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
Are you planning a short-notice, small wedding or elopement?
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS ARE OPEN - 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!
South Pacific Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of South Pacific, Oceania
Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga
South Pacific Elopement Photographers
YOU CAN'T STOP LOVE - In recent days, some of our photographer vendors 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 because of current wedding size restrictions, social distancing, and mask requirements. 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 Oceania Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small South Pacific 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 fast, courthouse, 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.
We are anxious to create a picture story chronicling your modern, religious, non-traditional, 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 South Pacific Couples
3 Documentary Wedding Photographers...
Kia Ora - hello! I'm Liz, a documentary wedding and family photographer based in beautiful Christchurch, New Zealand. I grew up in sunny Sydney, Australia, and all of my extended family are there, but my husband and I, along with our four kids, have called New Zealand home for the past decade. I have loved photography for as long as I can remember; receiving my first film camera as an 8-year-old, I grew up behind the lens. But my greatest love is people - they're simply fascinating! Being a sociology student also helped to foster my love for the uniqueness of the human spirit and to hone my observation skills. I am passionate about telling personal stories through photography as a medium - there is so much depth that can be seen and felt through a simple gesture or a facial expression that words alone could never express. We had a photograph of my great-grandparents' wedding on the wall in our house and, as a child, I found it mesmerising. It always made me wonder about the tales they could have told and what their lives had been like when they were younger. Wedding documentary photography fosters this love of storytelling for me, especially because I know these images from your wedding will be cherished and passed on through generations, weaving together your family's legacy. No two stories are ever the same. In 2019 I was showcased at the Elevate and Grow photography exhibition in Austin, Texas. I am constantly refining my craft and honing my skills so that I can continue to provide you with the highest-quality product and experience to help make your wedding day truly memorable. I only shoot a limited number of weddings each year because I want to give my clients the time and attention they deserve. I love to travel so please get in touch even if your wedding is outside New Zealand. I also visit Australia frequently. I'm so looking forward to connecting with you, so let's grab a virtual (or real) coffee and chat. English is my primary language, however, I can also communicate with you in French or in New Zealand Sign Language (similar to BSL/Auslan). If you are deaf and would like me to photograph your wedding, I can chat with you via Glide or FaceTime/Skype. N.B. Due to Covid-19 travel restrictions in New Zealand at this time, I may be unable to travel to your location until restrictions are lifted. Please do get in touch and we can look at your options. [Christchurch Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
1990 (NZD)
Johnleegraphy is found in 2009, and I specialize in wedding photography with a distinctive photojournalistic style in Hong Kong. My many satisfied clients testify that my style is all about capturing the right moment with the right perspective at the right place. In 2013 I became a destination wedding photographer going around the world for 6 countries, and have been awarded 5 significant prizes from AGWPJA. I am passionate about wedding photography because it focuses on the natural joy and happiness of the event. The beaming brides are usually enchanting while grooms are the most charming on that special day. Apart from the couple, I also like to capture different expressions from guests and easily-missed details on the day that make it special. To know more about my style and service, my past clients would show you from their client letter. Visit my website to see more client's letters and get to know more about me. [Hong Kong Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
19800 (HKD)
Born in India, brought up in New Zealand - exploring and experiencing the best of both worlds. I'm a sucker for South Asian weddings and nothing gets me more excited than capturing the diverse beauty of South Asian traditions, here in New Zealand. Capturing details at a wedding, especially an Indian wedding is crucial. But it doesn't need to be visually presented in a drawn-down repetitive manner. 60 weddings, 4 countries and 3 years - Over this time I've seen many nervous brides, overwhelmed parents, exhausted friends, and family who've been working hard to put on a beautiful wedding for their loved one. All those laughs, tears, and dancing are truly a sight to see; and encapsulating them on the photo is a privilege for me. I constantly explore new ideas and techniques that help us capture those authentic moments. I work intimately with all my couples and provide them with planning tools, creative advice, and anything they may need to make their big day, and my photography all the more memorable. [Auckland Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
1500 (NZD)
Wedding Engagement Diamond Awards - South Pacific
Are you ready to find your South Pacific engagement / pre-wedding photographer for a portrait session to complement your story of love? Searching for some ideas and creative inspiration for your own pre-wed shoot? Pro members from the South Pacific Wedding Photojournalist Association would like to help you add some unique and artistic pictures to your engagement photo gallery!
