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...Read more
Virginia Wedding Photographers
Virginia Wedding Photographers
Our Virginia photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Hampton, Roanoke, Portsmouth, Arlington, Williamsburg, Luray, and Leesburg
Virginia Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements
Intimate Wedding Photography in Virginia - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Virginia 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 Virginia 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, Virginia documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Virginia Photographers for Large or Small Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small Virginia 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.
United States WPJA members are ready to document any town hall, fast, city hall, 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 Virginia Wedding Venues
35 Virginia Wedding Photographers...
Drawing from her background in professional lighting design, Brittany Diliberto, an East Coast USA-based photographer, applies a documentary approach to her visual storytelling. Through her artistic lens, she skillfully captures spectacular moments, creating a visual...
4250 (USD)
Xiaoqi Li is a destination wedding photographer who is dedicated to capturing the genuine and meaningful moments of couples' special days. With a deep appreciation for the importance of photographs in preserving memories, she aims to provide peace of mind to her...
0 (USD)
In a journalistic style, USA-based wedding photographer Johnny Shryock has been recognized as a visual storyteller, capturing incredible moments since his own brother's wedding a decade ago. Through his unique approach, he builds a connection with couples, putting them...
4250 (USD)
With a passion for storytelling through images, Megan Rei is a documentary wedding photographer based in the Washington metropolitan area. Combining her experience in dog photography with her love for traveling, Megan strives to create a visual narrative that captures...
4000 (USD)
Mike Kropf is a native Charlottesvillian and passionate wedding photographer. Fueled by his love of camping and exploring, Mike discovered his passion for preserving memories through artful photography in the Middle East.
3000 (USD)
Wedding photographer Anastasiia Polyakov is an experienced creative based in the US for 10 years. Using her upbringing, Anastasiia celebrates human spirit and emotion with her photography. Mixing compassion and expressions, Anastasiia aims to memorialize the essence of...
3500 (USD)
As a documentary wedding photographer, Lauren Barkume possesses a deep love for nature and travel, which seamlessly blend into her photographs. She believes in capturing the authentic narrative of couples, empowering them to embrace their true selves.
4990 (USD)
Sarah Sta Ana is a documentary wedding photographer based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. With a love for storytelling, she has a knack for capturing raw, pure, and beautiful moments.
1800 (USD)
Heather Hughes Ostermaier, a Virginia wedding photographer, specializes in capturing unforgettable moments using a journalistic style. With her extensive background in photojournalism, she artfully and unobtrusively documents each wedding.
2999 (USD)
Amber is a highly acclaimed wedding photographer based in Richmond, Virginia. With over ten years of experience in capturing beautiful wedding moments, her work has been featured in top wedding publications. Amber specializes in weddings in the greater Virginian area and...
4750 (USD)
Emie McGee, a talented documentary wedding photographer from Lynchburg, VA, brings her expertise and passion for film photography to capture your special day in a unique and unforgettable way.
3200 (USD)
Wes Shinn, a seasoned wedding photojournalist with a decade of experience as a military photojournalist, expertly captures the essence and emotions of your wedding day, creating unforgettable memories.
3400 (USD)
With his documentary approach, Michael Freas weaves a visual narrative that tells the unique story of the wedding day. His dedication to capturing authentic moments and allowing couples to fully celebrate has established him as a highly respected wedding photographer.
Michael Freas
Asheville in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3800 (USD)
Neil Thurston is a destination wedding photographer who takes a documentary approach to storytelling through visual imagery. With a background in action sports photography and extensive international experience, Neil uses his unobtrusive style to capture the authentic...
Neil Thurston
Nags Head in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.500/hour (USD)
Christine Hochkeppel, a seasoned New England wedding photojournalist, has a decade of experience capturing weddings and has contributed to renowned publications like Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Cape Cod Times, and the Boston Globe.
Christine Hochkeppel
Osterville in Massachusetts, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3675 (USD)
With a passion for capturing moments in a journalistic style, Kenneth Clapp brings an unobtrusive approach to his work as a wedding photojournalist. He skillfully documents the emotions and moments of each couple's big day, ensuring their love story is told through...
Kenneth Clapp
Baltimore in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3000 (USD)
As a skilled wedding photojournalist, Song Johns, the creative genius behind Blooming Dreams Photo, specializes in capturing the intimate and authentic moments of couples and families.
Song Johns
Charlotte in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2900 (USD)
Lacey Butler, a visual storyteller with a strong background in traditional photography, studio lighting, and English literature, has documented over 400 weddings. She takes a journalistic style approach, valuing authentic, heartfelt moments over staged ones.
Lacey Butler
Asheville in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2000 (USD)
Matt Kolf, a seasoned wedding photojournalist with a keen eye for capturing intimate moments, has made a name for himself in the world of Catholic weddings in Spain and the East Coast.
Matt Kolf
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3500 (USD)
Natasha Lamalle takes a documentary approach to her photography, drawing on her fifteen years of experience as a journalist. With her keen eye and storytelling abilities, she skillfully captures the authentic and emotional moments of love.
Natasha Lamalle
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4000 (USD)
Ken Pak, a wedding storyteller known for his documentary approach, captures the authentic moments of love with his camera, creating stunning visuals that tell a compelling story.
Ken Pak
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3900 (USD)
Morgan O'Neil is a visual storyteller who expertly captures authentic and candid moments in vibrant coastal wedding photos. With 8 years of wedding experience, she also enjoys taking film photos in her free time and has a passion for boating, skiing, and live music.
