Des Moines Wedding Photographers

Our Des Moines photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Urbandale, Johnston, West Des Moines, Clive, Altoona, Ankeny, Indianola, Ames, Newton, Boone, Pella, Grinnell, Marshalltown, Oskaloosa, Fort Dodge

Des Moines Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Des Moines - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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, Des Moines documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings and elopements can’t wait. Find yours today!

Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards

wedding photographer for intimate ceremonies | The bride clasps hands with the groom as they take their first steps together

Bonnie Sizer

The happy couple tied the knot in a romantic elopement ceremony beneath a picturesque Mulberry Tree at The Oldest House on the island

Katie Kaizer

Friends and family joyfully tossed rose petals as the bride and groom celebrated their special day, creating a fun and happy atmosphere for everyone to enjoy

William Lambelet

Des Moines Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Des Moines 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.

Iowa WPJA members are ready to document any secret, pop-up, civil ceremony, 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.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Des Moines Wedding Venues

1 Des Moines Wedding Photographers...

Andrea Bibeault is a wedding photographer with a background in art and visual storytelling. She and her husband Ed specialize in photojournalistic-style wedding photography, capturing moments of shared love and unique personalities.

Andrea Bibeault

Omaha in Nebraska, US *Now booking Des Moines weddings.

2600 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Des Moines Couples

Searches Related to Des Moines Wedding Photography Vendors

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who are the best Des Moines wedding photographers for small elopements?

A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Des Moines 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 Des Moines photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?

A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for Des Moines 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: How can couples find reviews of Des Moines wedding photographers?

A: We call them Client Letters. At the WPJA, we decided more than 20 years ago to avoid incorporating those third-person testimonials and endorsements that are found all too often in advertisements. Instead, we elevated our listings with the use of Client Letters, which represent the actual words and feelings of the clients who booked those Des Moines wedding photographers for their own wedding.

WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles

Small Weddings - How to Budget and Save

Traditionally speaking, often times it is the couple’s families who help pay for their wedding. However, unfortunately that’s just not possible for everyone, especially these days when the cost of weddings can quickly and easily get out of control. Some couples find...Read more

Wedding Economy: The Ups and Downs

We all know that the economy can go through some hard times, and be somewhat reminiscent of past recessions. However, as people cut back on non-essential little luxuries here and there, one constant remains: weddings. People don’t tend to just stop getting married due to a...Read more

Essential Elopement Vendor - The Photographer

So your wedding is just around the corner and you’ve decided to elope , either because you want to do this on a budget , avoid a large wedding party, or simply to enjoy the day together with minimal distractions and as little stress as possible . They say 'all you need is...Read more

WPJA Communiqué: Viewpoints

Elopements: Traditional and Modern

The oldsters among the WPJA ranks no doubt remember when 'to elope' meant, in Merriam-Webster’s definition, “to run away secretly with the intention of getting married, usually without parental consent.” Many wedding photographers have gone on the lam with couples who did just that. However, even Merriam-Webster now acknowledges that “elope appears to have become shorthand for ‘ small destination weddings ,’ a ‘ wedding that is not financially insane ,’ or a ‘ wedding that allows us to not invite all the people we would rather not invite .’” Smaller Weddings are... Read more

What is Reportage?

On Instagram and elsewhere, one can see images labeled as #photojournalism or #reportage when they are, in fact, merely photos. I say "merely," even though photography has been my career's great passion. But it's because of that passion and my respect for the work of actual photojournalists that I am particularly bothered to see wedding photographers call their work "reportage." That word properly used actually means something important beyond just a stylistic conceit. By contrast, however, I'm the lead cheerleader for those practitioners of #weddingphotojournalism ... Read more

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.