Virginia Wedding Photographers

Virginia Wedding Photographers

Our Virginia photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Hampton, Roanoke, Portsmouth, Arlington, Williamsburg, Luray, and Leesburg

Virginia Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Virginia - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Virginia photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the joy and intimacy of your wedding day.

By planning a simple Virginia elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. Given the fact that many couples feel more natural and at ease in intimate settings, it's no surprise that some of the most breathtaking wedding images come from elopements.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, Virginia documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!

Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards

Virginia Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Virginia wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.

United States WPJA members are ready to document any DIY - do it yourself, civil ceremony, town hall, or elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.

35 Virginia Wedding Photographers...

Studio portrait of Brittany Diliberto, an elopement and wedding photographer | Bee Two Sweet Photography

Brittany Diliberto is an East Coast USA-based photographer capturing spectacular moments with creative, artistic, and inspirational angles. Drawing from a background in professional lighting design, Brittany imprints emotion in her work.

4250 (USD)
Xiaoqi Li - Artistic wedding and engagement photographer

Xiaoqi Li is a destination wedding photographer who is dedicated to capturing the genuine and meaningful moments of couples' special days. With a deep appreciation for the importance of photographs in preserving memories, she aims to provide peace of mind to her...

0 (USD)
Engagement Portrait Pro, Wedding and Elopement Photographer Johnny Shryock of the WPJA

Adopting a documentary approach, USA-based wedding photographer Johnny Shryock employs his storytelling talent to capture incredible moments since his own brother's wedding a decade ago. By establishing a genuine connection with couples, he creates a comfortable...

4250 (USD)
Megan Rei, Documentary Style Wedding Photographer

With a passion for storytelling through images, Megan Rei is a documentary wedding photographer based in the Washington metropolitan area. Combining her experience in dog photography with her love for traveling, Megan strives to create a visual narrative that captures...

4000 (USD)
Wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Anastasiia Polyakov, of So Tender Is Humanity

Anastasiia Polyakov's documentary style, paired with her artistic eye, enables her to beautifully capture the essence of existence through wedding photography, memorializing moments with compassion and expression.

3500 (USD)
Color portrait of wedding photographer Lauren Barkume

As a documentary wedding photographer, Lauren Barkume possesses a deep love for nature and travel, which seamlessly blend into her photographs. She believes in capturing the authentic narrative of couples, empowering them to embrace their true selves.

4990 (USD)
Mike Kropf Wedding Photography in the USA

Mike Kropf is a Charlotte documentary wedding photographer. Fueled by his love of camping and exploring, Mike discovered his passion for preserving memories through artful photography in the Middle East.

3000 (USD)
Portrait of wedding and elopement photographer Sarah Sta. Ana of Santa Ana Photography

Sarah Sta Ana is a documentary wedding photographer based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. With a love for storytelling, she has a knack for capturing raw, pure, and beautiful moments.

1800 (USD)

Heather Hughes Ostermaier is a Virginia wedding photographer with over 8 years full-time experience. She and her husband Rob both have extensive backgrounds in photojournalism and have been published in various notable publications. They provide unobtrusive and creative...

2999 (USD)
Emie McGee wedding photography studio - Emie's Photo LLC

Emie McGee is a Lynchburg, USA-based wedding photographer, specializing in creating timeless photos and developing a unique editing style inspired by film photography. With photo experience since 2018, she is here to make your wedding day stress-free.

3200 (USD)
Studio portrait of Wes Shinn - owner / wedding and elopement photography studio

Wes Shinn, a seasoned wedding photojournalist with a decade of experience as a military photojournalist, expertly captures the essence and emotions of your wedding day, creating unforgettable memories.

3400 (USD)
Portrait of Amber Lamphere, a Wedding Photographer in Richmond, VA

Amber is a highly acclaimed wedding photographer based in Richmond, Virginia. With over ten years of experience in capturing beautiful wedding moments, her work has been featured in top wedding publications. Amber specializes in weddings in the greater Virginian area and...

4750 (USD)
Wedding photography by Michael Freas

Michael Freas is a photojournalistic wedding photographer. He puts the focus on your unique relationship, honoring all of those present. His commitment to stress-free joy, allowing couples to celebrate to the fullest, has made him one of the most reputable wedding...

Michael Freas

Asheville in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3800 (USD)

Neil Thurston is a destination wedding photographer who takes a documentary approach to storytelling through visual imagery. With a background in action sports photography and extensive international experience, Neil uses his unobtrusive style to capture the authentic...

Neil Thurston

Nags Head in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
500/hour (USD)
Kenneth Clapp, USA Creative Wedding Photography

Kenneth Clapp takes a documentary approach to wedding photography, focusing on storytelling through his visuals. With a keen eye for capturing emotions and moments, he crafts stunning images that truly reflect the essence of the couple's big day.

Kenneth Clapp

Baltimore in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3000 (USD)
New England wedding and elopement photography by Christine Hochkeppel

Christine Hochkeppel, a New England documentary wedding photographer, brings a decade of experience in capturing weddings and has contributed to publications including Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Cape Cod Times, and the Boston Globe.

