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SMALL WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS | choose love, not fear

WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.

WPJA Spotlight

Exceptional Wedding Photography Showcase

Explore top-tier imagery captured by WPJA members. With special badges and recognition, these exceptional images from weddings showcase the unparalleled talent of our photographers. Dive into dedicated slider galleries within Member Profiles and Spotlight Galleries to witness the artistry and skill that sets our members apart.

In Wildenau, children play joyfully inside a vibrant firework-themed bouncy castle, full of energy and excitement.
Christiane Wolfram
At Barn Drift, North Norfolk, UK, wedding guests share a warm, silhouetted moment by the fire pit, creating a cozy ambiance.
Rob Dodsworth
At Domaine de la Chartrogniere, France, heartfelt double hugs are exchanged after a moving speech, highlighting the warmth of the celebration.
Chloe Perez
At Thame Church, Oxfordshire, guests lift Grandma in her wheelchair over the gate, ensuring she’s part of the celebration.
Johnny Dent
At Château la Salle, France, a unique shot from beneath the bride's dress captures its elegant flow as it hangs gracefully in nature.
Chloe Perez
At Agriturismo Acqua E Sole, Ome, guests enthusiastically dance the limbo, adding fun and energy to the celebration.
Alessandro Di Noia
View Spotlight 2025 Round 14

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

Since 2002, the WPJA has been connecting couples with the best, most artistic wedding photographers from around the world.

Wedding and elopement photography by Zsofia Rebicek - Light&Dreams
Annie Kheffache wedding photography
Northern California wedding photography by Drew Bird - Creative Storytelling
Bavaria wedding and elopement photography by Andrea Kühl of Germany
Italian wedding and elopement photographer - Alessia Bruchi Fotografia
Lyon Wedding Photography by Elise Julliard of Rhone, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
Lifestyle portrait of England wedding photographer Tori Deslauriers
Capture beautiful moments on your special day with the talented wedding photographer Chris Werner in Northern California's stunning Lake Tahoe.
Adventure elopement and wedding photography by Mike Kory
Engagement shoots + wedding photography and elopements by Luan Nguyen of France
Wenjie Han is an engagement and wedding photographer for NY
Engagements, Weddings and Elopement Photographer Lucy Schultz
Studio portrait of Brittany Diliberto, an elopement and wedding photographer | Bee Two Sweet Photography
I AM SARAH V Photography - Wedding and Couple Engagement Images
England engagement, wedding and elopement photography by Hollie Mateer of M and G Wedding Photography
East Sussex Wedding Reportage Photography by Alex Buckland of Cotswolds England United Kingdom
Engagement, elopements and wedding photography by Sujith Kumar of Incognito frames
One of the most touching things about wedding photography is how quickly you find yourself thrown into the heart of such an important, intimate occasion. It's a responsibility only a fool would take lightly.- Harry Richards, WPJA Member
Become a Member

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:

2025 Lifestyle Engagement Portraits - Diamond Awards

2024 v04 Artistic Guild

2024 v04 Photography Competition

2024 Pre Wedding Couple Portraits - Diamond Awards

2024 v03 Artistic Guild

View More Contests

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

A Sunshine Solemnization - Outdoor Weddings in Nature

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...

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Kobe Vanderzande, of Limburg, is a wedding photographer for

Wedding Reception Tents: A Creative Photo Palette

There’s nothing quite like an intimate wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements...

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View Wedding Articles

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Jacob Hannah, of Vermont, is a wedding photographer for

Two people making a commitment of marriage want to remember the day for the rest of their lives. Shouldn’t the wedding photography that commemorates their celebration reflect the personal moments and honest emotions they will remember?

A love for authenticity in wedding photography — finding art in the actualities of a marriage celebration — led to the founding of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) in 2002. Out of respect for our clients, the wedding photographers and photojournalists accepted for WPJA membership have a demonstrated talent for candid originality and a dedication to the documentary approach in wedding photography. To maintain their standing in the WPJA, member photographers must adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards.

  • For Engaged Couples planning a wedding: Hire a WPJA photographer so you can reproduce and retell the beautiful, unique story of how your celebration unfolds — as you will want to remember it and have it told for generations.
  • For Professional Wedding Photographers with a photojournalist’s talent for capturing moments, not stage-directing them: Join the WPJA to have your expertise accredited, to help promote and further our craft, and to let the WPJA introduce you to the ideal clients for your work.

