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.

Parana Wedding Photography and Engagement Sessions by Heloisa Todescatt of Brazil
Adventure weddings and elopement photography by Lauren Lindley
Studio portrait of Wes Shinn - owner / wedding and elopement photography studio
Chicago wedding and elopement photography by Milan Lazic of Illinois United States
Couple engagement portrait sessions + wedding and elopement photography by Xiang Qi of Jian Impression
Portrait of Wedding Photographer Sarah Priestap
Mayenne elopement and documentary wedding photography by Anne Russocki of Isere Pays de la Loire France
Ufuk Sarisen Wedding Photography
Wedding Photographer Chanarthip Cheingthong, for Thailand
Wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Natasha Lamalle
Wedding and elopement photos by Pierrick Roland
Studio portrait of engagement, wedding and elopement photographer Scott Josuweit
Lifestyle Portrait of Documentary Wedding Photographer Emily Fonseca, of Framed by Emily
Denver adventure wedding elopement photos by Jennifer Garza of Colorado
Jerome Pollos Self Portrait, a wedding and elopement photographer of the WPJA
Studio portrait of Brittany Diliberto, an elopement and wedding photographer | Bee Two Sweet Photography

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

Cedric Derbaise, of Oise (60) , is a wedding photographer for
Alessandro Arena, of Varese, 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.

In this photo taken at the old vicarage in Dorset, UK, the Groom and Groomsmen enter the bouncy white room, with the groom struggling to keep his balance
The pro documentary wedding photographer captures an intimate moment as the bride and groom listen to a singer, sitting side by side and touching heads, on a white bench in Montfort sur Risle, Eure, Normandy, France.
Bride and groom joyfully celebrate their wedding at Felicity Church in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, leading a second line parade
In Cappadocia, Turkey, the groom playfully feeds the bride a drink using a syringe-like device. The unique wedding tradition adds fun to the celebration.
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.
A young girl covers her ears as a singer-guitarist performs in the background at The Ravenswood Wedding Venue in West Sussex, England.
At La Closeraie wedding venue in Burgundy, the pro documentary photographer captures an award-winning image. With layered reflections and artistic flair, this stunning image showcases their creativity.
In this award-winning photo taken by a wedding photographer in Briey, Meurthe-et-Moselle, the bride and her mother are seen getting ready for the big day. Their reflection is captured in a round wall mirror.

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 professional wedding photographer captured an award-winning portrait of a bride and groom dancing in Summit County, Colorado. The image showcases the couple's romantic pose against a backdrop of dramatic sunset clouds.
Award-winning wedding detail: The artistic photographer captures the delicate hands of the bride and groom, reminiscent of the iconic 'God and Man' painting, at Mar de Eucaliptos, Alagoas, Brazil.
Amidst the intermittent downpours at The Mountain Terrace in Woodside, CA, this award-winning wedding photographer skillfully framed a stunning image, showcasing the unique charm of a rainy ceremony.
The photographer captured a stunning shot of perfectly arranged shot glasses filled with alcohol on a pristine white tablecloth, surrounded by wedding guests at Hodsock Priory in Nottingham, England.
Wedding portrait of couple at Tenuta di Polline - Lago di Bracciano - Italy. Partial silhouettes of the couple holding hands on the lake shore, with warm tones and sunlight.
Burlingame, California Reception Venue: A captivating wedding detail shot showcasing the vibrant desserts showcased against the contrasting black-and-white tiles on the floor.
Award-winning portrait captures the intimate embrace of a newlywed couple against a beautiful sunset backdrop at a Rugby reception venue, showcasing the perfect blend of lighting and love.
Captured at the historic MacCallum House in Mendocino, CA, this stunning black and white portrait showcases the bride's elegance as she delicately holds her bouquet. A perfect blend of style and timeless beauty.

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.

At a photo shoot in San Francisco, CA, the couple in love posed in front of the building ruins, creating a beautiful and lasting memory of their special time together.
At Panther Beach Santa Cruz, CA, the soon-to-be-wed couple is caught off guard by a surprise wave during their engagement session, capturing a tender embrace in black and white.
During their engagement portrait session, the couple having fun on the beach at Isla Saona, Dominican Republic.
At the top of steps near massive old world stone pillars in the sunshine, a couple in London, UK posed for their engagement portrait session before their upcoming wedding.
During their engagement portrait session in Székesfehérvár, the couple's embrace under a rainbow umbrella symbolized the love that would soon unite them in marriage.
In Baeza, Jaén, Spain, before their wedding, a couple poses playfully together, throwing their hats towards the camera in a charming alleyway with ancient stone walls.
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.
During the engagement portrait session in Santa Fe, Argentina, the soon-to-be newlyweds shared a tender and warm embrace in front of artistic graffiti.

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 wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The photographer at the W Hotel in Chicago, IL captured a beautiful moment of the bride kissing her grandma right before walking down the aisle
The photographer captured a beautiful moment at Montlouis sur Loire, as the two mothers of the couple tearfully embraced outdoors
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 photographer captured a beautiful and emotional moment as a Bari bride lovingly greeted her ailing grandmother, who was unfortunately unable to join the celebration of her special 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 photographer captured the beautiful, emotional moment between the bride and groom after they exchanged their rings in Trieste, Italy
At the stunning Mont La Salle in Napa, CA, the moment a bridesmaid holding flowers ran to hug the bride was truly a beautiful and emotional one that the wedding photographer was able to capture