WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN TO ELOPE? If you look up the definition of “elope” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary , you’ll find a plethora of meanings making it quite clear how polarizing the word has become, and how it has transformed and evolved with the passage of time and even personal preference.Read more
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!
Iowa Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of Iowa, United States
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo, Dubuque
Iowa Elopement Photographers
In recent days, some of our North America photographers have expressed their desire to accommodate couples who don’t want to wait to be married and are rushing the ceremony.
Many brides and grooms around the globe are planning to elope and deciding to reschedule their original ideas for a big event. They are getting wed on a whim, but dispensing with or postponing all else.
The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, documentary-style elopement photographers who are available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Most Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Elopement Photographers for Small United States Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small Iowa 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.
Members are ready to document any mini, secret, courthouse, 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.
We are anxious to create a picture story chronicling your intimate, non-traditional, casual, small wedding from beginning to end. In this sense, it is no different from any other event that we have covered. The emphasis is on documenting key moments, capturing spontaneous displays of emotion, telling your real love story, as well as creating artistic portraits and details.
Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Iowa Couples
7 Documentary Wedding Photographers...
I take a classic approach to photographing your wedding. Above all else, I'm a storyteller: documenting moments, capturing the emotions of one of the most important days in your lifetime. I emphasize the authentic. Timeless, classic, true; I aim far more towards showing your connection and love than any current trend in wedding photography. In 30 years, I want you to look at your photographs and feel the same way you did at the wedding. I think you deserve photos of your love story that are as timeless as your love. I want to connect with you beyond "style"….photography or otherwise. I want to meet you. I want to know you! I want to know what your lives look like outside of the wedding planning process. And, really, I need that to get the kinds of images I want to give you. The best photographs come when you're willing to let me into your story. I won't pose you to get the perfect photo…the perfect photo is going to come from your connection with each other. Letting me in on that connection is what creates a meaningful, timeless image. [Des Moines Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3075 (USD)
My talented husband Ed, and I are Omaha, NE wedding photographers. We met when we got paired up to work on a project in one of our art classes in college. He asked me on a date (to the free movie on campus) and the rest is history! We are visual storytellers. We love working together and we are inspired by the wide range of emotions people experience throughout the wedding day. This is why we specialize in photographing weddings with a photojournalistic-style, creating, and capturing your story of love. Our profession has allowed us to visit new places, meet interesting people, explore different cultures and traditions. Documenting intimate moments that reflect the personalities and shared love with not only your partner, but those who surround you during your day of celebration. Ultimately, creating your unique, one-of-a-kind love story. [Omaha Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2600 (USD)
Chicago-based photographer Allison Williams specializes in modern, documentary wedding photography. Allison worked as a staff photojournalist for Sun-Times Media before starting her own company in 2010. She continues to photograph news and events and uses the same approach for weddings as she does in her newspaper and magazine work. Allison’s style comes out of a unique background–a mix of fine art, documentary, and journalistic photography define her particular approach. [Chicago Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3000 (USD)
Janine has been photographing weddings in the Omaha area for 15 years! She is inspired by silly people, endearing mothers, and adorable grandpas. She is skilled in photographing people in their element and getting a good laugh out of just about anyone. You can often find Janine "swinging from the fences" to get her amazing shots...literally and figuratively. It's not uncommon for her to climb a tree or to the top of a car to where she needs to be. In Janine's "downtime" you can find her loving her husband and four kids, going on long runs, and laughing with her lady friends. [Omaha Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2500 (USD)
