SMALL WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS | choose love, not fear

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

Since 2002, the WPJA has been connecting couples with the best, most artistic wedding photographers from around the world.

Wedding photography and couple portraits by Francesca Vitulano of Framelines
Couple engagement portrait sessions + wedding and elopement photography by Xiang Qi of Jian Impression
Boulder wedding and elopement photography by Jason Johnson of the CO WPJA
Joss Denham -- North East Wedding Photographer
Couple engagement photo sessions, wedding and elopement photography by Emre Nesli
Deanna Johnson wedding photography
Lifestyle portrait of Matthias Tiemann, a wedding photographer for NRW Ruhrgebiet
Italy Wedding and Elopement Photography
Studio portrait of New England wedding photographer Blake Thomas
Yucatan Peninsula wedding photography by Adrian Bonet of Cancun wedding photographer Adrian Bonet is a Mexico based Wedding Photojournalist Association member in Cancun
England documentary wedding and elopement photography by Nathan Eames
São Paulo wedding and elopement photography by Thiago Gimenes of Brazil
Wedding photographer, Daniel Monteiro
BW studio portrait of Rome wedding photographer Enrico Giansanti of the Italy Lazio WPJA
BW studio portrait of Toronto wedding photographer Thomas Campean, of Ontario Canada

Authentic Photography

The WPJA organizes various wedding photography rounds annually, recognizing and honoring exceptionally captivating images.

Take a look at the previous victors by clicking on the links below:

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

Kobe Vanderzande, of Limburg, is a wedding photographer for

There’s nothing quite like an intimate wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements...

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...

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

LECHUGA Y RUIZ
Kim Chapman, of Maine, is a wedding photographer for
Annie Bang, of California, is a wedding photographer for

WPJA Contest Photos - January 19th, 2024

Any wedding photographer is going to want to please their clients — but they also want their work to be appreciated on a broader scale. This is one of the reasons why the Wedding Photojournalist Association members love our regular photography competitions. These popular contests give our photographers the opportunity to submit their best images in hopes of being selected as a winner and being recognized for their creativity and effort. Our contests are judged by a panel of notable and respected working photojournalists and picture editors in the news industry, which adds an element of prestige to our awards.

A documentary photographer captured this award-winning image of the bride preparing for her wedding at the couple's home in Brookline, PA. The photo shows the bride's black wedding dress hanging in her bedroom.
At Boston, MA, a bride's sisters and mother lend a hand as she gets into her wedding dress at the hotel, moments before the ceremony
A Pro Documentary Wedding Photographer capturing a special moment at a Louth wedding ceremony. The groom embraces his mother, while the bride joyfully celebrates with confetti.
At the Jio convention in Mumbai, the groom is moved to tears as he lays eyes on his bride for the first time. This touching moment captures the love they share and their hopes for the future.
Groom and his family at Oxford College, Oxford, UK, captured in a moment of preparation before the wedding ceremony
Games and Fun at Casale 1890 - Tenuta Tramontana in Reggio Calabria - Older gentleman having a blast limboing on the grass with a napkin held above him during dinner
The bride's mother embraces her son during a joyful moment on the dance floor at the Whalehead Club in Corolla, NC. This image earned the photographer a prestigious award from WPJA.
In Paris, Île-de-France, the groom, the bride, and their son step out of the ceremony under streamers held by guests

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 31st, 2024

The Artistic Guild competitions are distinctly different from our other WPJA contests because this category is specifically for photographers who use their talent to create digitally-enhanced images, staged portraits and dramatic detail images. This competition attracts documentary wedding photographers who also view themselves as artists who are constantly looking to create their next masterpiece.

An artistic wedding photographer captures an award-winning image in Asheville, North Carolina. The image shows the groom walking on a cracked asphalt roadway, holding the bride's red shoes with his own shoes visible.
Dormont Rec Center in PA sets the stage for a unique wedding ceremony. The bride, groom, and their daughter exchange vows, with the Elvis impersonator's famous jacket stealing the spotlight in this award-winning artistic photograph.
A picturesque mountain backdrop sets the stage for a stunning winter bridal portrait as the bride embraces the ethereal beauty of her wedding day in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wedding photo taken at the Groom's family home in Arbonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France. The photo features the couple playing with a Basque pediment and a projector, captured in black and white with a vintage feel.
Image captures the arrival of bride and her father at Skipton Church in Skipton, England, as they step out of a car, revealing their shoes on rain-soaked cobblestone.
Wedding photo: Capturing the delicate beauty of rings on a leaf, this gray-toned detail shot was taken at Schloss Walbeck in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Wedding portrait in black and white showcasing the bride from the waist up, with a village view below, captured at Hotel Eden in Rome, at the getting ready location.
Award-winning portrait capturing the modern and stylish essence of a wedding couple at Domaine de la Grand Maison. The groom embraces his bride under a picturesque tree where they exchanged vows just moments ago.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - April 8th, 2024

Couples who are searching for a wedding photographer often want a pre-wedding engagement portrait session as well as wedding day photography services. Engagement photographers need to rely on their skill and expertise in order to help their couples select a meaningful location for their portrait session. These awards allow engagement photographers to submit their most moving engagement images in hopes of being recognized for their creativity and skill.

At Château d'Ailly, the couple embrace joyfully in the incredible light for their pre-wedding portraits.
In this engagement portrait, a couple embraces in front of a majestic red rock formation in Boulder, CO, symbolizing their love and commitment against a breathtaking natural backdrop.
A romantic engagement portrait captured in Venice, Italy, depicts a couple embraced under the arch of Palazzo Ducale, with repeating arches pattern overhead.
A couple is captured in a romantic dip at sunset on the beach in Var, France. Playfully dancing and dipping in the sea, they share a kiss.
In the charming Beijing Wudaoying Hutong, this engaged couple showcased joy and playfulness while walking through the narrow alleyways for their portrait session.
Capturing the intimacy after a a surprise proposal near the water by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, a couple shares a sweet kiss in a tender embrace.
In Phalsbourg, France, a couple poses in front of heart-shaped green shutters for their engagement portrait, showcasing love and charm.
An urban, black-and-white engagement portrait captures a woman joyfully riding on her partner's back in the Belt Line area of West End, Atlanta.

TLC - True Love Captured - March 3rd, 2023

This WPJA photography competition is focused on the emotions that are on display throughout any wedding event. The images showcase the powerful emotions that the couple are experiencing, and any of the feelings that any wedding guests may go through. The TLC contests follow a long-standing WPJA category tradition of capturing raw emotions.

The photographer captured a beautiful moment of the bride joyously embracing her best friend on the dance floor of her San Francisco wedding reception
The photographer at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Richmond, Virginia captured a beautiful moment of the bride and bridesmaids tearfully witnessing the groom's heartfelt vows
The wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The bride's parents' emotional embrace and tears at the Chinese tea wedding ceremony in Sanya, Hainan, China was truly a beautiful moment to be captured by the photographer
The emotion of the proud parents hugging their son, the groom, as he prepared for his wedding day at House of the Groom in Siderno, Reggio Calabria was so beautiful it was captured as a timeless moment by the photographer
The groom's touching encouragement of his witnesses to make a speech at his outdoor ceremony at Les tables de Crespin, the reception venue in Tarn, France, was captured beautifully in this wedding photo
The photographer captured a beautiful moment of the bride embracing one of her great friends during the getting ready process at Cote How, The Lake District
The wedding photojournalist captured the beautiful and emotional moment of the Bride as she reads her heartfelt vows in the sunshine beneath the trees at Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine