Des Moines Wedding Photographers

Our Des Moines photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in:

Des Moines Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

LOVE WON'T WAIT! - Couples are quickly moving forward with smaller weddings. Our Des Moines photographers are ready to accommodate.

By planning a simple Des Moines elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. Given the fact that many couples feel more natural and at ease in intimate settings, it's no surprise that some of the most breathtaking wedding images come from elopements.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Des Moines documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!

Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards

Outdoor beach wedding photo as the bride basks in the sunlight

Carlo Bettuolo

The couple had a small, backyard wedding at their private home, with the ceremony on their own private dock by the water, video streaming live to family who could not attend

Viara Mileva

A romantic destination elopement portrait of the bride and groom

Carlo Bettuolo

Des Moines Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Des Moines wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.

Iowa WPJA members are ready to document any fast, city hall, justice of the peace, or elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Des Moines Wedding Venues

1 Des Moines Wedding Photographers...

Andrea Bibeault

Omaha in Nebraska, US *Now booking Des Moines weddings.

2600 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Des Moines Couples

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Des Moines wedding day?

A: While wedding photojournalists strive to capture candid moments on the wedding day, our photographers also are skilled artists who can compose powerful portraits. If you have a specific vision of what types of images you want from your wedding day, look at the top-ranked Des Moines wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.

Q: How can couples find Des Moines photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?

A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for Des Moines wedding photographers to showcase their best engagement photography work. These awards are given to photographers who prove that they have an ability to be creative, artistic, and intuitive while working on-location with couples who are newly engaged.

Q: Who are the best Des Moines wedding photographers for small elopements?

A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Des Moines documentary wedding photographers for elopements. Our members are able to submit WedElope Stories that take you step-by-step, via a 9 image picture story, through the unique and moving elopements that take place around the world.

WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles

Wedding Economy: The Ups and Downs

We all know that the economy can go through some hard times, and be somewhat reminiscent of past recessions. However, as people cut back on non-essential little luxuries here and there, one constant remains: weddings. People don’t tend to just stop getting married due...Read more

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 sunshine and that open, airy feeling and give your guests some room to breathe! LESS IS MORE Instead of hemming your...Read more

Smaller Weddings in a Time of Social Distancing

It’s no secret that these are strange times we’re going through right now, and there are many couples out there with weddings set in the near future who are left feeling uncertain and concerned about their futures. While that’s understandable, it’s also important to...Read more

WPJA Communiqué: Viewpoints

Elopements: Traditional and Modern

The oldsters among the WPJA ranks no doubt remember when 'to elope' meant, in Merriam-Webster’s definition, “to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental consent.” Many wedding photographers have gone on the lam with couples who did just that. However, even Merriam-Webster now acknowledges that “elope appears to have become shorthand for ‘ small destination weddings ,’ a ‘ wedding that is not financially insane ,’ or a ‘ wedding that allows us to not invite all the people we would rather not invite .’” Smaller Weddings are... Read more

What is Reportage?

On Instagram and elsewhere, one can see images labeled as #photojournalism or #reportage when they are, in fact, merely photos. I say "merely," even though photography has been my career's great passion. But it's because of that passion and my respect for the work of actual photojournalists that I am particularly bothered to see wedding photographers call their work "reportage." That word properly used actually means something important beyond just a stylistic conceit. By contrast, however, I'm the lead cheerleader for those practitioners of #weddingphotojournalism ... Read more

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.