Ruthie’s roots are in photojournalism and art. She received a scholarship to attend Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, where she majored in photography and minored in drawing. She interned at the Irish Times Newspaper in Dublin, Ireland. Upon graduation, she launched her photography business and in 2006, was hired as a Staff Photographer by Sun-Times Media. There she worked for almost 7 years covering memorable events such as the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the 2008 Olympic Trials for Track and Field in Eugene, Oregon, and Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field. During her tenure at Sun-Times Media, she earned 18 State and National Photojournalism awards. In the summer of 2012, Ruthie and her husband welcomed their first child, and she made the decision to give up her staff position to focus on her business and her new role as Mom. Ruthie and her husband now have two young sons and a huge cat. They try to live simply and enjoy outdoor recreation, live music, a good glass of wine and travel. In 2017, Ruthie and her family relocated from the Chicago area to Madison, WI. Before a long day of photography Ruthie's pre-game ritual includes 8+ hours of sleep, a burger, a playlist of Hall & Oates, and an iced white chocolate mocha. On assignment, Ruthie is usually doing whatever is necessary to get the best possible photo, whether it be sloshing through a ditch, balancing on the roof of a skyscraper, flying in a blimp or standing in a bathtub. She loves EVERY minute of it. Ruthie's goal is to go above and beyond for her clients while also capturing as much personality, life and storytelling in her images as possible. [Madison Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3250 (USD)
[Peggy is a founding member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. Her membership dates back to June of 2003.] We are a small-town couple with big hearts and talent for capturing meaningful people moments - those moments that take your breath away and bring back the powerful feelings that make living worthwhile. We work quietly and unobtrusively to keep you at the center of your day. Former staff photographer for: The Kansas City Star, The Leavenworth Times, The St. Joseph News-Press, The Boulder Daily Camera, The Pueblo Chieftain. Also published through Associated Press with work appearing in national and international publications. Degree: The University of Missouri at Kansas City - Creative Writing and Journalism [Kansas Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
995 (USD)
I have been a wedding photographer for over 9 years, inspired by my father's photography career in photojournalism. I grew up in the tropical lands of Costa Rica, where I met the love of my life, and we... [Minneapolis Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3200 (USD)
Searches Related to Iowa Wedding Photography Vendors
WPJA Communiqué: Features
Some couples, as they begin planning for their weddings, might think that they are limited to the classic locations: churches, gardens, beaches, or even Las Vegas. But in doing so they’re missing out on a multitude of unique options that might suit their personalities much better! Why limit yourself to a quiet, quaint ceremony when your adventurous heart may be calling out for something more? An entirely different genre of wedding, so to speak, is the adventure wedding elopement. This concept...Read more
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 to a poor economy, nor should they! So, in an industry that keeps on going through thick and thin, what are some things to expect for the future, and what is really necessary to still make that wedding day memorable and...Read more
While some of us were fortunate enough to be born as extroverts, not everyone feels the same way. For a good chunk of the population, any number of the typical wedding day traditions can inspire anxiety and existential dread. This day is all about you, yes, but does that mean all the attention has to be on you as well? FROM VOWS TO CHITCHAT, WHICH REMAINS SACRED? Traditional weddings often require some degree of performance on the part of the couple, whether that is in the form of reciting...Read more
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 need is love', but where exactly can you afford to trim the fat, so to speak? You want simplicity, but you also want to be properly married and, surely, to remember this occasion. Who, then, could be more important than...Read more
Traditionally speaking, often times it is the couple’s families who help pay for their wedding. However, unfortunately that’s just not possible for everyone, especially these days when the cost of weddings can quickly and easily get out of control. Some couples find themselves in the position of paying for all of their own wedding expenses, which can be quite the financial burden to take on, and about 40% of Millennials end up in this boat. So, how can you stick to your allotted...Read more
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Stephen & Melissa
Photo by Mark Cluney
You have an eye for all things beautiful and were able to get the raw emotion and feelings we were experiencing into each of the photos. You captured the HEART of our wedding. The joy, anticipation, humor and love fill your photos and are now forever available to us. I loved working with you. You was thorough but everything felt very efficient. We felt taken care of and got so many amazing shots of the entire day! I loved that you caught the emotions of the guests... and of me and my husband. Looking through the photos of our wedding it's easy to connect right back in the midst of moments that felt like such a blur in the moment.
Linda + Brian
Photo by Ruthie Hauge
THANK YOU for the most beautiful wedding photos. Brian and I just finished looking at them and they are absolutely stunning! You captured our day perfectly and we couldn't have asked for anything more. We loved working with you on our wedding! You are incredibly talented and we can't thank you enough. We have received so many compliments on our photos and how gorgeous they all are.
Leah + Cody
Photo by Mark Cluney
As an artist from a family of artists, I was incredibly discerning in choosing a photographer; I couldn't have made a better decision. The creativity and quality of our photos far surpassed our expectations and additionally...and I still cannot believe how quickly after our wedding we received our photos. We have received SO many compliments on our pictures and most importantly, we absolutely love them.
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.
