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SMALL WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS | choose love, not fear

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.

WPJA Spotlight

Exceptional Wedding Photography Showcase

Explore top-tier imagery captured by WPJA members. With special badges and recognition, these exceptional images from weddings showcase the unparalleled talent of our photographers. Dive into dedicated slider galleries within Member Profiles and Spotlight Galleries to witness the artistry and skill that sets our members apart.

At Woodland Weddings in Tring, a couple stands lovingly on a rural dirt road near lush green fields. The groom embraces the bride from behind, amidst the natural beauty of the countryside.
Andy Sidders
In a hotel in Fuzhou, Fujian, the bride and groom share a playful moment as they peek from behind a curtain, eagerly watching the ceremony preparations unfold before officially walking down the aisle.
KaiMing Weng
At The Shore Club in Belmar, New Jersey, the bride tosses her bouquet over her shoulder to a group of eager ladies waiting on the dancefloor.
Michelle Arlotta
At Matfen Brewery in Northumberland, UK, the bride plays with her veil outdoors, sharing a moment of joy and laughter with the groom. This lighthearted scene captures their happiness and carefree spirit on their special day.
Erika Tanith Davey
At the reception venue in Poitiers, Vienne, the bride gets dressed with the help of her maid of honor, capturing a tender moment of friendship and anticipation before the wedding ceremony.
Benjamin Dupuy
At the Ikigai Hotel in Büyükada, the flower girl collects scattered blooms from the ground following the ceremony.
Reyhan Kocakaya
View Spotlight 2025 Round 12

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

Since 2002, the WPJA has been connecting couples with the best, most artistic wedding photographers from around the world.

Colorado engagements + wedding and elopement photography by Sean Lara
BW lifestyle portrait of Estes Park-based wedding photographer Joe Pyle, of the Colorado WPJA
Kirill Brusilovsky wedding photography for creative couples
Engagement shoots + wedding photography and elopements by Luan Nguyen of France
Timmy Keane Wedding Photography of Timtim Media Weddings
BW wedding photography by Mauricio Urena
Documentary wedding photography by Janina Brocklesby
Creative wedding and elopement photography by Ernie Savarese
France wedding photography by Angelique Blaise
Studio portrait of French wedding reportage photographer David Blateyron
NL documentary wedding and elopement photography by Elke Teurlings - Azcona Fotografie
Kim Chapman, a talented wedding photographer offering her services in the beautiful city of Portland, Maine, United States
California wedding and elopement photographer Annie Bang
London wedding and elopement photography by Gyula Lovaszi, of England, United Kingdom
Wedding and Elopement Photographer Andreas Pollok
UK photographer: Martin Dabek
Portrait of Bill Tse, Wedding Photographer
New York City and Queens wedding photography and elopement sessions by Natasha Singh
One of the most touching things about wedding photography is how quickly you find yourself thrown into the heart of such an important, intimate occasion. It's a responsibility only a fool would take lightly.- Harry Richards, WPJA Member
Become a Member

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:

2024 v04 Artistic Guild

2024 v04 Photography Competition

2024 Pre Wedding Couple Portraits - Diamond Awards

2024 v03 Artistic Guild

2024 v03 Photography Competition

View More Contests

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

A Sunshine Solemnization - Outdoor Weddings in Nature

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...

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Kobe Vanderzande, of Limburg, is a wedding photographer for

Wedding Reception Tents: A Creative Photo Palette

There’s nothing quite like an intimate wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements...

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View Wedding Articles

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Lisa Pacor, of Trieste, is a wedding photographer for
Brittany Diliberto, of Virginia, is a wedding photographer for

Two people making a commitment of marriage want to remember the day for the rest of their lives. Shouldn’t the wedding photography that commemorates their celebration reflect the personal moments and honest emotions they will remember?

A love for authenticity in wedding photography — finding art in the actualities of a marriage celebration — led to the founding of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) in 2002. Out of respect for our clients, the wedding photographers and photojournalists accepted for WPJA membership have a demonstrated talent for candid originality and a dedication to the documentary approach in wedding photography. To maintain their standing in the WPJA, member photographers must adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards.

  • For Engaged Couples planning a wedding: Hire a WPJA photographer so you can reproduce and retell the beautiful, unique story of how your celebration unfolds — as you will want to remember it and have it told for generations.
  • For Professional Wedding Photographers with a photojournalist’s talent for capturing moments, not stage-directing them: Join the WPJA to have your expertise accredited, to help promote and further our craft, and to let the WPJA introduce you to the ideal clients for your work.

