Are you planning a short-notice, small wedding or elopement?

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS ARE OPEN - Many couples don’t want to wait. They are planning to get married in the very near future, eloping, or rushing a small ceremony with their photographer, some close friends, and family but dispensing with or postponing the reception party. 

View WPJA photo stories from smaller weddings - WedElope | Choose love, not fear!

WPJA.com HomeWedding Photojournalist Association

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.

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

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

studio portrait of Dordogne wedding photojournalist Michael Mann
Guangzhou wedding photography by Jinqi Tan, of Guangdong, China
Wedding reportage and elopement photography by Catherine Hudson
Engagement Portrait Pro, Wedding and Elopement Photographer Johnny Shryock of the WPJA
London elopement wedding reportage photographer Lyndsey Goddard, of England UK
UK engagement, elopement, and wedding reportage photography by Annamarie Stepney
Samuel Berthelot - Jolie Histoire Photographie
Shaun Baker - Wedding Photographer and Couple Portrait Professional
Elopements and wedding photography by Gihan De Silva
USA wedding photography and engagements by Nicole Defilippis
Wedding and engagement portrait photography by Chin Whei Tay
Amanda Gril Wedding and Event Photography
Black and White Studio Portrait of Renan Radici - Wedding Photographer
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

Genuine Photo Contests

The WPJA hosts multiple wedding photography contests each year, awarding only the most captivating and engaging photos.

View winners from past contests below:

2021 Best Pre-Wedding and Engagement Portrait Photography

2021 Diamond Awards for Pre-Wedding Portraits

2021 v03 Artistic Guild

2021 v03 Photography Competition

2021 v02 Artistic Guild

2021 v02 Photography Competition

View More Contests

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

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...

Read the Article

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...

Read the Article
View Wedding Articles

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Nikhol Esteras, of Oaxaca, 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.