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.

Intimate wedding photography by Wayne La
Documentary Wedding Photography by Niaz Maleknia
United Kingdom wedding reportage photography by Andrew Heeley
BW studio portrait of adventure wedding photographer Eliza Slobodzian
Robin Goodlad is a UK based Wedding Reportage and Elopement Photographer
Metz wedding photography by Jonathan Fortuna of Grand Est, Moselle
Hauts-de-Seine wedding photography by Benjamin Hoffmann of the Île-de-France WPJA
Studio portrait of John Ryan, wedding photographer of J&J Studios, LLC
Adventure marriage images by Nicky Byrnes of Nemus Wedding Photography
Elopements by Top Wedding Photographer Justin Edmonds
Capture beautiful moments on your special day with the talented wedding photographer Chris Werner in Northern California's stunning Lake Tahoe.
UK wedding reportage photography by Elodie Ruelleux-Dagorne
Denver adventure wedding elopement photos by Jennifer Garza of Colorado
Rochester wedding photography by Bob Kniley of Upstate New York
Pro documentary-style wedding photography by Bradley Hanson
Song Johns wedding and elopement photography of Blooming Dreams Photo
Katarina Nichol wedding and elopement photography
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

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

Tsvetelina Deliyska, of Sofia, 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 guest sprinkles confetti on the bride's head while giving her a hug at Scotties Garage in Seaford, Melbourne. This image won an award from the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA).
Lyon Rhône Church Exit: Guests and the bride and groom celebrate their wedding day with a burst of color and joy, as they play with smoke bombs outside the church after the ceremony.
Maid of Honor captures a candid image with the bride and groom in a fun selfie at Maple Leaf Events in Stevenson, Washington, USA, showcasing their joy on their wedding day.
This image captures a heartwarming moment from a wedding day at the Isere Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes reception venue. The bride, who is also a doctor, attends to her injured uncle after a game gone wrong.
In a room at Chateau de la Brigourdiere, the bride's best friend helps her with her dress as her father naps and her sister chats on the phone
A couple embraces in a dip during a colorful wedding reception at Blue Venado in Tulum, Mexico. This image was captured by a documentary wedding photographer and has received an award from WPJA.
High Camp Palisades Tahoe, CA: A touching moment shared between the bride and her mother during their reception dance, bathed in natural light on the bright dance floor of Palisades Tahoe.
At Rise Hall, Yorkshire, England, the bridal party gracefully descends the elegant staircase, creating a picturesque prelude to the wedding ceremony.

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.

Wedding photo captured at Palazzo Valenti Gonzaga in Mantua, Italy. Detail of groom's shoes covered in rice after the traditional rice throwing ceremony.
Wedding photo taken at Moselle reception venue, featuring a group shot of the bride and groom in a low-angle view, accompanied by playful gestures from brothers and witnesses.
In this award-winning portrait, captured at the bride's childhood home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the bride is beautifully framed within the front door. The photographer expertly captures the essence of the wedding day.
A professional wedding photographer captured this beautiful image in Cserkészpark Budapest. The couple is seen about to share a kiss under the bride's veil, creating a powerful and romantic scene.
Capturing the bride's anticipation at Millbridge Court in Surrey, this award-winning image showcases the intricate details of an old wedding photo broach adorning her bouquet.
Gently caressed against the stunning backdrop of Emerald Lake in Crested Butte, Colorado, a devoted groom affectionately embraces his wife, their love illuminated by the rim light, as they face each other on their wedding day.
An award-winning photographer captures a modern wedding couple at Highland Farms in Scarborough, ME. The image portrays the couple, holding drinks, sharing a romantic kiss at the end of the night.
Award-winning photographer captures the timeless elegance of a bride's arrival in a vintage car, at a Florence Tuscany Church.

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.

In the charming Beijing Wudaoying Hutong, this engaged couple showcased joy and playfulness while walking through the narrow alleyways for their portrait session.
In this engagement portrait, a couple in Nice-Côte d'Azur is captured about to kiss, with sunbeams and a bright blue sky adding a backdrop to their joy, playfulness, and fun.
In the peaceful Pentland Hills of Edinburgh, Scotland, a soon-to-be-wed couple enjoys a relaxed evening portrait session in a romantic natural setting.
A beautiful couple holding hands, strolling along Crosby Beach in Liverpool, England. The love between them shines brightly in this breathtaking engagement portrait.
A pre-wedding portrait of a couple taken at La Alhambra in Granada, Spain, features a black background and soft lighting highlighting their faces, creating a vintage monochromatic look.
Captured in the ambiance of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Belgium, a couple shares a kiss in the entry hall, framed by an iron balcony - a perfect setting for a romantic engagement portrait.
In beautiful Sevilla, Spain, this pre-wedding portrait captures a couple running and holding hands amidst stunning architecture in a wide shot.
Capturing a session in Venice, Italy, this monochromatic engagement portrait features a couple walking under the arches of Palazzo Ducale, emanating a timeless vintage charm.

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 black and white photo of the friend hugging the bride, and groom has tears of joy whiped at Kasteel Maurick Vught - a beautiful and touching moment at their wedding
The tears of joy from the groom and ring bearer as the bride walked down the aisle at the Westin Playa Conchal in Guanacaste, Costa Rica were captured beautifully in the wedding photo
The brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
The wedding photojournalist captured a beautiful moment as the bride embraced her friends in a group hug at the reception of Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine
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 wedding photojournalist captured the tender moment of the bride being embraced by her friend during the outdoor patio reception at Le fou Gascon in Prechac, Gers, France
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 moment of the bride embracing one of her great friends during the getting ready process at Cote How, The Lake District