WPJA Contest Photos - January 20th, 2025

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 The Round Barn in Waitsfield, VT, young boys enjoys a playful moment during cocktail hour, while an older woman seated below him looks up over her shoulder. The scene blends youthful energy with a touch of curiosity and charm.
At the bride's home in Yilan County, Taiwan, a humorous moment unfolds as the groom's face gets stuck in a puzzled expression while his mother-in-law attempts to put a gold necklace on him. This lighthearted scene adds a touch of levity to the wedding.
At Bridge House Barn in Leicestershire, UK, guests gather in a rustic setting to take shelter from the rain. Surrounded by wooden posts and kegs, they enjoy the cozy ambiance and camaraderie despite the weather.
In Cesano, the bride springs with joy as she jumps on indoor trampoline courts, while the groom humorously falls out of the picture.
At Authentic Hall, the groom and his friends enjoy a round of colorful shots. The image captures the vibrant glasses, highlighting the fun and celebratory atmosphere.
At City Hall in La Ciotat, France, a little girl marches purposefully toward her mother, who is not the bride, captured in a shot from behind at the back of the room.
At a reception venue in County Wicklow, Leinster, adults help children put their shoes back on while outside on the grass during the wedding reception.
In a timeless black and white photo outside Slot Zeist, the wedding car drives through the grand iron gates, perfectly centered in the frame, signaling the start of the celebration at the beautiful venue.

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 28th, 2025

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.

In Saksun, Faroe Islands, the couple stands face to face, savoring the breathtaking view in front of a fjord, with the misty valley adding to the serene backdrop.
At Schloss Neuhaus, the scene is dramatically illuminated by bold blue and amber lights, casting enchanting hues across the architecture during nighttime.
At Brookside Garden & Event Center in Berthoud, Colorado, the bride and groom in a portrait amidst beautiful hanging vines, creating a picturesque and romantic setting for their photograph.
At Villa Foscarini Cornaro in Gorgo Al Monticano, Treviso, Italy, a tight black-and-white shot captures the groom tenderly kissing the bride on the cheek, highlighting the warmth and intimacy of their day.
In Istanbul, Turkey, a portrait captures the bride and groom facing each other, framed by strings of lights that hang above and behind them, with reflections mirroring the scene below.
At Schloss Neuhaus, a silhouette captures the bride and groom facing each other during their couple session in a striking and intimate image that highlights their connection against the red and black backdrop.
In Redwoods National Park, California, an artful and creative sunset double exposure photograph features the couple silhouetted against the backdrop of towering evergreen trees, merging nature's grandeur with their connection.
At İstanbul Sheraton Hotel, Turkey, the bride stands in her white bridal gown, beautifully reflected in the mirror. Two additional white garments hang on the all-white wall, creating an elegant and serene composition.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - January 9th, 2025

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.

Engaged couple embraces amidst vibrant autumn leaves at stunning Schloss Heeren in Kamen, Germany for a picturesque pre-wedding portrait session.
Intimate black and white portrait of an engaged couple in Caorle, Venice, Italy. They are posed nose to nose, captured by a talented wedding photographer.
An engagement portrait of a couple in Santa Cruz, CA, captured by a professional wedding photographer. The couple shares a sweet kiss amid the afternoon sunlight, expertly lit by the photographer.
Atlanta couple in pre-wedding portraits, strolling past the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during a Atlanta Pride Parade.
Portrait of an engaged couple gazing at each other on the steps of a historic building in Maceió, Brazil, captured by a wedding photographer.
Romantic engagement photo of a couple in Lans en Vercors, France, captured in a snowy forest trail surrounded by evergreens.
A happy couple enjoying coffee together in front of a picturesque Old World building, captured by a wedding photographer in the charming neighborhood of Beyoglu, Istanbul.
Engagement portrait taken by a wedding photographer in the charming setting of a retro camper van setup in San Jose, CA.

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 at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Richmond, Virginia captured a beautiful moment of the bride and bridesmaids tearfully witnessing the groom's heartfelt vows
The bride and her father shared an emotional moment as he kissed her head in the back of the limo just before the ceremony, captured perfectly in their wedding photo from Trieste, Italy
The brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
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 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 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
At the stunning Mont La Salle in Napa, CA, the moment a bridesmaid holding flowers ran to hug the bride was truly a beautiful and emotional one that the wedding photographer was able to capture
The photographer at Ancenis, France captured a heart-warming moment of the bride holding hands with her father-in-law as he saw her for the first time in her wedding dress before the ceremony