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.

Wedding reportage photography by Nadine Lotze of Lumoid Photo
Wedding and Elopement Photographer Andreas Pollok
Casey Fatchett Wedding Photography
Song Johns wedding and elopement photography of Blooming Dreams Photo
Cristina Tanase is a Wedding and Engagement Photographer
BW studio portrait of adventure wedding photographer Eliza Slobodzian
Engagement Portraits by top Wedding and Elopement Photographer Sylvain Bouzat
BW wedding photography by Mauricio Urena
Wedding and engagement portraits by Michelle Arlotta
Rhode Island and Providence wedding and elopement photography by Kathryn Yeaton
Germany Wedding Photographer Bartosz Ciesielski
Mike Cook is a Scotland based creative wedding photographer
England documentary wedding and elopement photography by Nathan Eames
France Wedding Photographer Florent Fauqueux
Colorado wedding photography and CO couple engagement portraits by Joe Pyle
Portrait of Nottinghamshire elopement and wedding photographer Martin Makowski, of United Kingdom England East Midlands
Annie Kheffache wedding photography

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:

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

Stephanie Secrest, of California, is a wedding photographer for
Rebekah Sampson, of Arizona, is a wedding photographer for
Wayne La, of London, is a wedding photographer for The Secret Garden, Kent, UK

WPJA Contest Photos - January 19th, 2024

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 Jaipur, India, an emotional moment unfolds as the bride and groom are surrounded by their loved ones, shedding tears during the ceremony
At Zug, Switzerland's ceremony location, the newly married couple celebrates their special day by joyfully exiting under a cascade of bubbles, captured in a stunning black and white image.
At Salones Mayestic in Arjona, Jaén, this wedding couple faces a playful challenge as they are lifted on their friends' shoulders. The bride stretches to reach the cake topper, held by the groom atop the cake.
In this heartwarming wedding day picture captured in Cahors, the bride and groom sit together at the front of the church while the bride's daughter wraps her arms around her in a loving embrace.
At Coulibri Ridge - Soufriere, Dominica, the bride's sister gives a heartfelt toast during the intimate and joyous wedding reception captured by the wedding photojournalist
A happy bride and groom smile and raise their hands in celebration after their ceremony at the Dekalb History Center. This image won an award from the WPJA, showcasing the photographer's expertise in wedding photography.
Guest enjoying a game of Giant Jenga on the lawn at Ashton Lodge, Warwickshire wedding venue, while vaping.
A picture of the bride's parents, who fell asleep at the wedding, on the couches in the lobby of a hotel in Nanping, Fujian

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 31st, 2024

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.

Wedding photo captured in Florence, showcasing an intimate black and white detail shot from above. The groom is seen fastening the final button of his vest.
A couple gazes into the distance before a majestic waterfall during a photo shoot, captured by a talented wedding photographer at Kvernufoss, Iceland.
In this award-winning wedding day portrait, the joyous bride and groom stand facing each other amidst rows of grape vines at a romantic reception venue in France. The photo is captured in black and white.
Newlyweds embrace against a majestic sunset backdrop at Domaine de Chaillauroy in Centre-Val de Loire. This stunning portrait captures the beauty and romance of their special day.
Embracing the rustic charm, this award-winning portrait captures the couple's love and connection as they lean against the red brick wall, admiring each other and her beautiful wedding bouquet at Residence House, Ruse, Bulgaria.
An award-winning wedding day portrait captured by a professional photographer at The Terrace at Cedar Hill. The image showcases the bride's captivating eyes as she gazes through her elegant white veil.
This award-winning photo showcases intricate details of Amalfi flower girls delicately walking on paved square stones, perfectly complementing the bride's stunning layered dress.
In a park, this award-winning wedding portrait captures a lovely pose between the brides. They stand back-to-back, holding hands and smiling at each other, with a bouquet of flowers in hand.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - February 14th, 2024

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 stylish pre-wedding engagement portrait captured in the charming streets of Székesfehérvár. The couple is featured prominently in the frame as he gracefully kisses her hand while dropping to one knee.
Romantic engagement portrait captured amidst the lush greenery of Jardin des Plantes, Toulouse. This couple's love story unfolds as they sit embraced, surrounded by nature, symbolizing their union.
Lifestyle couple portrait at Ashridge, Hertfordshire. This beautifully composed pre-wedding engagement portrait captures the couple during golden hour in an orchard, holding hands amidst a backdrop of yellow flowers and lush green grass.
A couple preparing to tie the knot elegantly posed for their engagement portrait session in Harrisburg, PA. The silhouettes of the couple were captured against a picturesque garage door backdrop on City Island, illuminated by spotlights.
Lifestyle couple portrait captured in Boulder, CO featuring a romantic stroll down a snow-coated trail against the backdrop of the majestic Flatirons, with hints of tall dry grass adding to the picturesque scene.
A creatively composed lifestyle couple portrait captured in Cappadocia, Turkey. Lost in their affection, the couple embraces amidst a horse stampede within a dry corral, creating a captivating image.
Lifestyle couple portrait in Taormina, Sicily. The lovely couple is seen in elegant earth tones, leaning against each other and a natural rock wall formation.
Lifestyle couple portrait at Estes Park, CO. A couple embraces amidst the vibrant Autumn foliage in the mountain backdrop. Newly-engaged, they are captured in a beautifully lit photograph by the photographer.

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
The bride's tearful joy and the groom's humorous charm were beautifully captured in a wedding photo at Snowmass, Aspen Colorado with a backdrop of fall colored trees during their outdoor ceremony
The wedding photo taken at West Haven, Connecticut captured a touching moment of a groom shedding tears as his mother lovingly does his hair for the big day
The bride and her father shared an emotional moment as he kissed her head in the back of the limo just before the ceremony, captured perfectly in their wedding photo from Trieste, Italy
The photographer at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Richmond, Virginia captured a beautiful moment of the bride and bridesmaids tearfully witnessing the groom's heartfelt vows
The photographer at the W Hotel in Chicago, IL captured a beautiful moment of the bride kissing her grandma right before walking down the aisle
The tender loving moment of the bride caressing her groom's face during their wedding ceremony at Duino, Trieste, Italy was captured perfectly in the wedding photo
The photographer captured a beautiful moment at Montlouis sur Loire, as the two mothers of the couple tearfully embraced outdoors