailey Crabtree
Caroline Elenbaas, or Caroline Peeters, wedding and elopement photographer by Cfoto
UK wedding reportage photography by Elodie Ruelleux-Dagorne
Robin Goodlad is a UK based Wedding Reportage and Elopement Photographer
Studio Portrait of Wedding Photographer Kate Crabtree
Engagements, Weddings and Elopement Photographer Lucy Schultz
Wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Nilufer Nalbantoglu
Colorado engagements + wedding and elopement photography by Sean Lara
Colorado wedding photography and intimate elopements by Stacy Gillespie

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

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...

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...

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Miguel Gonzalez, of Pennsylvania, is a wedding photographer for Wayne United Methodist Church
Nadine Court, of , is a wedding photographer for

WPJA Contest Photos - August 13th, 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.

Newlyweds celebrate their special day at the picturesque Waterside Country Barn in Taunton, UK. Amidst a shower of confetti, the groom playfully reaches down the front of his bride's dress as she bends over in laughter.
MADISON, VA- Newlyweds celebrate their marriage with a unique ceremony exit, as guests shower them in bird seed at their private residence.
A groom reads his vows to a captivated bride at Magnolia Hall in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, set against a beautiful garden backdrop.
Newlyweds take their first kiss as husband and wife at the town hall of Dompierre-sur-Veyle.
The bride and her friends strike a pose in a photo booth at the Detroit Athletic Club during her wedding day in Detroit, MI.
At Mountain Top Resort, Vermont, the newlyweds shared their first dance, the love and excitement shining through as they moved in the crowd.
L'Isle-Adam, Val-d'Oise - The bride and her father make a grand entrance on a scooter after a civil ceremony at the town hall.
Wedding at Loiret in Centre-Val de Loire, groom gives tissue to sister speaking at the ceremony location in an outdoor wooded setting.

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - September 30th, 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.

Immerse yourself in the artistic vision of a Kasteel Kerckebosch wedding photographer with this captivating night action shot. See the newlyweds' love come to life in a stunning champagne spray portrait.
Be transported to the picturesque outdoors with this Banff wedding scene setter shot. Amidst towering mountains, a captivating outdoor ceremony captured by a talented WPJA photographer.
Timeless elegance and vintage charm in this wedding portrait captured by a WPJA photographer at a hotel in Gelderland, Netherlands. Ready for the big day, the groom exudes style and class.
The bridal party embraces the elements in a beautiful outdoor setting. WPJA photographer captures the romance and natural beauty of a rainy day at Pomeroy Hotel in Canada.
Experience the ultimate blend of elegance and emotion in this stunning wedding portrait captured by a WPJA photographer at The Hamilton Alpharetta Curio Collection by Hilton in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Experience the unique and artistic vision of a WPJA photographer at Tunnels Beaches in Devon, England. Embrace captured in a stunning portrait with natural elements on the beach with rocks.
Witness the raw passion and connection between this bride and groom in this intimate, artistic wedding portrait captured at the iconic Greystone Inn by a WPJA photographer.
WPJA-featured photographer captures a charming Fort Collins wedding portrait as a bride and groom share a kiss in the presence of their newfound furry companions, the burros.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - October 2nd, 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.

Skillfully captured by a WPJA photographer, this striking shot from Budapest, Hungary features a loving engaged couple standing side by side, holding hands and showcasing their beautiful engagement ring.
Expertly captured by a WPJA photographer at Looking Glass Falls, NC, this enchanting shot showcases the radiant couple framed by a vibrant rainbow, embracing their shared passion for waterfalls.
In this captivating image by a talented WPJA photographer in Budapest, Hungary, a loving couple stands in a powerful stance, hand in hand, gazing into each other's eyes in a silhouette near the water.
A professional WPJA photographer captures an engaging image of a soon-to-be married couple strolling along the California Northern coast, basking in the warm glow of the setting sun.
Captured by a wedding photographer at Mayflower Beach in Dennis, Massachusetts, this image features a stunning woman's face with a man in the background. The golden sun illuminates her contemplative expression, the gentle wind carries her hair.
A skillful capture by a WPJA photographer in Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina. A couple, silhouetted in a vibrant sunset sky, embrace in a cornfield during their pre-wedding portrait session.
A unique image captured by a WPJA photographer at the Bund in Shanghai, China, showcasing the engaged couple's gentle embrace during a romantic garden portrait session at twilight.
 Artistic capture by a renowned WPJA photographer in Ormož, Slovenia, featuring an engaged couple in an abandoned barn. Soft window light beautifully illuminates the pair, captured in a minimalist, off-center composition.

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 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 at the W Hotel in Chicago, IL captured a beautiful moment of the bride kissing her grandma right before walking down the aisle
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 captured a beautiful moment at Montlouis sur Loire, as the two mothers of the couple tearfully embraced outdoors
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 photographer captured a beautiful and emotional moment as a Bari bride lovingly greeted her ailing grandmother, who was unfortunately unable to join the celebration of her special day
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