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North Carolina Wedding Photographers

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North Carolina Wedding Photographers

Our North Carolina photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, High Point, Greenville, Asheville, Chapel Hill

North Carolina Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in North Carolina - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best North Carolina photographers specializing in intimate marriages. Couples are embracing the trend of smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Let our talented photographers capture the happiness and closeness of your unique, casual, boutique, or at-home wedding.

By planning a simple North Carolina elopement, couples are able to stay present in the moment and fully absorb the impact of their wedding day. With many couples feeling more comfortable and relaxed in intimate settings, it is not surprising that some of the most sincere and touching wedding photos are captured at smaller celebrations.

The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, North Carolina documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
The newlyweds decided to have a small backyard wedding, with the kissing couple surrounded by their closest friends who had come for a house warming party, transforming it into a wedding celebration
Corey Butler
The couple was overjoyed to have finally made their commitment to each other legally binding, and celebrated with an intimate cafe reception. As they made their entrance, the couple beamed with happiness and pride.
Cindy Brown
The bride and groom prayed together during their small church wedding ceremony, captured in a beautiful black and white photo by their elopement photographer
Bryan Aleman

North Carolina Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small North Carolina 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 justice of the peace, civil union, self solemnization, or any other type of elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.

17 North Carolina Wedding Photographers...

Neil Thurston is a destination wedding photographer with a unique background. As a graduate of NESOP, he spent several years in action sports photography. With extensive international experience, Neil has applied his creative skills to become a renowned photojournalist...

Neil Thurston

Nags Head in North Carolina, US
36
1
6
3600 (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
14
24
2900 (USD)
Michael Freas, a Wedding and Engagement Photographer

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
66
3
30
3800 (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
4
1
1
2000 (USD)

James Nix adopts a documentary approach as an experienced NC wedding photographer, drawing on his 15 years of experience as a photojournalist. With an unobtrusive style, he captures the authentic moments that unfold on the wedding day.

James Nix

Charlotte in North Carolina, US
30
1
20
2500 (USD)
North Carolina wedding photography by Joe Payne

Joe Payne, a North Carolina wedding photographer, is known for his captivating documentary approach to capturing life through the lens of his camera. With a background in fine art and an MBA degree from Butler University, he brings a unique storytelling perspective to his...

Joe Payne

Raleigh in North Carolina, US
2
2
3999 (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
18
3000 (USD)
Studio portrait of USA wedding photographer Cindy Brown

Cindy Brown is an overeducated wedding photojournalist, capturing a variety of weddings around the world with sensitivity, emotion, and an eye for detail.

Cindy Brown

Atlanta in Georgia, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
99
14
5
162
3000 (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.

Emie McGee

Lynchburg in Virginia, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
3
5
2500 (USD)
Wedding elopement photography by Bryan Aleman - L'amour Artistic Wedding Media

Traveling wedding photographer Bryan Aleman brings a passion for capturing natural emotions and a romantic spirit to his work. With a background split between Honduras and the USA, his skills in wedding, engagement, and elopement photography have flourished.

Bryan Aleman

Pigeon Forge in Tennessee, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
23
5
73
700/hour (USD)
Wedding photography of real moments by Leah Moyers

Traveling wedding and elopement photographer Leah Moyers has a journalistic style, utilizing her Fine Arts background to capture her clients authentically. Her unobtrusive and candid approach allows her to document the moments of love in beautiful and unique ways.

Leah Moyers

Sevierville in Tennessee, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
16
5
450/hour (USD)

Robert Walker is an award-winning and published wedding photographer with over 17 years experience in Texas and California. His photo-journalistic style and professional demeanor have earned him praise from clients. He and his family currently reside in Dallas.

Robert Walker

Dallas in Texas, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
3
2400 (USD)

In journalistic style, Dan Harris, an experienced newspaper photojournalist, captures the intimate moments of love and joy that unfold during weddings. With over 20 years of experience and an impressive portfolio, he skillfully documents each event, preserving the essence...

Dan Harris

Jacksonville in Florida, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
8
400/hour (USD)
Lifestyle portrait of Aira Hickman, a family & wedding photographer

Aira Hickman, a Maryland family and wedding photographer, captures clients' essence with an organic approach. Passionate since picking up her first camera, she focuses on authenticity, aiming to make clients feel confident and deeply loved.

Aira Hickman

Gambrills in Maryland, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
999 (USD)
Studio portrait of of Raven Shutley, Atlanta wedding photographer of the Georgia WPJA

Atlanta-based WPJA wedding photographer Raven Shutley specializes in crafting timeless love stories. Her unique approach captures authentic, emotive moments, showcasing the genuine beauty of each couple's special day.

