Des Moines Wedding Photographers

Our Des Moines photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Urbandale, Johnston, West Des Moines, Clive, Altoona, Ankeny, Indianola, Ames, Newton, Boone, Pella, Grinnell, Marshalltown, Oskaloosa, Fort Dodge

Des Moines Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Des Moines - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Des Moines photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the joy and intimacy of your wedding day.

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 happy couple is having an elopement ceremony on the beach, with the bride's three boys playing in the sand

Simi Rabinowitz

The tender moment between mother, bride, and son, captured in time as the bride arrives at the wedding ceremony with a beaming smile, will be cherished forever

Nathan Walker

The military couple had a small wedding at a church, and made a grand exit under swords held by the honor guard

Eduardo Blanco

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 small, justice of the peace, fast, 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, a wedding photojournalist, along with her husband Ed, adopt a low-key style to capture moments of love and individualism in their wedding photography.

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: 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: 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.

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.

WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles

Jola Mulder, of Overijssel, is a wedding photographer for

Bringing it Home: The Joys of a Backyard Wedding

Oftentimes when people are considering a venue for their weddings, they search for a location away from home, whether that be ten minutes or ten hours, all just to find what they already have: a place that holds meaning for them, that feels comfortable, or that they find...Read more

Small Weddings - How to Budget and Save

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...Read more

Clean background in this photo of the bride walking into her mountain ceremony.

Adventure Wedding Elopements

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...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.