For the Photographer
The WPJA puts the world’s best wedding photography at the fingertips of our potential clients. We offer a new perspective on wedding photography – quietly capturing the real moments as they happen for the bride and groom.
It is our goal to use photography to tell the story of a wedding day, not dictate it.
Join the WPJA
The Wedding Photojournalist Association grants membership to the most talented professional wedding photographers in the industry--photographers who focus solely on using their photography skills in documenting weddings.
Photography Contests
2nd Place in Details (Found): Radmila Ladyzhinskaya, United States
9th Place in Reception: Victor Marti, Spain
5th Place in Getting Ready: Brett Butterstein, United States
7th Place in Emotion: Levi Stolove, United States
7th Place in Reception: Jason Brown, United States
7th Place in Creative Portrait: Brandon Wong, United States
5th Place in Ceremony: Brett Butterstein, United States
Third Quarter Contest Results
The Wedding Photojournalist Association is pleased to announce the results of the Third Quarter WPJA Photography Competition. Join us as we congratulate all the winners.
The 2010 Q3 Contest showcases the wedding photojournalism of WPJA members throughout the 2010 year in 12 categories. From 13,686 entries only 240 finalists were selected.
Every year WPJA hosts the largest wedding photography competitions in the world judged by panels of award-winning photojournalists and designers. Competitions, which are held quarterly and open only to WPJA members, are part of the association’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in wedding photojournalism. Membership in WPJA requires rigorous standards in technical skill, aesthetics and best business practices.
Wedding Photojournalism Articles
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For the PhotographerWHO ARE YOU SHOOTING FOR?
Couples hire wedding photojournalists for their narrative approach to photography, but they’re also expected to get the more formal shots; portraits of the wedding party, family and friends. Balancing those competing expectations— pleasing our clients while producing unique and timeless images— is an ongoing challenge and a somewhat tricky proposition that not only permeates the wedding day, but also spills over to your web site design and public portfolio.
Go to: Who Are You Shooting For? -
TRASH THE DRESSFor the Photographer
Brides and grooms want awesome imagery from their wedding, but they also want a photographer that can get very creative during a Trash The Dress portrait session. That’s why couples everywhere are donning their wedding finery and not only descending into caves, walking through abandoned amusement parks and chasing other wild pursuits in an increasingly popular ritual and edgy extension of wedding photojournalism called Trash the Dress (TTD).
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For the Bride & GroomCAPTURING WEDDING TOASTS
These days, raising a glass to toast a bride and groom has an important purpose: to wish the couple happiness and success. Toasts can be emotional or funny, sometimes embarrassing, but always heartfelt. They can also be tricky to photograph, logistically and artistically speaking. For example, a bridal couple may be squarely in a photographer’s viewfinder during a toast, but when glasses are lifted, you never know if their faces will be obstructed.
Go to: Capturing Wedding Toasts -
For the PhotographerWEDDING RECEPTION DANCING
Ever since early man learned to beat a stick on a rock, some guy has embarrassed his family by dancing to it. The primordial urge to shake your booty can be traced back thousands of years, when cave dwellers learned to ward off strangers by loudly grunting and jumping around like maniacs. Luckily, not much has changed.
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For the PhotographerWORKING THE CAMERA ANGLES
Wedding photojournalists will agree that the most important aspect of their craft is telling the story of the day in an authentic, unplanned way. A key element of that basic definition is how the story gets told—and that’s where the photographer’s individual character and point of view come into play. One of the most defining tools in shaping that unique perspective is angles.
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For the PhotographerPRE-VISUALIZING BEFORE THE WEDDING SHOOT
While much of wedding photojournalism requires reacting to the scene presented before you, thinking about certain shots or techniques you may want to use can help you prepare for certain pictures you would like to capture if they arise. It’s similar to how a quarterback studies a playbook in the week leading to a game, when in fact he may not know what the defense will throw at him.
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CAPTURING ROMANCE AT THE WEDDINGFor the Photographer
A skilled wedding photojournalist knows how to anticipate and capture situations that convey those special feelings. When the day is over, your memories will be enhanced through photographs of the two of you looking at one another or simply being together, thus narrating the story of your love. That is what it’s all about. We talked to three WPJA members to find out how they zero in on the romantic moments.
Go to: Capturing Romance At The Wedding