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.

Lifestyle portrait of Colorado wedding and elopement photographer Nina Larsen Reed
Studio portrait wedding photographer Mike Greener
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes wedding photography by Coralie Garavel of the France WPJA
Studio portrait of Brittany Diliberto, an elopement and wedding photographer | Bee Two Sweet Photography
Wedding photography and couple portraits by Francesca Vitulano of Framelines
Wedding photography by Clementine Labrosse for Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
A studio portrait of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a wedding photographer Amael Dubiez from France
Wedding and Elopement Photographer Andreas Pollok
Texas wedding and elopement photography by Kristin Bednarz
Macaé wedding photography by Aline Prado of Rio de Janeiro
Destination Wedding Photography by Vincenzo Aiello
BW wedding photography by Mauricio Urena
Italy wedding photography by Danilo Coluccio
Creative wedding and elopement photography by Ernie Savarese

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

William Lambelet, of Herault (34) , is a wedding photographer for
Luan Nguyen, of , is a wedding photographer for
Paolo Blocar, of Trieste, 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.

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
A wedding photographer in Bristol, RI captures a joyful moment as a bride and groom share a laugh during a speech by the best men at Mount Hope Farm, resulting in an award-winning image.
At the Ceremony laique in Brittany, France, parents and child engage in a religious ceremony, exchanging heartfelt promises and consent
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.
Kids at Villa Ekaterina playing with the haze fog machine during the first dance at a wedding. A playful moment captured on the special day.
Bridal party enjoying a group lunch on concrete benches under a shade canopy at Nanping Fujian park wedding
A beautiful moment captured at Zephyr Palace at Villa Caletas Hotel in Jaco, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The bride shares a joyful toast with her bridesmaids on the big day.
Outside a Philadelphia, PA Reception Venue: A couple walks into their reception as random party goers in the city cheer them on as they pass

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 a romantic scene at Crested Butte, CO, a groom lifts his bride amidst a vibrant field of wildflowers. This award-winning portrait captures the beauty of their wedding day in a scenic venue.
At a Wedding Farm in Assis Chateaubriand/PR, an artistic photographer captures a mesmerizing close-up showcasing the bride lifting her muddy dress, revealing her white sneakers.
At Château des Broyers, Saône-et-Loire: Tranquil wedding couple portrait showcasing the newlyweds, locked in an affectionate embrace against the backdrop of a sunset, amidst their reception.
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.
In this award-winning image, taken at Carlton Towers in East Riding, England, a modern and stylish wedding photographer captured a close-up of wedding shoes and slippers, with a woman walking by in her pajamas.
A professional wedding photographer captured this award-winning image at Bellinter House in Ireland. The bride is shown with a big smile, just after putting on her wedding dress.
This award-winning portrait showcases the modern beauty of a couple walking near a tranquil pond at New Haven's Tourterelle Inn, with the stunning Adirondack Mountains as a backdrop.
A stunning portrait of the bride on her wedding day, taken in Sofia, Bulgaria. The picture captures her beauty next to blooming plants, with a soft gaze over her shoulder and artistic soft elements added to enhance the frame.

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.

During their session at Lac de la Gimone, France, the couple wrapped up in a warm embrace, capturing the essence of their love as they prepare to say "I do."
At the prewedding shoot in Sondrio, Italy, the couple wore bike riding attire and helmets while they took pictures on their bikes before their wedding.
A couple in love goes to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado for pictures, where they stand in a creek, share a kiss, and pose together under the sunshine, surrounded by nature.
In Duino, Trieste, Italy, a couple is hugging during the beautiful golden hour, with her arms wrapped around him and both of them smiling with their eyes closed.
During their engagement portrait session at the West End in Atlanta, the couple shared a playful and intimate pose in Adirondack chairs on the deck with symmetrical framing capturing their love.
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 Rialto Bridge in Venice, a romantic couple in love, who are engaged to be married, share a kiss while passersby walk past them, in a blur of motion.
At the Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado, the couple posed on the pyramid building, capturing their love and excitement before their upcoming wedding day.

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 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 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 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 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
The happy couple leaving their civil ceremony in Biarritz, France with their little boy beaming with joy at his parents' marriage, is captured wonderfully in this wedding photo, showing the love from his mother
The photographer at Ashton Creek Vineyard in Richmond, Virginia captured a beautiful moment of the bride and bridesmaids tearfully witnessing the groom's heartfelt vows
The wedding photojournalist captured the beautiful and emotional moment of the Bride as she reads her heartfelt vows in the sunshine beneath the trees at Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine