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 and couple portraits by Francesca Vitulano of Framelines
Minas Gerais wedding and elopement photography by Victor Ataide of Brazil
Couple engagement photo sessions, wedding and elopement photography by Emre Nesli
Wedding and elopement photography by Jonathan Ryder
France engagement, elopement, and wedding photography by Mehdi Djafer
Italian wedding and elopement photographer - Alessia Bruchi Fotografia
Var wedding photography by Marion Deletraz of PACA France
Destination wedding photography by Inokss Ina
Studio portrait of Moselle wedding photographer Jonathan Gabel of the Grand Est WPJA in France
BW Portrait of Wedding Photographer Ruth Blamire-Brown
Yucatan Peninsula wedding photography by Adrian Bonet of Cancun wedding photographer Adrian Bonet is a Mexico based Wedding Photojournalist Association member in Cancun
Wedding elopement and photography by Oliver Saillard of France
Documentary Wedding Photography by Niaz Maleknia
Portrait of Nottinghamshire elopement and wedding photographer Martin Makowski, of United Kingdom England East Midlands
BW studio portrait of adventure wedding photographer Eliza Slobodzian

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

Lisa De Domenico Pacor, of Trieste, is a wedding photographer for
David Clumpner, of Montana, is a wedding photographer for
Donatella Barbera, of Firenze, is a wedding photographer for Chezz Gerdi

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 Ceremony laique in Brittany, France, parents and child engage in a religious ceremony, exchanging heartfelt promises and consent
Wedding guests celebrate on the action-packed dance floor at Nieuw Westert Restaurant, with a saxophonist captivating the crowd. The lively atmosphere brought together many people for a night of joyous festivities.
A WPJA award-winning image captured by a documentary wedding photographer at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in Fairlee, VT. The bride and her dad enjoy a drink together under the shade of trees before the ceremony.
At Maple Leaf Events in Stevenson, Washington, USA, the mother of the bride shares a poignant moment with her daughter, gently wiping away a tear as they make their way up the aisle. A touching display of love and emotion on this special wedding day.
A picturesque wedding moment captured at the Duomo di Biella in Italy, as guests shower the happy couple with confetti while they exit the church ceremony
At Bride's house in Arjona, Jaén, Spain, a cute little girl in her wedding attire is lending a helping hand to dress her aunt, the beautiful bride, on her big day.
Two guests enjoying garden games on bouncy space hoppers during the reception at Scrivelsby Walled Garden in Lincolnshire
At New House Farm in Cumbria, UK, wedding guests react as a game of Jenga comes crashing down. This candid moment perfectly captures the fun and excitement of the 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.

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.
At Uzbaş Arboretum in Urla, İzmir, Turkey, a beautiful photo captures the bride and groom on their wedding day. The couple is portrayed in a high angle shot, relaxed on couches at their wedding venue.
Award-winning photographer captures a stunningly intricate and luxurious table setting at the Lipnik Residence in Ruse, Bulgaria, showcasing the elegant combination of crystals and fine linen on a wedding day.
A talented wedding photographer captured this playful and artistic portrait in downtown Cleveland, using a scooter to add a fun touch to the couple's special day.
Capturing their modern love story, this award-winning portrait frames the stylish couple against the backdrop of a Boston subway train, embodying contemporary romance with a touch of artistic flair.
Award-winning photographer captures the bride's elegance at her Apulia home. Multiple reflections from bedroom mirrors beautifully frame the scene as she holds her bouquet of flowers.
An award-winning wedding photographer captured this portrait of the groom and his friends at the Saint-Brieuc reception venue in Brittany, France. The black and white image shows them sitting together around a table.
Award-winning portrait: A newlywed couple embraces amidst the enchanting Vosges Forest. Bathed in rich, lush greens, this captivating image captures their love, immersing viewers in the beauty of their wedding day.

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.

At the Lyon Confluence Quai de Saone photo session in Lyon, she embraces him from behind and plants a tender kiss on his face, capturing the love that will soon culminate in marriage.
At The Galata Bridge in Turkey, a stylish couple danced, dipped, and kissed in front of an industrial reflective glass wall during their engagement portrait session.
In Denver Botanic Gardens, a photographer took a picture of a couple in the peaceful gardens, where they stood in poses in front of green plants with a style called 'Brenizer'.
A man and woman are at Harkness Park in Waterford, CT, USA, dancing in a vine-covered secret garden with stone pillars that look like they're from the ancient old world.
In Cachoeira - MG, the engagement photos capture the playful love between the couple as the groom-to-be picks up his bride-to-be in the waterfall.
During their engagement session at La-Teste-de-Buch, France, the soon-to-be-married couple shared a tender and warm embrace as he sat on the sand and she sat on his lap at the beach.
At Panther Beach Santa Cruz, CA, the soon-to-be-wed couple is caught off guard by a surprise wave during their engagement session, capturing a tender embrace in black and white.
In Breckenridge, Colorado, a couple in love posed for pictures before their wedding day, smiling warmly and playfully while he carried her on his back.

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 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
The photographer captured the beautiful, emotional moment between the bride and groom after they exchanged their rings in Trieste, Italy
The wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The photographer captured the emotional moment of the bride picking up her friend in a foggy embrace on the dance floor of her Montpellier wedding
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 at the W Hotel in Chicago, IL captured a beautiful moment of the bride kissing her grandma right before walking down the aisle
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 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