WPJA.com HomeWedding Photojournalist Association

Madison Wedding Photographers

Find a Photographer / United States / Wisconsin / Madison

Madison Wedding Photographers

Our Madison photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Dane County, Madison Metropolitan Area, Iowa County, Green County, Columbia County, Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Kegonsa and Lake Waubesa

Madison Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Madison - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Madison 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 Madison 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, Madison documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
A family member officiated a romantic beach wedding, creating a memorable day for the couple
Morgan O'Neil
The bride and groom giggled as they posed for sunrise light portraits beneath the big trees
Lucy Schultz
A powerful portrait of a couple holding hands while walking along a dock over a blue-green ocean captures a timeless stroll
Valeria Berti

Madison Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Madison 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.

Wisconsin WPJA members are ready to document any mini, civil ceremony, 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.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Madison Wedding Venues

WPJA Venue Images
WPJA Venue Images
WPJA Venue Images

3 Madison Wedding Photographers...

Madison wedding and elopement photography by Ilana Bar-av of Wisconsin

With a documentary approach, Ilana Bar av embraces the art of storytelling through her visual wedding photography. Inspired by her father and brother, both photographers, Barav defied skepticism to pursue her passion and now celebrates six thriving years in the industry.

Ilana Bar av

Madison in Wisconsin, US
43
2
4800 (USD)
Mid-west wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Madi Ellis

Madi Ellis, a wedding photojournalist based in the USA, is dedicated to capturing love stories with genuine emotion, texture, and connection. Her background in acting helps her create honest and unique images that truly represent couples.

Madi Ellis

Chicago in Illinois, US *Now booking Madison weddings.
21
30
4450 (USD)
Pro documentary-style wedding photography by Bradley Hanson

Bradley Hanson is a professional wedding photographer with 24 years of experience, covering celebrations as small as 6 guests. His acclaimed work has earned him work in ad campaigns for Amazon and Sony Ericsson, as well as been featured in multiple magazines.

Bradley Hanson

St. Paul in Minnesota, US *Now booking Madison weddings.
31
5000 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Madison Couples

Madison Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some Madison wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Madison marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Madison engagement portrait sessions with couples.

A portrait of a wedding couple at The Tinsmith in Madison, Wisconsin, captures the elegantly dressed wedding party, creating an intense and sophisticated atmosphere reminiscent of a reality TV show
At the Olin Park Pavilion in Madison, WI, the couple shared a special moment as they danced their first dance together in the indoor reception venue during the daytime
At the Madison, Wisconsin Ceremony and Reception Site of Aldo Leopold, the kids look to adults while playing
In Wisconsin, at the Madison Public Library, the couple kisses at the end of their wedding ceremony
Best wedding photography from the Madison Public Library in Wisconsin from a low angle showing Couples dog jumping on brides wedding dress during recessional
An exceptional Wisconsin wedding photojournalism sample by a professional Madison, WI photographer at Goodman Center communicating the Couple toasting wedding guests
A top wedding photojournalist created this image at the Houdini Mansion in Los Angeles, California showing Two wedding party people tie their ties in the mirrors
Wedding photograph from the Couple's apartment in Madison, WI showing the Father Daughter Dance in the living room of the couple at their rescheduled wedding
Picture of a Couple dancing their first dance in their apartment in Madison, WI
Coronavirus, COVID, Madison backyard wedding image of the groom and bride talking through zoom with their parents after getting married
Wisconsin wedding photo from Madison of a couple Just married outside
A Madison wi couple rings church bells after their wedding ceremony

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find reviews of Madison 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 Madison wedding photographers for their own wedding.
Q: Can a wedding photojournalist create artistic portraits on my Madison wedding day?
A: While wedding photojournalists strive to capture candid moments on the wedding day, our photographers also are skilled artists who can compose powerful portraits. If you have a specific vision of what types of images you want from your wedding day, look at the top-ranked Madison wedding photographers who have earned Artistic Guild awards for portrait and detail images.
Q: Who are the best Madison wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Madison 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
Essential Elopement Vendor - The Photographer
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...Read more
What is a Modern Elopement?
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
Wedding Economy: The Ups and Downs
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...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.