3675 (USD)
Song Johns wedding and elopement photography of Blooming Dreams Photo

Song Johns is an acclaimed documentary wedding photographer and the founder of Blooming Dreams Photo. With her unique artistic approach, she skillfully captures the genuine emotions and fleeting moments of each couple's wedding day.

Song Johns

Charlotte in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
2900 (USD)
A black and white portrait of wedding photographer Lacey Butler

Lacey Butler, a wedding photographer with a strong background in traditional photography, studio lighting, and English literature. With over 400 documented weddings, Butler values capturing authentic, heartfelt moments over staged ones. By using her skills and experience,...

Lacey Butler

Asheville in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
2000 (USD)
At Work Image of Wedding Photographer Ted Felsberg

Ted Felsberg

Mays Landing in New Jersey, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
5000 (USD)
Navarre wedding photography by Matt Kolf in Spain

Matt Kolf is an international wedding photographer. Originally from Washington D.C., he was inspired to pursue art history and photography through the likes of Velaquez, Rembrandt, and Norman Rockwell. Specifically, Kolf specializes in Catholic weddings in Spain and on the...

Matt Kolf

Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3500 (USD)
Wedding, engagement and elopement photography by Natasha Lamalle

Natasha Lamalle takes a documentary approach to her photography, drawing on her fifteen years of experience as a journalist. With her keen eye and storytelling abilities, she skillfully captures the authentic and emotional moments of love.

4000 (USD)

Ken Pak, a wedding storyteller known for his documentary approach, captures the authentic moments of love with his camera, creating stunning visuals that tell a compelling story.

Ken Pak

Washington DC in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3900 (USD)
Lifestyle Portrait of Wedding and Elopement Photographer Morgan O'Neil

Morgan O'Neil takes a documentary approach to her photography, skillfully capturing wedding moments with a camera. Specializing in vibrant coastal wedding photos, she uses her storytelling skills to create visually compelling images.

Morgan O'Neil

Baltimore in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
4800 (USD)
Baltimore engagement wedding and elopement photography by Breanna Shaw

With a documentary style, Breanna Shaw captures love and connection in her photography, dedicating her life to sharing these moments with clients as she travels the world.

Breanna Shaw

Reisterstown in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3850 (USD)
Engagement, elopement, and wedding photography by Andrew Morrell

Utilizing a documentary approach, Andrew Morrell showcases his distinctive storytelling ability. Through his visual style, he artfully captures weddings and elopements, combining art, technology, and an element of improvisation.

Andrew Morrell

Cleveland in Ohio, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3600 (USD)
Colleen Stepanian - Documentary Wedding Photography

USA wedding photographer Colleen Stepanian is a freelance photographer available for travel. With a few driving forces; human connection, relationships, and vulnerability, she has a responsibility to photograph present reality for the sake of human history and future...

Colleen Stepanian

Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
4800 (USD)
Engagement Portraits, Elopements and Wedding Photography by Anji Martin Potok's - World Photography, LLC

In a journalistic style, Anji Martin, a visual storyteller, has been capturing moments with her camera since childhood. Specializing in wedding and elopement photography, she primarily serves couples in the Washington, DC, area but is available for destination weddings.

Anji Martin

Washington in District Of Columbia, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
4450 (USD)

In her own creative style, Mary Kate McKenna, a wedding photojournalist with 13 years of experience, captures the genuine moments that unfold during small weddings, courthouse weddings, and destination micro weddings, celebrating the union between two people.

Mary Kate McKenna

Frederick in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
2500 (USD)

With a documentary approach and a passion for storytelling, Ryan Rayburn captures the moments and emotions of couples' weddings. Drawing on his nine years of experience as a photographer in newspapers, he applies his visual storytelling skills to create a comprehensive...

Ryan Rayburn

Bethesda in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
2200 (USD)

Dan Harris is a US based wedding photographer with over 20 years experience working in newspapers. His lifelong affinity for photography was born when he was 8, learning about his mother's Kodak Brownie II camera. He has won several prestigious awards worldwide and has...

Dan Harris

Jacksonville in Florida, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
400/hour (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of Annalee Durland-Jones, a Boston, MA Wedding Photographer

Annalee Durland-Jones is a wedding, travel, and adventure photographer based in New England. She discovered her passion for photography in high school and has been capturing authentic and sentimental moments ever since.

Annalee Durland-Jones

Boston in Massachusetts, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
6000 (USD)
BW wedding and elopement photography by Brian Mullins

Brian Mullins, a highly regarded Raleigh documentary wedding photographer, brings his diverse background in photography, cinematography, and concert lighting to create stunning imagery that captures the true essence of wedding moments.

Brian Mullins

Apex in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3499 (USD)
Susannah Stevens, a DC, VA, and MD wedding photographer of Studio Lifetime Lens

Susannah Stevens, a D.C. native with an MA in multimedia journalism, specializes in intimate weddings, micro-weddings, and elopements. She offers short-notice availability, prioritizing meaningful moments, and employs an open and collaborative approach for documentary-style...

