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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.

At the home of the couple in a Haute-Garonne village, a unique wedding photo captures the rings placed on their children's Legos, blending playful elements with meaningful symbols of the union.
Catherine Roujean
On the shores of Lake Michigan, IL, the bride and groom pose at night with the stunning Chicago skyline illuminated in the background, highlighting a memorable urban romance.
Jacob Poehls
In Florence, Tuscany, Italy, a heartwarming wedding scene captures the juxtaposition of two babies cradled in arms. One baby is featured soft in the foreground, while the other is held in the distance, adding depth and charm to the joyous occasion.
Dennis Berti
At Schloss Ort in Gmunden, Austria, the bride and groom share a heartfelt moment as they video call their parents, who were unable to travel, ensuring they're part of the joyous celebration.
Christiane Wolfram
In Cleveland, Ohio, as the intimate wedding day draws to a close, the photographer captures a stunning dual light effect using the sun's reflection. This creative technique beautifully highlights the couple and adds a glow to their unforgettable day.
Dennis Crider
At Boettcher Mansion in Golden, Colorado, an almost-married couple exchanges heartfelt notes behind a door, maintaining the tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony.
Kevin Bergthold
View Spotlight 2025 Round 12

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

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

Europe weddings, engagements and elopement pictures by Marco Tartaglia
Italy wedding and elopement photography by Alice Franchi
United States destination documentary wedding photography by Taber Lacie
Destination weddings, engagement couple sessions and elopement photography by Angela Nelson
Wedding photographer Stam Chananakhon
Couple engagement portraits by wedding photographer Joshua Grasso
Metz wedding photography by Jonathan Fortuna of Grand Est, Moselle
BestDayEver elopement and wedding photography by Teun Bakker
Canada Wedding Reportage Photography by Colleen Johnson
At-work image of Europe-based Destination Wedding and Elopement Photographer Sofia Camplioni
Dublin wedding reportage images by Aaron Daly of Leinster, Ireland
Wedding photography and engagement portraits by Loic Bourniquel of France
Macaé wedding photography by Aline Prado of Rio de Janeiro
Wedding Photographer Roger Kenny, for Ireland - The Portrait Room
Mike Cook is a Scotland based creative wedding photographer
Lifestyle portrait of Matthias Tiemann, a wedding photographer for NRW Ruhrgebiet
France Elopement and Wedding Photographer Hong-Phuc Bui, of Le Comptoir Photo
Portrait of Wedding Photographer David Butler II
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
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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

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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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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View Wedding Articles

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

wedding photographer
Serenay Lokcetin, of Istanbul, is a wedding photographer for Istanbul, Turkey

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 Villa il Poggiale in San Casciano Val di Pesa, Tuscany, the male wedding guests indulge in cigars and drinks during the cocktail hour. They enjoy a moment of relaxation and camaraderie.
In a Cleveland, Ohio hotel room, the bride, with her back to the camera, shares a surprise hidden under her robe with her bridesmaids. Their faces light up with surprise and delight as they react to the unexpected reveal.
At St. Peter's Church in Guernsey, a black-and-white shot captures the bride, her father, and bridesmaids sharing a laugh as they enter. The scene, set in an old-world setting, highlights the joy and anticipation of the moment.
In Bozeman, Montana, during the couple's first dance, a dog photobombs the moment in a black and white shot, adding unexpected charm to the wedding celebration.
At Col Pradat in the Italian Dolomites, the bride and groom enjoy an exhilarating ski together.
At Asli Tunca Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, the bride is gracefully escorted down the elegant staircase as she makes her entrance.
At a home in Moselle, a bustling preparation scene, a bridesmaid and the bride put on their shoes, while the bride's brother applies deodorant. In the background, the groom is assisted by his best man to tie his necktie.
At the Versailles Yvelines reception venue, the bride and groom enjoy a unique moment during the cocktail hour. The bride sips her drink through a straw, while the groom sits, holding a harp, creating a charming scene.

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.

At Les Rhodos in La Clusaz, a winter venue, the couple walks toward the camera through the snow, near the majestic backdrop of the mountains.
At the bride's home in Foggia, Apulia, the bride, dressed in white, is seated and surrounded by her bridesmaids, who are dressed in blue dresses.
At Château Pape Clément in Pessac, the bride and groom pose on the staircase, surrounded by the warm tones of the old-world stair landing, creating an elegant and timeless scene.
At Domaine de Raville, a creative couple's photo captures them embracing, with a rainbow of bokeh bursts appearing in the lower foreground, adding a colorful touch to the image.
In Paris, the bride and groom share an intimate pose, seated by an upstairs window. Their pose reflects a sense of closeness and romance, enhanced by the soft light streaming in.
At their ceremony location in Estes Park, Colorado, the bride and groom embrace closely for warmth under the starry expanse of the Milky Way, illuminated by the photographer's lighting.
At River Cottage in Devon, UK, after the night's festivities, items gathered from the dance floor—shoes, confetti, and decorations—tell the story of the day's events in a unique and evocative way.
In the wheat fields of Lucera, Puglia, the newlyweds stand amid golden amber waves of grain, with the low sun behind them casting a warm glow over the picturesque countryside scene.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - February 12th, 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.

In Ceparana, Bolano, an engaged couple sits closely together on the edge of a dirt road. Surrounded by nature, their relaxed posture and intimate connection capture the essence of their engagement in this serene setting.
In Tihany, Hungary, an engaged couple takes a restful pause during their walk, leaning against a high wall. With serene expressions, they gaze in opposite directions, in quiet connection.
An engaged couple embraces lovingly in front of iconic Durham Cathedral, England, their bodies beautifully illuminated against the deep blue hue of the evening sky.
In Göreme, Nevşehir, Turkey, during a Cappadocia engagement photo session, she lounges in the heart-shaped opening of a resting bench, holding his hand as he stands nearby. The scene is completed with hot air balloons gracefully floating in the distance.
In Kayseri, Turkey, during an engagement photo session in Cappadocia, a couple stands at a ranch with many horses. The low sun creates a warm glow, while to the right, a cowboy rides a horse rearing up, adding a dynamic element to the scene.
In Paşabağları, Cappadocia, Turkey, an engagement photo session captures her in soft light within a cave. He stands at a distance, framed by a round opening in the stone cave wall, creating a picturesque and intimate composition.
In Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey, a couple's engagement photo session captures them relaxing by the water. She sits while he lies with his head on her lap, basking in the sun, in a serene and affectionate scene.
In Collingwood, a couple pauses on the street by a reflective glass window to share a kiss. Captured in black and white, the image artistically showcases their reflection, adding depth to the romantic scene.

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.

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 photographer captured a beautiful and emotional moment as a Bari bride lovingly greeted her ailing grandmother, who was unfortunately unable to join the celebration of her special day
The tears of joy from the groom and ring bearer as the bride walked down the aisle at the Westin Playa Conchal in Guanacaste, Costa Rica were captured beautifully in the wedding photo
At a wedding in Bucharest, Romania, the groom lovingly hugged his sister - a beautiful black and white image captured the emotional moment
The tender loving moment of the bride caressing her groom's face during their wedding ceremony at Duino, Trieste, Italy was captured perfectly in the wedding photo
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 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 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