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.

Engagement shoots + wedding photography and elopements by Luan Nguyen of France
Joss Denham -- North East Wedding Photographer
Wenjie Han is an engagement and wedding photographer for NY
Engagement Portraits by top Wedding and Elopement Photographer Sylvain Bouzat
Istanbul wedding photography by Emre Kasap of the Turkey WPJA
Capture beautiful moments on your special day with the talented wedding photographer Chris Werner in Northern California's stunning Lake Tahoe.
Cristina Tanase is a Wedding and Engagement Photographer
London wedding and elopement photography by Gyula Lovaszi, of England, United Kingdom
BW studio portrait of a French photographer for country weddings - William Desse
Lifestyle portrait of Colorado wedding and elopement photographer Nina Larsen Reed
Dublin wedding reportage images by Aaron Daly of Leinster, Ireland
Portrait of Nottinghamshire elopement and wedding photographer Martin Makowski, of United Kingdom England East Midlands
Minas Gerais wedding and elopement photography by Victor Ataide of Brazil
Italy Couple Engagement Sessions Wedding and Elopement Photographer Carlo Bettuolo
Edeelin Labra, Northern CA wedding photography
Destination weddings, engagement couple sessions and elopement photography by Angela Nelson

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

Wenjie Han, of New York, is a wedding photographer for
Vinicius Terror, of Minas Gerais, is a wedding photographer for Igreja N. S. Fátima Patos de Minas

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 skilled wedding photographer in Shanghai captures a moving moment during a ceremony. The groom, visibly emotional, wipes away tears while holding a microphone at the altar.
Award-winning wedding photographer captures the sweet moment of embraces between the newlyweds in the garden of their Calvados, Normandy home, right after playing the bouquet game.
At Cape Elizabeth, Maine, the bride patiently waits with her dress carefully tucked up to get into their car after a beautiful beach tour.
Young flower girls covering their ears as the sound fills the air during a lively religious church ceremony in Geneva
In Georgia Botanical Gardens, the groom joyfully celebrates after the ceremony, yelling out and gesturing with excitement, adding a memorable twist to their special wedding day.
At Château sainte foix d'Anthé in France, a stunning bride joyfully tosses her bouquet overhead to a group of eagerly awaiting ladies, showing the excitement and tradition of a beautiful wedding day.
At the Reception Venue at home in Angrie, France, the bride and groom exchange heartfelt vows during their beautiful secular ceremony, leaving the bride visibly moved
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.

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.

Stylish couple dances at Villa Catignano, Siena, in a black and white reflection frame. The artistic image captures their elegance and the beauty of the location.
A talented wedding photographer captured a beautiful portrait of a bride and groom at Dreams and Dragonflies in Windsor, Colorado. The couple is elegantly posed in front of an old barn, beautifully lit in a rustic setting.
Captured with a touch of modern artistry, this award-winning photograph showcases the intricate details of an Alsace wedding dress. The slow shutter speed adds a whimsical motion effect, as the dress elegantly drags along the fallen leaves.
Award-winning wedding day portrait: a purple silhouette of a couple joining heads, creating a romantic atmosphere in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Icart, Guernsey - A stunning award-winning wedding day pic captures the bride getting ready at home, bathed in light that creates a beautiful silhouette against the window, with a helping hand.
Award-winning wedding reception detail: wedding bands rest on a wooden surface, adorned by heart-shaped confetti made of cascading leaves. The image captures the artistry of love and nature.
Capturing the whimsical spirit of the couple's wedding day, the artistically skilled photographer captured a stunning image as the couple playfully tossed their rings into the air, only for them to land back in their hands.
A professional wedding photographer captured this award-winning portrait of a couple wearing fashionable sunglasses at La Foce, Chianciano Terme, Siena. The photo was taken right before a sweet kiss.

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.

The engaged couple in İstanbul Kadıköy share a joyful pizza feast together, seated on the kitchen floor, brimming with smiles as they prepare for their upcoming wedding.
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.
The couple in Trieste, Italy shared a special hug together, with the woman winking and the man embracing her tightly against a backdrop of historic buildings.
During their engagement portrait session at Basque Country France, the couple stood in front of a rustic wooden planked farmhouse door, creating a minimalistic and timeless frame for their upcoming wedding.
During the engagement portrait session at Art District, LA, the couple stands in front of one of the district's cat murals while holding their small white dog together, capturing their fun and anticipation for their upcoming wedding.
At the private courtyard in Milano, a couple in love shares a tender kiss, captured in stunning black and white during their engagement portrait session.
At Topo do Mundo in Brazil, the couple posed for their engagement photos, embracing each other with her lifting her feet up high in the air as he picks her up.
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 bride's tearful joy and the groom's humorous charm were beautifully captured in a wedding photo at Snowmass, Aspen Colorado with a backdrop of fall colored trees during their outdoor ceremony
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 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 brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
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 photographer captured a beautiful moment of double happiness, with the bride giving a sweet touch on the cheek and a loving hug from behind at Strabrechtse Hoeve Mierlo
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 at Ancenis, France captured a heart-warming moment of the bride holding hands with her father-in-law as he saw her for the first time in her wedding dress before the ceremony