1100 (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of wedding photographer Tom Waldenberg

Tom Waldenberg is a wedding photographer based in the Eastern U.S., passionate about capturing beautiful, genuine moments for couples. Tom loves playing guitar for bands and tending to his garden.

Tom Waldenberg

Raleigh in North Carolina, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
3000 (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of Aira Hickman, a family & wedding photographer

Dedicated Maryland photographer Aira Hickman, a loving mother and Navy veteran's wife, captures genuine moments with an organic approach. Passionate since picking up her first camera, she focuses on authenticity and making clients feel confident and loved.

Aira Hickman

Gambrills in Maryland, US *Now booking Virginia weddings.
880 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Virginia Couples

Virginia Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

Below are some Virginia wedding photography samples from the world’s best wedding photographers of the WPJA. Some of these Virginia marriage pictures might be artistic portraits, details, or documentary-style images that have come from getting ready sessions, wedding ceremonies, reception venues, or Virginia engagement portrait sessions with couples.

Black and white wedding photo captured at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA, showcasing a groomsman clinking a glass of water to signal the kiss between the newlyweds.
A playful moment frozen in time at an elegant wedding venue, showcasing a curious young guest reaching towards a cooler filled with alcoholic beverage drinks at The Inn at Mount Vernon Farm in Virginia.
A candid moment captured during a wedding at Blue Hill Farm in Waterford, VA, with a lone guest framed in the empty space of a hanging seating chart, adding a touch of intrigue to the image.
A touching moment in black and white captured at Birkby House in Leesburg, VA, as the groom's mother warmly embraces the bride, welcomed into the family after the ceremony on their wedding day.
Emotional moment at The Estate at River Run, Maidens VA, as the mother assists the bride with her gown - a tender black and white shot from the wedding day.
A beautiful black and white image of a groom spinning his bride in the rain on their wedding day at The Estate at River Run in Maidens, VA. The couple shares a romantic and tender dance together under the falling raindrops.
A striking wedding photo of groom and groomsmen in deep forest green suits posing with cigars at Poplar Springs Manor in Warrenton, VA, surrounded by lush trees creating a sophisticated and timeless image.
A romantic moment captured at Zion Springs in Hamilton, VA as the newlyweds toast with champagne spray under a starry night sky on their wedding day.
At Whitehall Estate in Bluemont, VA, the bride's dog steals the show during bridesmaid's toast, captured in a unique low-angle shot on the wedding day.
At their fall engagement session at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Virginia, the couple stands above a sea of beautiful pink and white flowers.
A unique and fun wedding photo at Irvine Estate in Virginia, featuring the groom and his entire bridal party holding light sabers for a night time group shot, capturing a joyful party atmosphere at a Star Wars wedding celebration.
In Virginia at Poplar Springs Manor in Warrenton, the bride playfully smashes cake into the groom's face, causing it to fall off as they both share a joyous laugh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find Virginia photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?
A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for Virginia wedding photographers to showcase their best engagement photography work. These awards are given to photographers who prove that they have an ability to be creative, artistic, and intuitive while working on-location with couples who are newly engaged.
Q: Who are the best Virginia wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Virginia documentary wedding photographers for elopements. Our members are able to submit WedElope Stories that take you step-by-step, via a 9 image picture story, through the unique and moving elopements that take place around the world.
Q: How can couples find top-ranked Virginia wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Virginia photographers you see at the top of your search results page have recently won the most — and the most recent — contest awards. Our contests judge photographers based on their creativity, style, composure, and ability to capture the heart of any couple's story on their wedding day.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
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RAVES, REVIEWS, AND Virginia WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Corley & Don

Photo by Neil Thurston

Hi Neil and Lisa, Don and I are beyond thrilled with our pictures! The quality, detail, and beauty of the pictures is just so obvious. Aside from all those things, we love that you captured the sequence of events in a photojournalistic fashion. I've gotten comments from many of my friends/family that these are the best pictures they have ever seen, and of course we are just so proud that they are our pictures. I also have to chuckle a little because you guys were such an organized but chill vendor and as a project manager myself, I know how much preparation you both did behind the scenes to make that work. We couldn't be any happier and if you ever need a reference - email, phone, whatever - please do not hesitate to call.

Neil GT Photography Outer Banks Wedding Photographer

Teri and Michael

Photo by Neil Thurston

Thank you so incredibly much for everything! Everyone that sees our pictures says WOW! and that we just radiate happiness, and that is the perfect compliment because that's exactly how we felt and you captured it perfectly! We will cherish these photos forever. Hopefully our paths cross again one day, perhaps for family photos!

Wedding image from Celebrations At the Reservoir, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Anna & Justin

Photo by Xiaoqi Li

Xiaoqi: We wanted to thank you for your exceptional service especially how challenging 2020 turned out to be. Your small trinkets (the unexpected cookies!) made getting married a delightful process. We were on the fence about having a wedding and now that we have done it, we are so glad we made the choice to proceed. You were an enormous part of our pleasant, beautiful, amazing experience. Thank you. Love, Anna & Justin