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 guests in on all sides, give them some elbow room, and legroom, too. There's no need to induce claustrophobia when you've got a wide, open space. Let your guests take in the view, especially if you've got a spectacular one. You...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!
Michigan Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of Michigan, United States
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Dearborn, Livonia
Michigan 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 Michigan 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 secret, city hall, DIY - do it yourself, 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 boutique, non-traditional, intimate, 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 Michigan Couples
12 Documentary Wedding Photographers...
Ray Anthony Iavasile is the owner of Ray Anthony Photography in Birmingham, Michigan. He began photographing weddings in Los Angeles, California in 1992, but his love and passion for his documentary style of photographing weddings began clicking for him in the early 2000s when he traded in his Bronica medium format cameras for faster Canon 35mm SLR's. The change opened the door to shoot a lot more candid-style photos than ever before. This ignited a passion in him to redirect his focus entirely to photographing weddings from beginning to end as a documentary style wedding photographer, or as a wedding photojournalist. By 2004, with the acquisition of his first professional digital camera, there was no turning back. He began developing an authentic style of capturing the "decisive moment" and has since become an expert at documenting the unfolding story of the couple's wedding day. For the last four years running with WPJA, Ray has ranked as one of the Top 150 wedding photojournalists in the world, once in the Top 100 and twice ranking in the Top 50. In 2019, Ray's success has seen him climb to the #7 wedding photojournalist in North America, and #28 in the world. When Ray is commissioned to photograph a wedding, he truly believes it’s his job to photograph the “complete story” of that day! He is so sincere with this idea, that he even provides "unlimited coverage" on the wedding day, photographing from the early morning until the end of the night! Ray doesn’t want to miss a single moment! Ray Anthony Iavasile earned his BA Degree at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. The Ray Anthony Photography showroom has been located in Birmingham, Michigan since 2005 and Ray has become the premier wedding photojournalist in all of Michigan. Though most of his weddings are photographed in the Metro Detroit area, he has photographed weddings extensively in California as well as Florida, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Ray is always willing to travel to destinations around the world. He is also an underwater photographer and would love to photograph a wedding under the sea! [Detroit Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
4500 (USD)
Shannon discovered her love for wedding photography while working as an ad exec for Modern Bride Magazine. It was there that she first learned of the term "photojournalist" and worked with some of the most sought-after photographers in the industry. Shannon loves to capture real life reactions and moments that happen during a wedding when family and friends are just being themselves. Her greatest compliment has been when brides have told her how amazed they were that they had so many incredible images and yet didn't even realize that they were being photographed. An international award winning photojournalist, Shannon has been a full time wedding photographer for over 10 years. She has worked professionally in Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles and has just recently moved back home to the Metro Detroit area. [Detroit Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
400/hour (USD)
Claire Abendroth works alongside her business partner, Matthew Lash, to form Fresh Coast Candids. She has a passion for telling stories and does so by getting to know each subject individually and forming a unique bond with each of them. She will work with passion to make sure each client goes home satisfied and with copious amounts of memories to always remember their big day. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelors of Science in photojournalism. Currently, she is a photographer at Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development. In the past, she has worked as a Photography Intern with MLive Media Group and the Jackson Citizen Patriot as well as a Photo Intern for University Communications at Central Michigan University. She has also worked for the National Park Service and Student Conservation Association as a Media Specialist. She has won multiple awards including third place College Photographer of the Year for two years in a row, as well as second place Feature Story for “Picking This Life” and third place Sports Feature Story for “The Love For Rugby” at the Michigan Press Photographers Association seminar in 2016 and 2017. She is currently located in Lansing, Michigan. [Lansing Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2000 (USD)
