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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.

Father of the bride carefully placing the veil on his daughter's head at Castelnau des Fieumarcon in Lectoure, Gers, a touching moment frozen in time during the wedding ceremony.
Isabelle Bazin
In Moselle, a couple lovingly gazes into each other's eyes amidst a bamboo forest on their wedding day portrait session in nature.
Jonathan Fortuna
A beautiful moment captured at Chateau Saint Denis in Lot et Garonne, France; the bride's intimate preparations in soft light, shown in silhouette next to a window on her wedding day.
Vincent Dupin
A group of the groom and his best men jumping in the air in synchronized poses, captured on the wedding day at Bodrum Swiss Hotel. A fun and energetic photo that captures the groom and his friends celebrating in fun style.
Emre Nesli
A candid moment at a family home wedding captured in Maisons-Alfort, France, shows a young girl playing under the dinner table, surrounded by elegant women's legs, revealing a charming and heartwarming scene of hidden joy and innocence.
Marie Carbonnier
A beautiful shot of a couple walking away hand in hand on their wedding day at Sage Lodge Montana, surrounded by storm clouds and lush greenery, creating a dramatic and memorable scene.
Charles Moll
View Spotlight 2024 Round 1

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

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

Studio portrait of John Ryan, wedding photographer of J&J Studios, LLC
UK wedding reportage and engagement photography by Damion Mower
East Midlands documentary wedding photography by Simon Dewey of England, United Kingdom
Self portrait of Var marriage photographer Cynthia Arena, of the PACA WPJA
Var wedding photography by Marion Deletraz of PACA France
Lifestyle Portrait of Tommy Loska, a Destination Wedding Photographer
Casey Fatchett Wedding Photography
Caterina Errani - WPJA Profile Image of wedding and elopement photographer
Studio portrait of wedding and elopement photographer Erica Dietz
Engagement, elopements and wedding photography by Sujith Kumar of Incognito frames
Xiaoqi Li - Artistic wedding and engagement photographer
Colorado engagements + wedding and elopement photography by Sean Lara
Navarre wedding photography by Matt Kolf in Spain
Color wedding photography by Iris Hu
Elopements by Top Wedding Photographer Justin Edmonds
I AM SARAH V Photography - Wedding and Couple Engagement Images
Rochester wedding photography by Bob Kniley of Upstate New York
BW studio portrait of Rome wedding photographer Enrico Giansanti of the Italy Lazio WPJA
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:

2024 Pre Wedding Couple Portraits - Diamond Awards

2023 v04 Artistic Guild

2023 v06 Photography Competition

Engagement Portrait of Couple in Sunlight - Custom Engagement Sessions - Couples Gift Photography

2023 Lifestyle Couple Engagement Portraits - Diamond Awards

2023 v05 Photography Competition

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

JD Land, of New Jersey, is a wedding photographer for Glen Foerd
JD Land, of New Jersey, is a wedding photographer for
Vinicius Terror, of Minas Gerais, is a wedding photographer for Vila Relicario

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 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 heartfelt moment captured in Zenderen, Netherlands as kids surround the bride and groom; one girl is in tears, while another puts on a sad face, while their dad holds another child
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.
Bride and groom share their first dance on the charming patio at Cascina Montena, Zenevreto, Italy, illuminated by twinkling lights against a backdrop of a beautiful night sky
A professional wedding photographer in Paris captured this award-winning image of the bride and groom's daughter yawning during the ceremony. The photographer specializes in capturing authentic and emotional moments throughout the wedding day.
A black-and-white photo captures a moment in Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, as the groom lowers his head to enter the limo on his way to the church. This BW shot from inside the car beautifully captures the anticipation of the wedding day.
Amalfi ceremony exit with a beautiful outdoor scene, as white flower petals fall upon the smiling bride and groom, both dressed in white
At Hacienda Sitio de Mata in Costa Rica, a touching moment captures the groom's emotions as the bride embraces her mother after walking down the aisle. A heartfelt scene filled with love and family ties.
At Domaine de Montireau, the newlyweds are making their exit under a shower of bubbles

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 this award-winning wedding photo, taken in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square, the groom gracefully supports his bride's dress train as they walk together. The romantic scene is enhanced by the burst of sunlight at the top.
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.
Surrounded by the rustic charm of a barn in Steamboat Springs, CO, the bride and groom share a romantic lit embrace, captured by an award-winning wedding photographer.
Capturing the essence of love and reflection, this award-winning portrait highlights a silhouetted couple in Noord Brabant, Netherlands, with the bride elegantly visible in a mirror.
This award-winning photo was taken by a professional wedding photographer at Mar de Eucaliptos. It features a symmetrical view of the chapel at Aurora, with a reflection of the scene at the bottom of the frame.
With a unique perspective and skillful composition, the award-winning wedding photographer captures the essence of the day as a lone hand reaches for a soda cup in this captivating detail image.
In an award-winning photo captured by an artistic wedding photographer at Trieste, Italy, the bride's hand delicately touches her necklace, beautifully illuminated by the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing and detailed image.
An award-winning image captures the vibrant aftermath of a joyous celebration at Woolas Barn, as colorful confetti adorns the floor, alongside the elegant footwear and the bride's pristine white dress.

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.

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 couple in Los Gatos, CA, shares a warm embrace and small talk by the lake, radiating big smiles in a romantic setting for their engagement portrait session.
In a room surrounded by red walls at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, a couple shares a tender kiss, creating a romantic scene for a portrait session.
A romantic engagement portrait captured in Cappadocia, Turkey. The couple is relaxed on a bench in a carpet vendor marketplace.
Beautiful engagement portrait captured in Veneto, Italy, featuring the couple's faces in a close-up shot with the wind gently moving her hair, creating a monochromatic vintage look.
A couple standing on the shore in the water at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, capturing their engagement session with the beautiful beach as their backdrop.
In Perros-Guirec, Brittany, France, this engagement portrait captures the couple by the sea tidal pool with a view of the ocean, holding each other closely in a romantic and relaxed setting.
A beautiful autumnal engagement shoot set in the enchanting setting of Chopwell Woods, Newcastle upon Tyne. The couple shares a sweet kiss under a clear umbrella amidst the forest scenery.

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 brothers' emotional speeches and hugs at the Lobster Factory ceremony in Tournai, Belgium were beautifully captured in the wedding photo
The wedding photojournalist captured the tender moment of the bride being embraced by her friend during the outdoor patio reception at Le fou Gascon in Prechac, Gers, France
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 parents' emotional embrace and tears at the Chinese tea wedding ceremony in Sanya, Hainan, China was truly a beautiful moment to be captured by the photographer
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 wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
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