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.

Germany wedding pictures, elopement couple shoots and elopement photography by Michael Geyer
Tracey Buyce Wedding Images
BW studio portrait of Rome wedding photographer Enrico Giansanti of the Italy Lazio WPJA
Studio portrait of Wes Shinn - owner / wedding and elopement photography studio
Wedding and Elopement Photographer Sven Soetens of Flanders, Belgium
Harpenden and Hertfordshire elopement and wedding reportage photography by Neil Pleasants of England United Kingdom
Kent wedding reportage and elopement photography by David Burke of England United Kingdom
Elizabeth Prybylo, a Portland Maine Wedding & Portrait Photographer
Deanna Johnson wedding photography
Wedding photography of marriage ceremonies and receptions by Inbal Sivan
Chartres Wedding Photography by Arnaud Delaunay of Eure-et-Loir, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Wedding and Engagement Portrait Photographer Steven Herrschaft
Kirill Brusilovsky wedding photography for creative couples
Chandan Sojitra is an Engagement Portrait, Wedding and Elopement Photographer
Rochester wedding photography by Bob Kniley of Upstate New York
Portrait of Munster-based wedding photographer Marie O'Mahony of the Ireland WPJA

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

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...

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...

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Jonathan Fortuna, of Moselle (57) , 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 wedding photographer in Nottingham captures a WPJA awarded image at the Walled Garden. In the photo, a singing waiter leads a joyful dance around the marquee, creating a fun moment for the newlyweds.
Two guests enjoying garden games on bouncy space hoppers during the reception at Scrivelsby Walled Garden in Lincolnshire
Bridesmaids at Le Hechet Farm in Guernsey get a unique ride to the wedding ceremony in a cattle trailer, accompanied by young farmers
Kids being kids, hanging out by the window at Crown Casino Hotel in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, while a woman gets her dress ready for the wedding. A playful and heartwarming moment captured before the ceremony.
In this award-winning photo, taken at a cocktail place in Poitiers, Vienne, three friends of the bride are captivated by the sight of the wedding ring. The photographer specializes in documenting priceless moments like these in Vienne.
At Villa Ekaterina, the groom is joyfully tossed into the air by his friends on his wedding day. A moment of celebration and happiness captured in a beautiful photo.
Fort Collins, Colorado: A serene moment captured as a new father soothes his baby during the wedding ceremony, strolling beneath the shade of the majestic pine trees
Wedding photographer in Maissemy captures the emotion-filled moment as the bride and groom react to the mayor's speech during their ceremony at the city hall. This image has been recognized and awarded by the WPJA.

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.

A creative wedding day portrait captured at Sheepscot Harbour Resort Village, Maine. The couple strikes their signature pose, enveloped in a romantic atmosphere with white washed tones and a soft color palette.
Award-winning image captured at Three Peaks Ranch in Westcliffe, CO. The bride elegantly prepares for her special day in the charming and romantic getting ready cabin.
Wedding photo captured at Ring Oak Plantation in Leon County, Florida, Tallahassee. The couple basks in the warm tones of the fading sun, facing each other as daylight wanes through the trees.
Capturing the anticipation of the wedding day preparations, the talented photographer beautifully focuses in on a hand delicately grabbin a bridesmaid dress, providing an intimate glimpse into the wedding day details.
A wedding photographer captures the bride and groom celebrating their special day by popping champagne at The Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania. The stunning image showcases their joy against a beautiful deep blue painted brick wall, beautifully illuminated.
In this award-winning detail picture, the artistic photographer captures the bride's intricately designed arrow tattoo on her foot and the elegant blue toenail polish as she carefully straps into her shoes at The Shore Club, Spring Lake, New Jersey.
A couple stands against the backdrop of Chateau de la Ligne in Gironde, enveloped by the lush green leaves of ivy, as the bride lovingly hugs her partner from behind in this captivating portrait.
A wedding photographer captured a mesmerizing scene at the Santa Maria venue in Villefranque, France. By shooting from behind a giant screen, they captured both the beautiful scene and the screen in one stunning image.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - May 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.

A man and woman are at Harkness Park in Waterford, CT, USA, dancing in a vine-covered secret garden with stone pillars that look like they're from the ancient old world.
Couple embraced in a hug, surrounded by trees in the late afternoon sun in a beautiful Northern California forest for their engagement portrait session in Oakland, CA.
In Goreme, Nevsehir, Turkey, a couple took pictures before their wedding on ancient stone carved walls and pillars in Cappadocia for their pre-wedding photo shoot.
At Chamonix, French Alps, a couple in the mountains laughing and holding each other, capturing the love and excitement before their upcoming wedding day.
During their engagement photo shoot in Morbegno, Italy, the loving couple cuddles by the river, taking a seat on the smooth stones as they bask in each other's affection.
At a private home in Ravenna, Italy, the couple shared the sweetest love session, gently touching faces together in a tender and warm embrace.
At the Galata Bridge in Turkey, a stylish couple is posing and dancing in front of an industrial panel wall for their engagement photos before their wedding.
In Budapest's Vasúttörténeti Park, the historic steam train sets the scene as the man lovingly wraps his arms around his fiancée from behind during their engagement portrait session.

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 beautiful moment of a bride wiping away her mother's tears of joy at Help Beach, Fethiye, Mugla was captured by the wedding 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 tender loving moment of the bride caressing her groom's face during their wedding ceremony at Duino, Trieste, Italy was captured perfectly in the wedding photo
The photographer captured the emotional moment of the bride picking up her friend in a foggy embrace on the dance floor of her Montpellier wedding
The photographer captured a beautiful moment at Montlouis sur Loire, as the two mothers of the couple tearfully embraced outdoors
The photograph captured a beautiful and emotional moment as the bride held back tears while saying her vows outdoors at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, WI
The brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
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