WPJA Contest Photos - January 20th, 2025

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 a venue in Lyon, Rhône, the groom's parents enter a bedroom to see their son, who is ready for the wedding, a sweet moment filled with love and anticipation.
At the bride's home in Versailles, three bridesmaids carefully assist the bride with her dress, ensuring every detail is perfect, while another bridesmaid watches.
At the ceremony location in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, the bride and groom warmly greet their families and friends after the ceremony concludes. This joyful moment is filled with smiles and heartfelt congratulations from their loved ones.
At The Naka Phuket in Thailand, the bride becomes emotional and can't hold back her tears as she practices her wedding vows during bridal preparation, highlighting the significance and heartfelt nature of the upcoming ceremony.
At Chateau de Terride in Tarn, France, the bride and groom's child makes an entrance down the outdoor ceremony aisle, driving a small black Mercedes toy car, adding a playful touch to the celebration.
In the getting ready room at Bar Harbor Club in Bar Harbor, Maine, the mother-of-the-bride carefully zips up her daughter's wedding dress. This intimate moment highlights the deep bond and support shared between them as they prepare.
At a reception venue in County Wicklow, Leinster, a singing chef entertains guests while the couple plays in the background. This unique and lively performance adds a delightful twist to the celebration, blending gastronomy with entertainment.
At Col Pradat in the Italian Dolomites, the groom opens a bottle of prosecco. Surrounded by the stunning snow-covered mountains, this outdoor celebration captures the beauty and excitement of the moment.

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 28th, 2025

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.

Groom and bride passionately kiss at Jack the Cockerel, Biarritz, France wedding.
Groom's details, cat shadow mimics logo on bow tie pocket, cast on fake grass, Nancy, France wedding
At a reception venue in Cleveland, Ohio, below which lies a large aquarium, the couple shares a face-to-face embrace, warmly rim-lit from behind. A shark swims by, providing a unique and captivating backdrop to this intimate scene.
At a private chateau in Auch, France, the bride and groom share a kiss behind a car window. The raindrops on the glass are in sharp focus, while the couple appears softly blurred in the background, creating a romantic and intimate scene.
In a Cleveland, Ohio hotel, an impromptu photo captures window light highlighting the scene. The bride rests her hand on the groom's shoulder and gazes intensely at the camera, creating a powerful and captivating image.
Spouses embrace within a Ferento amphitheater arch, Viterbo, cloudy sky backdrop, ancient stone framing their wedding portrait
In Ingelheim, Germany, the wedding couple share a kiss amidst the vineyards, captured in a black-and-white photo with symmetrical framing that places them at the center, enhancing the timeless and intimate atmosphere.
In Delafield, Wisconsin, a couple danced joyfully as their wedding party sang around them, creating a lively scene outside a two-story building.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - March 7th, 2025

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.

Engagement portrait of an intimate embrace between a couple, sharing giggles after her surprise proposal in Old Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada, captured in a tight black and white shot.
A couple passionately kisses at Kings Beach, CA, embraced by the snowy landscape of Lake Tahoe, where winter's beauty enhances their romantic portrait.
At Point Reyes National Seashore, Northern California, a couple cozies up in soft beach grasses, bathed in warm sunlight, creating an idyllic and romantic scene.
Romantic profile silhouette of a couple embracing at sunset, with the colorful sky as the backdrop at The Hotel Hershey.
A couple shares an intimate pose in front of the iconic Guinness St. James Gate in Dublin, captured in a timeless black-and-white shot.
A couple shares a heartfelt reproposal moment near the iconic Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland, with snow-capped peaks creating a stunning backdrop to their love story.
In London, UK, a couple poses for a portrait amidst the vibrant cityscape, capturing their love story against iconic landmarks and London’s timeless charm.
A couple locks lips as the sun sets on Plage de l'Almanarre in Hyères, bathed in vibrant hues, making for a beautifully colorful and intimate shot.

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 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 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
The wedding photographer captured a timeless moment of love and joy as the bride's grandparents danced in an embrace at the Mountain Top Inn in Vermont
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
The photographer captured the beautiful moment of a wedding guest giving the bride a big hug and a kiss on the cheek at the Private Home in Congham, Norfolk, UK
The wedding photo taken at West Haven, Connecticut captured a touching moment of a groom shedding tears as his mother lovingly does his hair for the big day
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