Wedding Photographers of the Wedding Photojournalist Association – WPJA Documentary and Wedding Reportage

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.

Wedding photography of marriage ceremonies and receptions by Inbal Sivan
Kitchener, Ontario wedding and elopement photography by Lori-Anne Crewe - Canada WPJA
Portrait of Wedding Photographer David Butler II
Wedding and elopement photography by Zsofia Rebicek - Light&Dreams
Studio portrait of wedding photographer Tanushree Vaidya
Wenjie Han is an engagement and wedding photographer for NY
New Delhi documentary-style wedding photographer Shivali Chopra - India WPJA Pro
Engagement, elopement and wedding photography by Nicola Hudson
Milan small wedding photography by Federico Fasano of Lombardy Italy
Colorado wedding photography and intimate elopements by Stacy Gillespie
Engagements, Weddings and Elopement Photographer Lucy Schultz
Marco Angius Photo Studio Portrait - Weddings, Events, Advertising
Bulgaria Wedding Photography by Ognyan Stoynev, of Sofia
Elizabeth Prybylo, a Portland Maine Wedding & Portrait Photographer
Wedding Photographer Chanarthip Cheingthong, for Thailand
London wedding and elopement photography by Gyula Lovaszi, of England, United Kingdom
Indra Simons - iSi weddings - Dutch wedding and elopement photographer
Wedding Photographer and Engagement Portrait Pro, Ronnie Szeto

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

Linus Moran, of Dorset, is a wedding photographer for Healey Barn
Leonard Walpot, of Utrecht, is a wedding photographer for
Samo Rovan, of , is a wedding photographer for Noosa, Australia

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 man pours drinks into held glasses during a wedding celebration at Hünkar Suyu Kasri in Istanbul, Turkey. This image earned the photographer an award from WPJA for their expertise in capturing wedding moments.
At Les Jardins de Sophie, Vosges, Grand Est, the bride applies her makeup in her hotel room while the television is turned on.
At Domaine de Montireau, the newlyweds share their first look during their wedding
At Hasselt, Limburg, the bride and her bridal party, accompanied by little girls, are getting ready at home. The photo captures the beautiful scene on the patio deck.
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.
Family chaos outside Reception 10 Bridge Street, Killorglin, Ireland, with adults tending to the needs of small children before the ceremony
At Laudholm Farm in Wells, Maine, these flower girls sought refuge under the table to create their own fun during this wedding day.
Ring bearer scratching himself before walking down the aisle at Fountains Ballroom, Iowa, capturing the relatable discomfort of kids in formal clothes

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.

The Lodges at Gettysburg sets the scene for a wedding photo where the couple, framed by backlit wine glasses, exude a colorful and vibrant aura.
An award-winning wedding photo captured at Villa Semenza in Lecco, Italy. The picture highlights the beautiful details of the imperial table, with the bride and groom embracing in the background.
A wedding photo at Seigneurie d'Alleray, Loir-et-Cher where the bride is captured in a serene scene adjusting her dress strap, illuminated by the gentle rays of sunlight.
London-based wedding photographer captures a stunning bridal portrait at the iconic Blue Rooms. With perfect light during sunset, the artist captures the bride bathed in golden light, creating a slightly dramatic effect. Low angle adds to the effect.
A wedding portrait at Villa Cavriani in Barbasso, Mantua, Italy, featuring the groom and highlighting the bride's gown in the foreground.
Captured at the Angelbachtal, this award-winning photo showcases the allure of a bride gazing out of a church window, bathed in soft light that accentuates her elegance.
Capturing love's tender embrace, this award-winning photograph showcases a bride and groom at the picturesque Domaine de Conseillant. Against a backdrop of a stone block wall, their silhouettes softly touch noses.
A stunning portrait captures the intricate henna designs on the bride's hand as she and her partner share a tender hug at Livermore Shiva Vishnu temple on their wedding day.

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.

An engagement portrait captured in Venice, Italy, with a couple sharing a kiss. A pedestrian walking past is blurred by a slow camera shutter.
A pre-wedding shoot in the Netherlands, capturing a couple walking hand in hand among trees with a beautiful reflection of the sky beneath them.
A romantic couple in Sarzana, Italy, share an intimate session in ruins, seen through a shattered window. A vintage black-and-white portrait captures their love beautifully.
A romantic engagement portrait captured in black and white at Catton Park, Norwich. The groom kisses his soon-to-be bride's forehead in a wildflower meadow, exuding a timeless and vintage aesthetic.
In La Rochelle, on the Atlantic Coast of France,  a rustic engagement session. The couple, with a VW Bug, with flowers, on a grassy field.
In their engagement portrait against the iconic backdrop of the Bund in Shanghai, China, the couple radiates joy with tall buildings framing the shot.
At Penshurst Place, a pair shares a tender embrace against a natural backdrop. The groom lovingly hugs the bride from behind.
The sand dunes of Cidreira Beach, RS, set a romantic scene for this stunning couple's engagement portrait session, capturing their love in a breathtaking setting.

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 and her father shared an emotional moment as he kissed her head in the back of the limo just before the ceremony, captured perfectly in their wedding photo from Trieste, Italy
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
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 beautiful moment of a bride wiping away her mother's tears of joy at Help Beach, Fethiye, Mugla was captured by the wedding photographer
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 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
The wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day