Searches Related to South Pacific Wedding Photography Vendors
WPJA Communiqué: Features
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
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
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
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
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
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Crystal & Bosco
Photo by John Lee
We are so glad that we found you to be our wedding photographer because you are so friendly, professional, and responsible. You and your team worked wonderfully with our other film/photography crew, which was very important for us because we had three different groups of photographers/cinematographers. You are very professional and communicated with everyone very well so we never had to worry about crew getting into each others way. You were very responsible, always on time and sent us the final photos very promptly after the wedding. You also were really patient with us whenever we had questions or needed his help. You never seemed irritated or unreliable or unreachable, always happy and quick to reply to my messages. Most importantly, you took beautiful photos of our wedding day and captured all our happy and emotional moments. This made us feel very comfortable and ensured we captured all the essential family photos that we will cherish forever. Your photos were very real and natural and we love them very much! We are so glad that we hired you to be our wedding photographer and would highly recommend all our friends and family to book you as well!
Suzanne & Clement
Photo by John Lee
Hello John, Thank you for capturing our special moment in both our banquet in Penang and Hong Kong. You managed to snap all our precious moments and your photos truly touched our hearts. You managed to capture all details and looking at our photos truly brings us back to our wonderful wedding again. Your light heartedness made the wedding fun and enjoyable yet all shots taken were professional and artistic. Even showing our photos to those that did not attend our wedding, they could clearly see the romance, joy and fun. A lot of people in Penang have asked for your contact details But unfortunately you are in Hong Kong! You managed very well as a single photographer in our Penang wedding, not easy for a big banquet.
Kate & Dom
Photo by John Lee
To John and his wonderful team, Thank you so much for your amazing work. I can’t thank you enough for doing such a great job at capturing the memories on our special day, just the way we liked. Thanks for being so understanding and completely flexible on the day. We were probably one of your most chaotic clients (we know that) but your team’s and your calm presence was exceptional. We never felt pressured for once on the day and you just went with flow. All the meetings I had with you before the wedding were informative. It was a great idea to have met you properly before the wedding. We absolutely love our videos and the pictures – they bring us back to the day every time we see them. I particularly love how they capture the happiness and emotions of our friends and families, they are priceless and we can’t wait to show them to our friends and families from overseas! John, sincerely thank you again for making our wedding day so memorable. Your creativity and special ability deserves to be recognized. I have no doubt recommending your service to all of my friends and families and I’m looking forward to future collaborations with you and your great team. Best wishes, Kate Chow
Julie & Jeffrey
Photo by John Lee
You are a talented and accommodating photographer. Booking you and your team was very simple and throughout the lead-up to our wedding you were clear and efficient. On the day, you and your team were unfailingly polite and friendly to everyone you came across, and made us and all the guests feel very comfortable in front of the camera. Your team tried the best to accommodate the guests, our family and our demand without complaints. You are great talent for capturing a feeling in an image. You delivered a beautiful set of images that capture many very happy memories despite the occasionally gloomy weather on the day. We were particularly impressed with the shots taken at the rooftop of Excelsior Hotel. I’m sure we will continue to enjoy looking through them for years to come.
Dawn & Man
Photo by John Lee
Thank you for creating such a precious memory for our wedding. It was when I searched on the internet for just the perfect photographer for our wedding that I came upon your website. Your work is truly inspiring, your pictures are full of warmth and you are able to capture all those touching and meaningful moments. With you, we were certain that our wedding pictures are in good hands and we looked forward to a warm and God-loving wedding. Recalling the discussions before the wedding, your replies were always quick and passionate. You asked for our wedding details and our input on ideas gave us confident that you were serious in your work. Meanwhile we expressed to you that we hope to capture a lot of happy and cheerful moments, not necessary of ourselves but also of our guests. Now with the photos in our hands, we cannot help but laugh out loud as we go through the pictures in delight. We were wondering what was exactly happening during the time you caught the picture of people laughing so hard. We are sharing all these lovely pictures with our family and friends and everyone is so touched and pleased with them. Of course, you made us look so beautiful in these photos as we never thought we could be so photogenic! Our parents are also praising with laughter, "They are so stunning!". We really want to give a big thank you for the work you have done on our special day. Thank you Lord we met such an upbeat and passionate photographer who is able to grasp precious moments and is thoughtful of the bride and groom. We also appreciate your two assistants for their help. Wish you all the best and hope you can continue taking more sweet photos for the newly weds.
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.
