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.

Denver adventure wedding elopement photos by Jennifer Garza of Colorado
Documentary Wedding Photography by Niaz Maleknia
Northern California wedding photography by Drew Bird - Creative Storytelling
Timmy Keane Wedding Photography of Timtim Media Weddings
BW studio portrait of adventure wedding photographer Eliza Slobodzian
France engagement, elopement, and wedding photography by Mehdi Djafer
Candice Fouliard, a wedding reportage photographer from Val-d'Oise, France
Studio portrait wedding photographer Mike Greener
Portrait of wedding photographer Sarah Nader
Chicago wedding and elopement photography by Milan Lazic of Illinois United States
Wedding photography and couple portraits by Francesca Vitulano of Framelines
Bavaria wedding and elopement photography by Andrea Kühl of Germany
Portrait of Savannah lifestyle portrait and wedding photographer Morgan Powell
Rustbelt Mayberry Wedding Photographer, Erin Ninehouser
Wedding and elopement photography by Jonathan Ryder
England elopement and wedding reportage photography by James Pearce - United Kingdom WPJA Pro
Engagement Portraits by top Wedding and Elopement Photographer Sylvain Bouzat
Boston wedding and elopement photography by Kayla Rice of the Massachusetts FPJA

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

Luigi Rota, of Lecco, is a wedding photographer for
Photographe mariage cotes-d'armor-st-brieuc-le comptoir photo
Nilufer Nalbantoglu, of Istanbul, 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 at Glewstone Court Country House in Herefordshire, UK, succumbs to the post-dinner slump on a wedding day. The tranquil ambiance and food made for a memorable celebration.
Bride tenderly fixes groom's hair at the Sunrise Amphitheater in Boulder, CO, USA, on their special day. The couple shares a heartwarming moment during the outdoor ceremony, set against a serene, overcast backdrop.
La Cour des Montys, near Nantes, France: Guests on their devices patiently await the couple's first dance, experiencing wedding fatigue after a night of celebration.
At Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel in Istanbul, Turkiye, this photo captures a lively Libyan wedding reception moment. The image shows a man standing on another man's shoulders, while other men engage in conversation, in a joyful atmosphere.
A man break dancing at Palombière d'Henry in Lot et Garonne, France on wedding day. This energetic photo captures the man's impressive moves as he gets down on the dance floor.
Women guests at a ceremony in Ardeche, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, sharing emotional moments as they leave - some shedding tears while others bursting into laughter
Bridal party getting ready in a relaxed atmosphere at Voewood House, Norfolk, UK - an intimate and cozy home
Champagne's spray in Bali adds excitement to the lively dance floor as the men let loose at this wedding celebration

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.

In Denver, Colorado, the wedding ceremony takes place in a spacious venue. The photo captures the couple exchanging vows, seen from the back of the venue.
Capturing love in the embrace of nature, the photographer tightly frames the joyous couple against the green backdrop of Baronesse Tacco, bathing them in a radiant glow.
In the idyllic setting of a church in Hampshire, UK, a striking detail shot captures the serene beauty of a wedding ceremony, featuring a prominent cross.
Wedding scene set at St. Peter's Church, Guernsey. The bride, father, and bridesmaids gather in the church doorway moments before the ceremony begins.
A detailed black and white shot captured in Wallonie, Brabant Wallon. The bride's best friend is seen closing the back of her wedding dress, revealing a tattoo.
In Brabant Wallon, Wallonie, at the wedding ceremony location, a detailed black and white shot captures the bride clutching her speech in her hand.
A professional wedding photographer captured this artistic image at Ambient Studio in Atlanta. The image features a woman holding a wine glass, with a curious expression on her face and in her eyes.
In Washington, DC at The Morrow Hotel, a wedding portrait session reveals the groom whimsically directing himself forward, while the bride gleefully partakes in his humor.

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 Grays' Beach in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, this portrait captures the engaged couple's joyful connection as they embrace tenderly on a tranquil boardwalk at sunset.
Captured in Cappadocia, Turkey, this pre-wedding photo session features a couple with stampeding horses in the desert, for a romantic and captivating portrait.
Capturing a tender scene in the enchanting Chopwell Woods, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. A couple shares a kiss amidst a soft, pastel-toned autumnal forest setting.
A beautiful autumnal engagement shoot set in the enchanting setting of Chopwell Woods, Newcastle upon Tyne. The couple shares a sweet kiss under a clear umbrella amidst the forest scenery.
At their fall engagement session at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Virginia, the couple stands above a sea of beautiful pink and white flowers.
A breathtaking engagement session in Ploumanac'h, Brittany. The couple stands on a small outcropping of rocks, basking in the sunlight, showcasing their love amidst the stunning scenery.
In a room surrounded by red walls at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, a couple shares a tender kiss, creating a romantic scene for a portrait session.
Engagement portrait in black and white, captured in Atlanta's West End. The couple, sporting sunglasses, strike a pose in front of a mural depicting sunglasses.

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 bride's beautiful reaction to seeing her special best man seated in the front row was captured by the photographer at Chácara Caiambá - Pedro Leopoldo - Minas Gerais
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
At a wedding in Bucharest, Romania, the groom lovingly hugged his sister - a beautiful black and white image captured the emotional moment
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 brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
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 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 photographer captured a beautiful moment of the bride joyously embracing her best friend on the dance floor of her San Francisco wedding reception