I love candid photos, the small moments between friends or two lovers, the very short instant which nobody will remember if a camera wasn't around to catch it. I have been taking pictures since I was a kid. I have started taking professional pictures ten years ago using my camera to tell stories with a journalism aspect. I now want to use my skills to photograph your wedding with my unique point of view on photography. Your love is a story and my job is to describe it through my photos. As a photojournalist, I have won many international photo competitions, and have been selected for many collective exhibitions in Paris, Great Britain and Finland. My personal work is an important part of my photography skills. [Washington DC Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
2900 (USD)
Working as a photojournalist for the past 11 years for clients like Getty Images, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Major League Baseball, NASCAR and The Denver Post, to name a few, I've had the opportunity to document stories, events and people all over the country. I bring that level of experience, problem-solving and hard work to each and every wedding that I photograph. I've shot more than 130 weddings and elopements in my career which is something I can admit that I didn't see coming as a business student at the University of Denver, CO. I definitely thought I would end up in the advertising industry but I picked up a camera while studying abroad in Rome, Italy and haven't put it down since. I love spending time with my fianceé, Amy, and our families. When I have some free time I can usually be found on the golf course, riding one of my three bikes or snowboarding. I am passionate about cooking and craft beer, having tried more than 2,000 unique beers to date. [Denver Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3900 (USD)
Aloha! I'm Angie and I'm living the dream as a Hawaii wedding photographer. Truly, as a kid, I always wanted to be a lost boy and live in a treehouse surrounded by the jungle and the sea. And Hawaii is probably as close to Neverland as I will get. I always grew up with a sense of wonder and adventure, but my journals as a kid weren’t filled with grand ideas of living in Hawaii and photographing couples on one of the most important days of their lives. This career found when I was teaching high school in Maui. I moved to Maui, Hawaii in 2009 with my husband and was immediately inspired to pick up my dusty old camera and start photographing this beautiful place. What began as a side hustle quickly turned into a passion and eventually a full-time career. I began shooting weddings in 2010 and can truly say that I love documenting the real moments during the wedding day. Real moments + the beauty of Hawaii is what I'm always inspired by. I cry at every wedding and always aim to see the world differently for each day that I'm shooting. When I'm not photographing weddings, you can find me outside enjoying Maui or spending quality time with my husband and daughter. [Maui Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3400 (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)
I’ve had a camera in my hand since I can remember. On family vacations each of us had a camera and would come back with several rolls of film. It was great to see different perspectives of the same place. My photos became more refined throughout my childhood as I graduated to my stepdad’s Minolta film SLR. As a teenager and self professed “scene-kid” my interests turned to boys, music and books so my photos changed as well. I would deck myself out in black eyeliner weekly to shoot photographs of my favorite musicians. Bands are still one of my favorite photo subjects by the way, so be prepared if you get me started talking about them. In college I dedicated myself to photography professionally with a degree in photojournalism, then found my calling with a wedding studio at 19. I’ve since been published in Paste and XLR8R print magazines as well as Billboard Online, Tahoe Unveiled, Borrowed and Blue, The Knot, and Wedding Wire Blogs. On a more personal note, I’m a former Michigander who has called north Lake Tahoe her home since October 2011. I still miss Michigan beer (the best in the world, don’t argue), cherries, pasties (savory meat pies found in the UP) and warm nights but I couldn’t imagine living anywhere but Tahoe. I’m fascinated by all the quirky, wild, backwoods parts of America and I’m only missing four states on my quest to 50; Oklahoma, New Mexico, Maine and Alaska. I love all things outdoors. I hike or mountain bike almost every day with my Irish Wolfhound/Greyhound mix, Lindy and my big crazy Great Dane Captain. I also love to ski (badly), SUP and kayak, and volunteer with Achieve Tahoe. When I’m not shooting, sleeping or eating popcorn, I’m probably with my husband of almost one year, Keegan! [Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
500 (USD)
Travis began shooting weddings while working as a newspaper photojournalist in the Chicago suburbs. Travis continues to shoot news and sports throughout the Chicago area. He currently lives in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood with his wife and their terrier pup, Bella. His work has been recognized by the Michigan and Illinois Press Photographers Associations and the Associated Collegiate Press. He was named 2005 College Photographer of the Year by the MPPA. His photos have appeared in major publications throughout the Midwest, including the Chicago Sun-Times, the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Detroit Free Press. Travis is a graduate of Michigan State University and still points to the back of his hand to show people where he grew up. [Chicago Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3900 (USD)
