SMALL WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS | choose love, not fear

Intimate Weddings & Elopement Photography

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

Italy wedding and elopement photography by Alessandro Di Noia
United Kingdom wedding reportage photography by Andrew Heeley
Wedding reportage and elopement photography by Clive Blair Photos
Germany wedding pictures, elopement couple shoots and elopement photography by Michael Geyer
Samuel Berthelot - Jolie Histoire Photographie
Tracey Buyce Wedding Images
Wedding Photographer and Engagement Portrait Pro, Ronnie Szeto
Harpenden and Hertfordshire elopement and wedding reportage photography by Neil Pleasants of England United Kingdom
North Carolina wedding photography by Joe Payne
São Paulo wedding and elopement photography by Thiago Gimenes of Brazil
Italy Couple Engagement Sessions Wedding and Elopement Photographer Carlo Bettuolo
NY wedding photography by Amelia Beamish
Lisbon wedding and elopement photography by Pedro Vilela of Portugal
Manchester wedding photography by Philip Salisbury of England United Kingdom
New Delhi documentary-style wedding photographer Shivali Chopra - India WPJA Pro
Elopements by Top Wedding Photographer Justin Edmonds
United Kingdom elopement and wedding reportage pictures by Alex Benyon

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:

Intimate, Micro Wedding Planning & Elopement Articles

Kobe Vanderzande, of Limburg, is a wedding photographer for

There’s nothing quite like an intimate wedding reception in a tent, with its uniquely informal atmosphere, customized decor and proximity to the elements...

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...

The Authenticity of
Wedding Photojournalism

Lindy Schenk-Smit, of Noord Holland, is a wedding photographer for Landgoed Waterland
Nikhol Esteras, of Oaxaca, is a wedding photographer for

WPJA Contest Photos - January 19th, 2024

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 Criollo Oaxaca City, the groom and a guest celebrate with a dance while holding
A happy bride and groom smile and raise their hands in celebration after their ceremony at the Dekalb History Center. This image won an award from the WPJA, showcasing the photographer's expertise in wedding photography.
Baltimore, Maryland Wedding Reception: A heartwarming moment captured as the bride offers comfort to a speaker during an emotional speech. Surrounded by beautiful red roses and vibrant decorations, love fills the room.
Charente-Maritime domaine de Puyrigaud: A heartwarming moment captured during the outdoor marriage certificate signing ceremony, as the couple embraces witnesses.
At Nanping, Fujian, home, the groom tackles an exciting game segment during the wedding, as he navigates a ladder to reach the bride's home, with the groomsmen eagerly anticipating below
At Menton, Alpes Maritimes, France, the bride and her loved ones prepare for her wedding day in this black and white image, capturing the intimate moments before the ceremony.
Wedding ceremony in Calgary, Alberta: The bride and groom signing the wedding certificate on the best man's back, against a backdrop of a corn field under a beautiful, blue sky. A unique and memorable moment captured.
In a picture taken during the car ride from the Rhône church to the wedding reception, the groom is handed a beer by a guest stuck in traffic. The hilarious moment captures the fun and unexpected twists that can happen on a wedding day.

Artistic Guild - Creative Portraits and Details - January 31st, 2024

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.

Wedding photo taken at Hambacher Schloss, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Couple stands in autumn fog, embracing amidst the colorful vastness of nature's fall.
An award-winning wedding day portrait captured by a professional photographer at The Terrace at Cedar Hill. The image showcases the bride's captivating eyes as she gazes through her elegant white veil.
Embracing Love: Celebrating the beauty of unity, two brides share an intimate pose against the backdrop of a striking industrial door in Kelham Island, Sheffield.
This award-winning photo showcases intricate details of Amalfi flower girls delicately walking on paved square stones, perfectly complementing the bride's stunning layered dress.
An award-winning wedding day picture captures the minimalistic moment of a bride putting on her makeup at her home in Nanping, Fujian. The graphic horizontal lines in the foreground add an artistic touch to the image.
Award-winning wedding image captures the groom in reflection, donning his shirt at a stunning Chateauroux location in Indre. This artistic shot beautifully showcases the anticipation and preparation on the wedding day.
An award-winning artistic wedding day portrait captured at Villa Bonomo, Trieste, Italy. The image showcases the bride and groom, in a loving embrace, gazing at each other with the setting sun casting a beautiful glow.
In this acclaimed photo, a professional wedding photographer captured a breathtaking scene at Mar de Eucaliptos venue. The black and white image displays a romantic couple surrounded by ethereal clouds.

Diamond Awards - Pre-Wedding Engagement Portraits - April 8th, 2024

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.

An enchanting portrayal of a soon-to-be-wed couple in Mylapore, Chennai, India. They share a serene session on stoop steps by grand blue doors.
A romantic engagement portrait captured in Venice, Italy, depicts a couple embraced under the arch of Palazzo Ducale, with repeating arches pattern overhead.
In a cozy hotel hall in Aix les Bains, a couple in love share a tender session among dreamy bokeh lights. They are close together, holding each other.
In their engagement portrait at Bok Building, Philadelphia, two women hold each other close after a private rooftop proposal at Bok Bar. Surrounded by candles, they exude relaxed romance.
In the picturesque setting of Duino, Trieste, Italy, the couple embraces each other on sea view rocks, with the sparkling water serving as a stunning backdrop.
A beautiful engagement portrait of a couple strolling on Bill Point Beach, Morbihan, France. The setting is romantic and relaxing, giving off a calm and serene energy.
In a room surrounded by red walls at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, a couple shares a tender kiss, creating a romantic scene for a portrait session.
A romantic engagement portrait in Lyon, capturing the couple indoors with a warm light illuminating their intertwined hands and showcasing the engagement ring.

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.

The photographer captured a beautiful moment of a hug between the bride and groom at Palacio de los Cordova, Granada, Spain, after receiving and giving comfort through the Chinese tea ceremony gifts from the parents, full of emotion and true love
The groom's touching encouragement of his witnesses to make a speech at his outdoor ceremony at Les tables de Crespin, the reception venue in Tarn, France, was captured beautifully in this wedding photo
The wedding photojournalist captured the beautiful and emotional moment of the Bride as she reads her heartfelt vows in the sunshine beneath the trees at Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine
The photographer captured a beautiful moment at Montlouis sur Loire, as the two mothers of the couple tearfully embraced outdoors
The wedding photojournalist captured a beautiful moment as the bride embraced her friends in a group hug at the reception of Hardy Farm in Fryeburg, Maine
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 wedding photojournalist at Fleurance, Gers, France captured a heartwarming moment of the groom embracing his daughter as he prepared for his big day
The photographer captured the emotional moment of the bride picking up her friend in a foggy embrace on the dance floor of her Montpellier wedding