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

The bride and groom shared a moment during their ceremony at the Town Hall

Katie Roberts

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

The bride and her father enter the ceremony, as light glowed on the bride to signify the start of her small yet beautiful wedding

David Pullum

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 DIY - do it yourself, secret, 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

Searches Related to Des Moines Wedding Photography Vendors

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where can I find a photographer for a short-notice, small Des Moines wedding?

A: There are many WPJA photographers who are able to help you out at a moment's notice. We understand that sometimes love happens and there's simply no time to lose. We can ensure that you can get married as quickly as possible — and have incredible photographs to remember your Des Moines wedding day by.

Q: How can couples find top-ranked Des Moines wedding photographers?

A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Des Moines photographers you see at the top of your search results page have recently won the most — and the most recent — contest awards. Our contests judge photographers based on their creativity, style, composure, and ability to capture the heart of any couple's story on their wedding day.

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.

WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles

Essential Elopement Vendor - The Photographer

So your wedding is just around the corner and you’ve decided to elope , either because you want to do this on a budget , avoid a large wedding party, or simply to enjoy the day together with minimal distractions and as little stress as possible . They say 'all you...Read more

An Unforgettable Romance: The Intimacy of an Elopement

While some people live for the hustle and bustle of a big wedding with extravagant décor and an impossibly long guest list, others find these kinds of weddings to be too much hoopla, preferring instead something simpler and quieter, allowing for more intimacy between them...Read more

Top 4 Types of Small Weddings to Make Your Day Truly Yours

Everyone always says that your wedding day is all about you. But let’s face it; that’s not always actually the case. Many couples stress over guest lists, planning, expenses, and all the frills and traditions of your standard large wedding that they may or may...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.