Raven Shutley

Hoschton in Georgia, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
4500 (USD)
Portrait of Erin Morrison - Elopement & Wedding Photographer

Known for her adaptability, Knoxville wedding photographer Erin Morrison, originally from Illinois, captures weddings beautifully. Inspired by her own photographers, she's a sought-after choice in The Great Smoky Mountains.

Erin Morrison

Knoxville in Tennessee, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
1900 (USD)
Artistic wedding photography by Stephanie Sonju

Stephanie Sonju, a skilled documentary wedding photographer, is inspired by the art of capturing authentic moments. Her handcrafted albums provide clients with lasting memories.

Stephanie Sonju

Boynton Beach in Florida, US *Now booking North Carolina weddings.
2
3100 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving North Carolina Couples

North Carolina Wedding Elopement Photography - WedElope

View WedElope Image Galleries by North Carolina Wedding Photographers from Small Events and Intimate Elopements.

North Carolina Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

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

The photographer's style was evident as the couple danced in the sunset at Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem.
A sleepy ring bearer rests in a field at Blackberry Cove in Weaverville, NC, after a long day of waiting for the wedding to begin.
Witness the raw passion and connection between this bride and groom in this intimate, artistic wedding portrait captured at the iconic Greystone Inn by a WPJA photographer.
Amidst sentimental toasts, a groom lovingly silences his mother's embarrassing story at the beautiful Greystone Inn in Lake Toxaway, NC.
WPJA professional photographer captures a tender embrace between an engaged couple against the breathtaking backdrop of a setting sun and majestic mountain landscape in Asheville, NC.
A skillfully captured image by a WPJA photographer at Biltmore Estate, featuring an engaged couple standing beneath a pergola surrounded by the warm glow of a sunset using a galen filter.
Captured by a renowned WPJA photographer on the picturesque shores of Outer Banks, NC, this portrait showcases a loving couple accompanied by their furry companions, gazing in unison towards same direction.
Captured by a WPJA photographer at the Outer Banks in North Carolina, this image showcases a couple taking a romantic stroll along the beach, their hands interlaced against a cloudy sky backdrop.
Expertly captured by a WPJA photographer at Looking Glass Falls, NC, this enchanting shot showcases the radiant couple framed by a vibrant rainbow, embracing their shared passion for waterfalls.
At Luna's Trail Farm in NC, the bride becomes emotional as the groom reads his vows. A row of bridal attendants stands supportively behind her, witnessing the heartfelt moment.
At the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC, the groom is joyfully thrown into the air above the reception venue dance floor after winning a game.
At 658 Events in Charlotte, NC, the vibrant LOVE graffiti creates the perfect backdrop to celebrate the couple's special day in style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can couples find reviews of North Carolina 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 North Carolina wedding photographers for their own wedding.
Q: How can couples find top-ranked North Carolina wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the North Carolina 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.
Q: Who are the best North Carolina wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top North Carolina 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.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography Articles
Vows, Crowds, and Nerves: Avoid Stress with a Small Wedding
While some of us were fortunate enough to be born as extroverts, not everyone feels the same way. For a good chunk of the population, any number of the typical wedding day traditions can inspire anxiety and existential dread. This day is all about you, yes, but does that...Read more
Smaller Weddings in a Time of Social Distancing
It’s no secret that these are strange times we’re going through right now, and there are many couples out there with weddings set in the near future who are left feeling uncertain and concerned about their futures. While that’s understandable, it’s also important to...Read more
An Unforgettable Romance: The Intimacy of an Elopement
While some people live for the hustle and bustle of a big wedding with extravagant décor and an impossibly long guest list, others find these kinds of weddings to be too much hoopla, preferring instead something simpler and quieter, allowing for more intimacy between them...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

RAVES, REVIEWS, AND North Carolina WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Kaleigh & Brent

Photo by James Nix

Brent and I, as well as our entire family and friends, are absolutely in love with all of our pictures... People have told us our pictures look like they are out of a magazine. All of our pictures truly document our wedding day from start to finish even including all of the small details. We couldn't be more pleased... Thank you so much James!

View Photographer

Michelle and Peter

Photo by Neil Thurston

Thank you for the amazing pictures! They are absoloutely breathtaking! You both captured every single detail of the day and every picture tells a story. You both did a phenomenal job and were such a pleasure to work with. We can't thank you enough for these amazing memories!

View Photographer
Kitty Hawk Wedding Photography by Neil GT Photographer

Heather and Andrew

Photo by Neil Thurston

Wow! I am speechless, these photos are absoloutely amazing! Thank you so much for capturing these precious moments on our wedding day!

View Photographer

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.