When I’m not photographing weddings, you are most likely to find me traveling the world or straight up relaxing with my husband in Logan Square. My favorite recent trips include Thailand, France, and the Northwest Territories of Canada. When my bags aren’t packed, you can find me drinking iced lattes (even in the dead of winter), listening to music on a blanket in Logan Blvd (not in the dead of winter), or at home with my husband and little terrier (David and Frankie, respectively.) I am a Chicago-based wedding photographer who loves getting to know my clients. I love telling stories with my images. And I love weddings. When my clients look back on their wedding images, I want them to remember how it felt to be there. I want them to have beautiful images of moments they may have missed– a tear quickly swept away, a big laugh, a quick but meaningful glance. While I love classic poses and unique composition, my favorite photographs always end up being the moments that happen naturally. I am drawn to beautiful light and real emotion. I am always striving to create that image that will make you say ‘wow.’ With passion, dedication, creativity, and style, I specialize in telling beautiful love stories with photos that capture the essence of each couple. [Chicago Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
4000 (USD)
I have had a camera in my hand since I was about 7 years old. Photography is truly a passion for me and I am fortunate enough to mix my work with my passion. I attended Hope College in Holland, MI and graduated with a degree in Art focusing in Photography and Ceramics, and a degree in Psychology. I currently reside in San Antonio, Texas with my husband and son. We are expecting our second child this spring. Thank you for taking the time to look at my work. I would be honored if you would allow me the privilege of sharing your moments and helping tell your story. [San Antonio Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3800 (USD)
1 more photographers available for your wedding...
3200
US Dollar
Miriam Doan
Chicago in Illinois, United StatesMiriam is a video and photojournalist based in the third coast’s Great Lakes region and proudly calls Chicago home. An award-winning published wedding photographer for over 15 years, she also works in the development sector as a visual...
Wedding Venues from Michigan
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WPJA Communiqué: Features
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 and their fiancés on this special day. So how do you infuse your wedding with all the romance but none of the fuss? ALONE AT LAST Many couples these days are opting to elope rather than planning a large wedding. For the no-...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
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 not even be interested in. Fortunately, though, the concept of small weddings is becoming increasingly popular for couples who either want to be able to completely customize their day where and when they want with the option...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
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 remember the reason you’re getting married in the first place; not for the grand celebration, but because you love each other and want to be together. REMEMBER WHAT'S IMPORTANT You’re in this position now, about to get married, for...Read more
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Shabnam and Joseph
Photo by Justin Edmonds
Choosing you was the easiest part of the shit show that was wedding planning. Working with you is something I would choose over a hundred times, you get how silly and impulsive we are . And You’re so damn tall, but you move like a ghost to get a shot that is as if it was taken from right in front of me. I remember dancing with you for like two seconds, and otherwise, don’t remember seeing you. It’s unbelievable. Thank you for capturing our wedding so perfectly. I would love to buy you a drink whenever you’re in town and are free.
Lacy & Tommy
Photo by Justin Edmonds
Omg we absolutely love these and yes you made me cry!! Thank you for making our day one we will never forget :)
Katie and Joel
Photo by Justin Edmonds
Dear Justin, Thank you so much for all your hard work in August! We are so grateful for the photos that captured our wedding day perfectly and will help us remember it forever. Your advice and experience was so valuable and we can't thank you enough.
Heather and Matt
Photo by Justin Edmonds
Holy smokes, you are ridiculously talented. Which I already knew, but, DAMN these photos are incredible! Thank you for sharing and posting about our day! We’re so grateful we trusted you with capturing it.
Sienna and Jacob
Photo by Justin Edmonds
WE ARE CRYING. THEY ARE SO GOOD. Gotta go, we're going to go look at them all over again. I have never seen better wedding photos in my life and I will flex on everyone soon.
Holly and Hayden
Photo by Justin Edmonds
I absolutely ADORE these photos!! You did an amazing job and I just want to show you one simple shot that just gave goosebumps because it was basically a recreation of my best friend and I's favorite picture from graduating high school. I just feel the love and growth and maturity we've got through together in your picture. I wanted to let you know and let you know you're doing such a great job with your work even in these small moments-- whether you know it or not!
Melissa and Jordan
Photo by Justin Edmonds
They are amazing! Thank you so very much for everything, it was a pleasure having you be a part of our journey, from engagement to marriage. The pictures really show our happiness and love, they’re perfect. Thank you!
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.
