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.

Caroline Elenbaas, or Caroline Peeters, wedding and elopement photographer by Cfoto
Creative wedding and elopement photography by Ernie Savarese
Studio portrait of Rovigo wedding photographer Alessandro Merlin of Veneto Italy
Wedding photography and couple portraits by Francesca Vitulano of Framelines
USA wedding photography by Lacey Butler
North Carolina wedding photography by Joe Payne
Bulgaria Wedding and Elopement Photographer Metodi Zheynov
Annie Kheffache wedding photography
Toronto wedding photographer Thomas Campean, of Ontario Canada
Cristina Tanase is a Wedding and Engagement Photographer
Sandra-Lee Layden
Canada Wedding Reportage Photography by Colleen Johnson
A color studio portrait of Santa Catarina wedding photographer Willian Mariot of the Brazil WPJA
BW Studio Portrait of wedding photographer Joey Curry of the USA WPJA
Var wedding photography by Marion Deletraz of PACA France
BW wedding photography by Mauricio Urena

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

Brittany Diliberto, of Virginia, is a wedding photographer for

WPJA Contest Photos - September 19th, 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.

At the Wedding Preparation Venue, Thillombois Castle: In an upward shot, the groom's witness ties a bow tie with the reflection of this scene captured in a mirror
Bride and groom on their special day at Giardini La Pergola, Alessandria, Italy, as they joyfully celebrate amid a shower of balloons, surrounded by delighted guests
The bridesmaids and the bride having a delightful time in Tuscany, Italy. With matching hair rollers and sunglasses, they share a laugh before the wedding ceremony
The bride's sister surprises everyone with a humorous entrance at the ceremony in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
A serene outdoor ceremony at Cordella Winery in Montalcino, Siena, captures the moment an unexpected guest joins in the wedding festivities
A saxophonist in Aix en Provence, France, stands on a chair at a table of guests, passionately serenading them with his lively music
In Pontecorvo, Italy, a couple shares their first dance on a dance floor illuminated by blue lights and enveloped in DJ fog. The magical ambiance adds a touch of romance to the festivities.
A couple in a canoe at sunrise on Mineral Lake, WA, gazes towards the horizon as the sun crests, symbolizing the start of their wedding day

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - July 12th, 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.

At Les Salles du Prieuré in Anzy le Duc, a shot of a casual cocktail gathering, showcasing a detailed image of a drink cup, coat, and purses resting on the grass, inviting a laid-back ambiance
In the wedding portrait, the bride gracefully reclines on a bed of flowers, beautifully framed by the warm, golden afternoon sun and contrasting stark shadows
Artistic wedding couple portrait from Ferme du Coudray: A married couple poses in the middle of the night at a round shaped building with a door
A well-illuminated portrait of the bride and groom in Bamberg
The wedding portrait taken in France at night is beautifully lit, with the couple framed by the romantic silhouette of tree branches overhead
Artistic wedding photo captures the traditionally-dressed bride in the midst of her bridesmaids, taken in New Jersey
Hillsborough, Northern Ireland – Two flower girls' dresses delicately suspended on the stairwell, basking in the soft illumination cascading from above
Aerial view of Smedmore House in Dorset, UK, captured by a drone during a wedding ceremony, showcasing the stunning Jurrasic coastline

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - September 16th, 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 happily walks on the brick street in DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York, as they head towards the bright sunlight during their engagement photo shoot
A captivating black and white portrait of the engaged couple romantically embracing amidst the timeless stone buildings of Siena, Tuscany
A groom-to-be lovingly kisses his fiance's neck as they embrace on the picturesque Flatirons Vista Trail during a romantic engagement session at sunset
A couple in Balatonboglár, Hungary stands face to face in a beautiful nature setting, surrounded by trees during their engagement photo shoot
A couple lovingly embraces each other at the top of a stairway, framed by the elegant architecture of the Boston Public Library
An engaged couple and their two dogs enjoy a scenic portrait session at Rocks Park Trail with the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater in the background
A romantic couple shares a tender silhouette kiss in the captivating bank vault of the iconic Rookery Building in Chicago, Illinois
A black and white portrait captures a low angle shot of a couple, with the bride-to-be leaning her head on the shoulder of her partner, against the stunning backdrop of Peña del Águila in Mancha Real, Jaén

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 photograph captured a beautiful and emotional moment as the bride held back tears while saying her vows outdoors at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, WI
The wedding photographer captured a timeless moment of love and joy as the bride's grandparents danced in an embrace at the Mountain Top Inn in Vermont
At a wedding in Bucharest, Romania, the groom lovingly hugged his sister - a beautiful black and white image captured the emotional moment
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 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 black and white photo of the friend hugging the bride, and groom has tears of joy whiped at Kasteel Maurick Vught - a beautiful and touching moment at their wedding
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
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