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

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!

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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.

Real Wedding Photography

Since 2002, the WPJA has been connecting Brides and Grooms with the best, most reknown wedding photographers from around the world.

Istanbul wedding and elopement photography by Mohamed Mekhamer - Turkey WPJA
Valencia wedding photographer Antonio Calatayud, of Spain
East Midlands and Northamptonshire wedding photographer Jason Huckle
New York City and Queens wedding photography and elopement sessions by Natasha Singh
Hong Kong Wedding Photographer Ronnie Szeto
Chicago wedding and elopement photography by Victoria Sprung
Arlington wedding and elopement photography by Anastasiia Polyakov, of Virginia
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:

Top pre-wedding engagement photography gallery of 2020

2020 Diamond Awards for Engagement Photography

Creative Wedding Day Portrait Photography Competition

2019 v04 Artistic Guild

Winter Wedding | Bride in the Snow

2019 v20 Photography Competition

San Francisco Engagement Photography at the Bridge

2019 Diamond Awards for Engagement Photography

Wedding Reportage Photography

2019 v19 Photography Competition

View More Contests

WPJA News & Articles

Checkout the latest wedding photojournalism news and top articles:

2019 AG Photographer of the Year - Jesse La Plante

WPJA’s 2019 Artistic Guild Photographer of the Year says he couldn’t have asked for a better training ground for his craft than the years he spent as a...

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WPJA 2019 POY

2019 WPJA Photographer of the Year

Congratulations to Yves Schepers of Belgium ! To call Yves Schepers’ first year as a WPJA member eventful would be an understatement. Not only did the Belgian...

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2018 AG Photographer of the Year - Matteo Originale

Matteo Originale, Italy Matteo Originale excels at work that is, well, original. In his wedding photography business, he has honed a point of view that...

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The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

father and son

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.