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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.

In Lyon, anticipation fills the air as a group of men gathers on a deck for a final conversation before the big wedding.
Andrea Martinetti
A mother looks on while her daughter, the bride, has makeup applied in Kaifeng, China, as a flower girl peeks curiously from behind, sharing in the excitement of wedding preparations.
Xie Tian
At a wedding reception in Camarillo, CA, an elder guest reaches eagerly for the appetizers, illustrating the relaxed and happy atmosphere among the friends and family gathered.
Loren Haar
Preparations are underway in a suite at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, as the bride readies for her wedding amidst the hotel’s luxurious setting.
Chaiyasith Junjuerdee
Moments after the ceremony at Castello di Macello, Italy, the bride shares an intimate, emotional pause with a family member.
Alessandro Vargiu
At home in Fujian, friends and family play traditional wedding games, filling the celebration with laughter, joy, and lively competition as part of the festivities.
ZhiChen Ruan
View Spotlight 2025 Round 24

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

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

Wedding Photography by Mauricio Urena
Portsmouth Wedding Photography and Elopements by Eric McCallister, of New Hampshire
Wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Nilufer Nalbantoglu
Deanna Johnson wedding photography
Couple engagement portrait sessions + wedding and elopement photography by Xiang Qi of Jian Impression
Documentary wedding photography by Rebecca Aranda
Shaun Baker - Wedding Photographer and Couple Portrait Professional
Will Han is an engagement and wedding photographer for NY
Wedding and elopement photography by Peter Rowen
Wedding and Engagement Portrait Photographer Steven Herrschaft
London wedding and elopement photography by Gyula Lovaszi, of England, United Kingdom
Lifestyle portrait of England wedding photographer Tori Deslauriers
Portrait of Wedding Photographer Sarah Priestap - Last Light Studio
Italy wedding and elopement photography by Alice Franchi
Massachusetts Couple Portraits by Wedding Photographer Katie Kaizer
Elopements by Top Wedding Photographer Justin Edmonds
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:

2026 Lifestyle Engagement Photography - Diamond Awards

2025 v04 Artistic Guild

2025 v04 Photography Competition

2025 Lifestyle Engagement Portraits - Diamond Awards

2025 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

Indra Simons, of Overijssel, is a wedding photographer for barchem

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 16th, 2026

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 Tranquil House Inn in Manteo, North Carolina, a bridesmaid offers a heartfelt embrace to the bride as they prepare together for the ceremony.
At Ferme d'En Chon, the bride and groom embrace fun and playfulness by enthusiastically playing with bubble guns, creating a lighthearted atmosphere at their wedding celebration.
At Sologne in Centre-Val de Loire, fine wedding details are put on groom's wrist and photographed, highlighting the thoughtful touches that contribute to the feeling of the day.
Laughter and puzzled expressions fill St Albans Museum & Gallery as the bride and groom play a humorous game of Mr & Mrs during the wedding speeches, entertaining their guests.
During the outside ceremony at The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, a guest offers a thumbs up to the groom’s parents as they take their seats, sharing encouragement and excitement for the special day.
Drinking games bring laughter and friendly competition to the celebration at Northfork, Idaho, as guests cheer each other on and share in the festivities.
At a hotel in Taiyuan, Shanxi, bridesmaids and friends playfully prevent the groom from entering the procession, adding laughter and anticipation to the festivities.
At Hotel du Vin in London, guests participate in lively Hindu wedding games, bringing joy and tradition to the celebration.

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 24th, 2026

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 a picturesque field below a rainbow and stormy skies at Château Destinée, France, the groom carries the bride, the vibrant scenery adding a sense of wonder to their portrait.
In Fribourg, the bride and groom appear as silhouettes at the reception venue, with a breathtaking mountain backdrop, bringing a dramatic sense of place and scale to their portrait.
At the groom's home in Singapore, the couple sits together on a bench, sharing a lighthearted portrait as the groom laughs with visible joy.
In a lush garden at the reception venue in Metz, France, the bride with braided hair smiles tenderly at her groom in a light gray suit as he laughs joyfully.
A shaft of sunlight illuminates the wedding dress at The Mohicans Treehouse Resort in Loudonville, Ohio, the glow highlighting its texture for a memorable detail shot.
Wedding couple illuminated under an umbrella against a dark, stormy sky at a Dordogne reception venue.
Within the park’s lush landscape, the couple stops for a portrait, the foliage and soft lighting setting a tranquil tone for their wedding photograph.
At Domaine in Indre, the wedding couple stands together amid a field of sunflowers, the golden blooms creating a picturesque natural backdrop for their portrait.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - March 7th, 2026

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.

The couple sits closely at an outdoor bar in Budapest, Hungary, leaning in to share a drink under glowing string lights, surrounded by the energy of an inviting evening scene.
Leaning casually beside their motorbike in Tarvisio, Udine, Italy, a couple shares a relaxed engagement portrait that reflects their adventurous spirit against a scenic alpine town backdrop.
The couple holds each other atop a picturesque bridge over the canals of Venice, Italy, their embrace echoing the timeless elegance of this romantic venue known for its scenic waterways and historic ambiance.
The couple stands together near the iconic gondola bubbles on wires in Grenoble, France, their connection highlighted against the playful, urban setting of this city venue known for its unique cable cars.
In Venice, Italy, a couple dances beneath the iconic arches, their elegant movements and the timeless architecture of the city combining for an unforgettable engagement portrait full of romance and charm.
At The Matthews House in Cary, North Carolina, the couple stands together, each smiling as their red dotted noses form a full heart, their warmth and unity reflected in the historic Southern setting.
At the end of a day in Grenoble, France, a couple enjoys a candid pose as soft evening light highlights their connection, framed by the warmth and charm of the surrounding mountains.
In Rhinebeck, NY, a couple swings together at sunset, their engagement portrait framed by warm golden light, the open field and glowing sky enhancing the romantic atmosphere.

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 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
The photographer captured the beautiful, emotional moment between the bride and groom after they exchanged their rings in Trieste, Italy
The groom's touching encouragement of his witnesses to make a speech at his outdoor ceremony at Les tables de Crespin, the reception venue in Tarn, France, was captured beautifully in this wedding photo
The photographer captured a beautiful moment of the bride embracing one of her great friends during the getting ready process at Cote How, The Lake District
The beautiful moment of a bride wiping away her mother's tears of joy at Help Beach, Fethiye, Mugla was captured by the wedding photographer
The photographer captured the beautiful moment of a wedding guest giving the bride a big hug and a kiss on the cheek at the Private Home in Congham, Norfolk, UK
The wedding photojournalist captured a beautiful moment as the bride embraced her friends in a group hug at the reception of Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine
The happy couple leaving their civil ceremony in Biarritz, France with their little boy beaming with joy at his parents' marriage, is captured wonderfully in this wedding photo, showing the love from his mother