Morgan O'Neil
Baltimore in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4800 (USD)
With a documentary style, Breanna Shaw captures love and connection in her photography, dedicating her life to sharing these moments with clients as she travels the world.
Breanna Shaw
Reisterstown in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3850 (USD)
Andrew Morrell is a professional wedding photographer with a unique perspective. He has his own style, blending art and technology with his abiding love of music, and bringing an element of improvisation to the weddings and elopements he shoots.
Andrew Morrell
Cleveland in Ohio, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3600 (USD)
In her journalistic style, Colleen Stepanian, a visual storyteller and freelance photographer, captures poignant moments that preserve present reality for future nostalgia. She is driven by human connection, relationships, and vulnerability, embracing the responsibility to...
Colleen Stepanian
Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4800 (USD)
In a journalistic style, Anji Martin, a visual storyteller, has been capturing moments with her camera since childhood. Specializing in wedding and elopement photography, she primarily serves couples in the Washington, DC, area but is available for destination weddings.
Anji Martin
Washington in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.4450 (USD)
Mary Kate McKenna is a documentary wedding photographer with 13 years of experience. She focuses on celebrating the union between two people through small weddings, courthouse weddings, and destination micro weddings.
Mary Kate McKenna
Frederick in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2500 (USD)
Ryan Rayburn brings nine years of photographic journalism experience and a degree in photography to bear on capturing all the memories of couples’ special day. His considerable skill and proven track record ensure that couples’ wedding experience will be permanently...
Ryan Rayburn
Bethesda in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.2200 (USD)
In a journalistic style, Dan Harris, a wedding photojournalist, expertly captures the fleeting moments of love and joy that occur during weddings. His extensive portfolio showcases the unforgettable memories he has captured, and he has been recognized with numerous...
Dan Harris
Jacksonville in Florida, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.400/hour (USD)
Brian Mullins is a North Carolina wedding photographer based in Raleigh. With a background in photography, cinematography, and concert lighting, Brian's unique visual arts experience has shaped his photography style and vision. He creates beautiful imagery that...
Brian Mullins
Apex in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3499 (USD)
Washington, D.C. native Susannah Stevens, an MA graduate in multimedia journalism from the Corcoran College of Art & Design, specializes in intimate weddings, micro-weddings, and elopements. Offering short-notice availability, she prioritizes meaningful moments. With an...
Susannah Stevens
Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.1100 (USD)
Annalee Durland-Jones is a wedding photographer based in New England, specializing in authentic and sentimental moments. She discovered her passion for photography in high school and fell in love with capturing love stories. With a focus on storytelling, Annalee aims to...
Annalee Durland-Jones
Boston in Massachusetts, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.6000 (USD)
Aira Hickman, a Maryland family and wedding photographer, captures clients' essence with an organic approach. Passionate since picking up her first camera, she focuses on authenticity, aiming to make clients feel confident and deeply loved.
Aira Hickman
Gambrills in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.880 (USD)
As a wedding photojournalist based in the Eastern U.S., Tom Waldenberg uses his keen eye and storytelling skills to capture raw and authentic moments for couples. When he's not behind the lens, you can find him strumming his guitar for local bands or nurturing his...
Tom Waldenberg
Raleigh in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.3000 (USD)
Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Virginia Couples
Wedding Venue Pictures by Virginia Wedding Photographers
Please select a venue below to view all associated contest-winning Virginia wedding photos.
Virginia Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers
Below are some Virginia wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Virginia marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Virginia engagement portrait sessions with couples.
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Searches Related to Virginia Wedding Photography Vendors
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I find a photographer for a short-notice, small Virginia 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 Virginia wedding day by.
Q: How can couples find reviews of Virginia wedding photographers?
A: We call them Client Letters. At the WPJA, we decided more than 20 years ago to avoid incorporating those third-person testimonials and endorsements that are found all too often in advertisements. Instead, we elevated our listings with the use of Client Letters, which represent the actual words and feelings of the clients who booked those Virginia wedding photographers for their own wedding.
Q: Who are the best Virginia wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Virginia 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.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
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...Read more
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
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND Virginia WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Anna & Justin
Photo by Xiaoqi Li
Xiaoqi: We wanted to thank you for your exceptional service especially how challenging 2020 turned out to be. Your small trinkets (the unexpected cookies!) made getting married a delightful process. We were on the fence about having a wedding and now that we have done it, we are so glad we made the choice to proceed. You were an enormous part of our pleasant, beautiful, amazing experience. Thank you. Love, Anna & Justin
Liz & Cameron
Photo by Xiaoqi Li
Xiaoqi, Cameron and I cannot thank you enough for making our wedding day so special and capturing it all beautifully. Many of our guests commented on how kind, talented and helpful you were. You made everyone posing feel comfortable in front of the lens, which can be a tough task for a photographer I'd imagine! We will definitely recommend you to others as more of our friends and family get married. Can't wait for the big reveal and maybe we will see you down in Charlottesville! -Lizzy
Corley & Don
Photo by Neil Thurston
Hi Neil and Lisa, Don and I are beyond thrilled with our pictures! The quality, detail, and beauty of the pictures is just so obvious. Aside from all those things, we love that you captured the sequence of events in a photojournalistic fashion. I've gotten comments from many of my friends/family that these are the best pictures they have ever seen, and of course we are just so proud that they are our pictures. I also have to chuckle a little because you guys were such an organized but chill vendor and as a project manager myself, I know how much preparation you both did behind the scenes to make that work. We couldn't be any happier and if you ever need a reference - email, phone, whatever - please do not hesitate to call.
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.
