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.

United Kingdom wedding reportage photography by Andrew Heeley
Sandra-Lee Layden
United Kingdom and Scotland Documentary Wedding Photography by Christine Russell
Documentary wedding photography by Janina Brocklesby
Portrait of French wedding photographer, Solène Lagant
Italy wedding photography by Danilo Coluccio
Adventure elopement and wedding photography by Mike Kory
Colorado Elopement and Wedding Photography by Trent Gillespie
Yucatan Peninsula wedding photography by Adrian Bonet of Riviera Maya Quintana Roo
Wedding photography of real moments by Leah Moyers
Boulder wedding and elopement photography by Jason Johnson of the Colorado WPJA
Wedding reportage photography by Nadine Lotze of Lumoid Photo
Bulgaria Wedding Photography by Ognyan Stoynev, of Sofia
Kitchener, Ontario wedding and elopement photography by Lori-Anne Crewe - Canada WPJA
Italian wedding and elopement photographer - Alessia Bruchi Fotografia
Studio Portrait of Wedding Reportage Photographer Cris Lowis

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:

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

Thomas Jongbloed, of Utrecht, is a wedding photographer for
Florent Fauqueux, of , is a wedding photographer for

WPJA Contest Photos - December 10th, 2023

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.

In this documentary wedding image, waiters at the Apulia reception venue are seen swiftly gathering chair cushions to protect them from the unexpected rain
In Zuid Holland, Netherlands, a heartwarming scene unfolds during a wedding ceremony as a child presents a ring and demonstrates how to properly place it on a finger. A touching moment of love and unity.
Guests at a wedding reception in Montmartre enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with laughter and merriment as they indulge in drinks and celebration
In a picturesque Como wedding venue, a photographer captures a heartwarming scene as a young ring bearer joyfully presents the rings to a bride and groom during their outdoor ceremony at Villa Aura Lago di Como.
At the Tourterelle Inn in New Haven, Vermont, a grandmother gazes affectionately at the bride and groom as they exchange vows outdoors on a sunny lawn
In this image, captured by an Italian wedding photographer at Villa Hamalia in Sicily, the bride is embraced by joyful guests as she celebrates, her arms raised to the sky
A guest at Blue Venado in Tulum, Mexico, is seen in a slow shutter camera capture, demonstrating dance moves while waving a fan
In the reception venue in Saint-Brieuc, Cotes-d'Armor in Brittany, the wedding photographer captures a heartwarming moment as a child with a disability brings the wedding rings to his parents

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - October 4th, 2023

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.

The bride and groom steal a quiet kiss together inside a cozy trailer at Loma Vista Gardens in Big Sur, CA while their bridal party forms outside for group photos.
A groom standing outside The Crab and Lobster venue in Yorkshire, England, with colorful round confetti dots resting on his shoulder
Closeup shot of the hands of the bride and groom on their wedding day, at the hotel lawn in Delhi, India
A couple in their wedding attire sharing a joyful laugh as they pose for portraits at the rocky shoreline of Acadia National Park, Maine
A breathtaking wedding photo taken at Olympic National Park. The newlyweds stand on a rocky shoreline, against a stunning sunset backdrop.
A couple stands in the rain in front of Hethfelton House, Dorset. A beautiful rainbow appears in the sky behind them, adding a touch of color to their wedding day
A couple poses in separate patches of light, sharing a portrait session at Schloss Schwetzingen on their wedding day
A couple sharing a tender kiss amid pink flowers at the enchanting outdoor garden of Oxnead Hall, Norfolk on their wedding day

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - December 14th, 2023

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.

A couple in London, UK, poses for a portrait in the city, with a beautiful arch framing them and buildings in the background
A couple in Portland, Maine, is photographed by a wedding photographer from WPJA while sitting on a staircase next to a brick storefront, captured in a black and white image, depicting an intimate pose as they face each other
An engagement photo taken in black and white on a busy London public transportation, capturing a couple amidst commuters
A wedding photographer from the WPJA captured a beautiful engagement picture at Sainte Anne La Palud in Finistère, Britanny, featuring a couple sharing a golden kiss by the water with a low sun setting at the beach
A couple is seen laughing authentically at an engagement shoot in St Albans, which took place at Batchwood Golf Club and was captured by a WPJA wedding photographer
In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a couple kisses at sunset while a wedding photographer captures the session using minimalistic framing and posing techniques
A photographer captures a romantic picture of a couple in Winterport, Maine, peering through vibrant fall foliage
In this engagement portrait taken in Székesfehérvár, the couple is seated on a wooden deck chair, with a beautiful pattern created by the planks of the deck beneath them

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 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
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 captured the emotional moment of the bride picking up her friend in a foggy embrace on the dance floor of her Montpellier wedding
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
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
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 a beautiful moment of the bride joyously embracing her best friend on the dance floor of her San Francisco wedding reception
The wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day