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Oakland Wedding Photographers

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Oakland Wedding Photographers

Our Oakland photographers also provide documentary-style coverage in: Alameda County, West Coast, East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, Port of Oakland, San Francisco Bay, N California

Oakland Wedding Photography, Engagement Photo Sessions + Elopements

Intimate Wedding Photography in Oakland - Capturing the Joy of Small Celebrations - Discover the best Oakland 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 non-traditional, romantic, casual, or at-home wedding.

By planning a simple Oakland 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, Oakland documentary wedding photographers available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Wedding Photos By Bridge Over The Water | The Bridge is stretching above them
Kevin Koo
The bride and groom eloped and, due to the mother's cancer, the aunt gave a speech written by her in lieu of her being unable to talk
Aniket Sananse
The couple sat happily in their small wedding, a photo taken from outside the room where the second part of the ceremony was taking place
Federico Pannacci

Oakland Photographers for Large or Small Weddings

Shooting an elopement or small Oakland 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.

California - Northern WPJA members are ready to document any civil ceremony, minimony, civil union, 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.

View Award-Winning Pictures from Oakland Wedding Venues

2 Oakland Wedding Photographers...

Northern California wedding photography by Drew Bird - Creative Storytelling

Drew Bird, a skilled wedding photographer with years of experience, specializes in capturing authentic and unscripted beauty, love, and connection through photographs. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he excels in telling stories through his lens.

Drew Bird

Oakland in California, US
23
3
15
12
7
3500 (USD)
Edeelin Labra, Northern CA wedding photography

Edeelin Labra, a wedding photojournalist based in Northern California, has honed her photography skills over the years. With a deep love for art, she transforms simple moments into cherished memories. Labra's passion for capturing emotions and preserving them for...

Edeelin Labra

Vallejo in California, US *Now booking Oakland weddings.
2000 (USD)

Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Oakland Couples

Oakland Wedding, Elopement and Engagement Images by WPJA Photographers

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

Near the busy city of Oakland, a loving couple's engagement portrait was taken amongst the peaceful, dappled sunlight of a forest.
Engaged couple embraces under towering palm trees in the picturesque setting of Jack London Square, Oakland's Docker Bay in Northern California.
Captured in beautiful Northern California, this sweet moment features a mother and bride dancing at an outdoor reception under the shade trees on a sunny day in Oakland.
Couple embraced in a hug, surrounded by trees in the late afternoon sun in a beautiful Northern California forest for their engagement portrait session in Oakland, CA.
In this wedding photo, a photographer captured a poignant moment at the 16th Street Train Station in Oakland, CA, as the bride was moved to tears by the groom's heartfelt vows.
During their engagement session at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, CA, the couple joyfully walked their dogs on leashes through the open field, showcasing their love and excitement for their upcoming marriage.
A touching moment between a bride and her father as she adjusts her veil in the mirror at Bellevue Club in Oakland, California, on her wedding day.
In the serene woods of Oakland, this lovely couple holds hands, captured beautifully by a top Northern California engagement photographer. A peaceful setting for a soon-to-be-married pair.
In Northern California's Oakland, this charming image features a couple embracing affectionately beneath the shelter of towering, mature trees in a picturesque park
Engaged couple in Oakland, California, illuminated by the setting sun's warm glow. Standing apart, framed by lush green bushes.
A minimalist engaged couple portrait taken near sunset in Oakland with natural light
California couple posed for a black and white engagement announcement portrait in nature, embracing in a romantic back hug in Oakland

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who are the best Oakland wedding photographers for small elopements?
A: The WPJA is proud to have some of the top Oakland 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 Oakland wedding photographers?
A: The WPJA created the original wedding photographer ranking systems. Our innovative system is based on contest winning points, meaning that the Oakland 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: How can couples find Oakland photographers for pre-wedding engagement portraits?
A: The WPJA issues Diamond Awards for Oakland 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.
WPJA Communiqué: Featured Wedding Photography 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 sunshine and that open, airy feeling and give your guests some room to breathe! LESS IS MORE Instead of hemming your...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
Clean background in this photo of the bride walking into her mountain ceremony.
Adventure Wedding Elopements
Some couples, as they begin planning for their weddings, might think that they are limited to the classic locations: churches, gardens, beaches, or even Las Vegas. But in doing so they’re missing out on a multitude of unique options that might suit their personalities much...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 Oakland WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Hong Kong East Ocean wedding in Emeryville, CA. Chinese wedding photojournalism Drew Bird

Benita & Ben

Photo by Drew Bird

Drew, thanks so much for everything. We had so much fun working with you. From start to finish you were great to work with and showed the highest professionalism. All of our guests really enjoyed how fun you were, too. And the photos!! The images are just beautiful. Every time we look through the photo story we see new favorites and amazing moments. Even though the wedding was only a month ago the images bring back so many amazing memories. We are so happy that you were our photographer. We will definitely be recommending you to all our family and friends. Also let us know where we can give you some public shout-outs! Thanks again!

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Tyler + Karim

Photo by Drew Bird

Hi Drew, These photos are AMAZING! We haven't been able to stop looking through them since Thursday night. All work productivity has been shot! We love reliving every moment of the day through the beautiful storybook you've created for us. There are so many moments that we weren't even aware of-- and we're so thankful that you were able to show those to us. It's absolutely beautiful. We especially appreciative of the creative shots you were able to capture within live shots-- the lines, colors and images from the churches and venues are incredible. We are so happy and thankful for your attention to detail. We had a lot of family and friends also comment on how professional you were and inquire about your website. Let us know where we can leave our public reviews to help let other folks know about your amazing work. Best, Tyler & Karim

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Sarah + Stephen

Photo by Drew Bird

Hey Drew - We went through all the pics last night and I just wanted to tell you again how awesome they are! You really captured some amazing moments and we're forever grateful! I was 3/4 through them and crying lol. It's as if we were replaying a story of the day. SO AMAZING! THANK YOU!!! We've shared the link with some of our guests and they are all raving about them as well! A thousand thanks, Sarah and Stephen

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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.