WELCOME

Real Weddings & Photography
Stories from Herefordshire and Beyond

Some wedding day decisions seem straightforward when you’re planning, but don’t always work as well in practice. This post looks at five things I’d think twice about, from speeches during the meal to suit choices and smaller details that can quietly affect how the day feels. It’s not about rules, more about sharing what tends to work better based on experience.

Putting a wedding day timeline together can feel harder than it should, especially when you’re trying to balance venues, guests, light and photography. This guide looks at how to shape your day so it flows naturally, with photography fitting in without pulling you away from your guests, and with simple planning that helps everything feel calm rather than tightly scheduled.

The venue you choose affects far more than how your wedding looks in photos. It shapes how the day flows, how people move through the space, where guests naturally gather and how relaxed everything feels. From light and layout to how rooms connect, different venues create very different experiences on the day, and that has a real impact on the photographs that come from it, often in ways couples don’t expect at the planning stage.

When couples start looking at wedding venues, the first question is often about how many people a space can hold. That matters, but it’s rarely the thing that decides whether a venue actually feels right on the day. What tends to matter more is how a place works once it’s full of people. How easy it is for guests to move around, whether there are quieter corners to step into, how the day flows between different spaces, and whether the venue feels comfortable to be in for seve

Freya and Oliver were married in the summer of 2022 at the Church of St John the Baptist in Eastnor, Herefordshire, with their reception held in a marquee within the gardens of the family home. This post shares a look at their relaxed, informal wedding day, the importance of finding the right balance between documentary coverage and group photographs, and how the day naturally unfolded around family and familiar surroundings.

A post wedding portrait session gives couples the chance to slow things down after the wedding day has passed. Without the pressure of a timeline or waiting guests, these sessions allow space to choose a meaningful location, take things at a relaxed pace, and create photographs that feel natural and unhurried. This post explores how post wedding shoots work, why some couples choose them, and how they can add another layer to your wedding photography story.

Black and white wedding photography has a way of stripping things back and drawing attention to what really matters. Without colour competing for focus, expression, connection and emotion come to the forefront. In this post, I share why black and white images continue to play such an important role in how I photograph weddings, and how they help preserve not just how the day looked, but how it genuinely felt.

Winter weddings follow a different rhythm to summer ones. This post looks at how photography works during the quieter months, why couples choose winter dates, and how thoughtful planning helps the day flow naturally.

Beth and Danny were married with a small ceremony at Hereford Town Hall before continuing their celebrations a couple of months later with an evening party in Bristol. Held at The Mount Without, the night unfolded naturally with great food, conversation, Ceilidh dancing and a move downstairs into The Crypt. A relaxed celebration photographed as it happened.

Some of the most meaningful wedding photos happen in the quiet moments between events. This post explores the beauty of candid, unposed images and why they often become the most treasured memories of the day.

Documentary wedding photography is about capturing your day as it genuinely unfolds. Rather than staging moments or interrupting the flow, it focuses on real interactions, natural emotion and the atmosphere that makes your wedding feel like yours. This post explains what documentary wedding photography really means, how it works on the day, and why a more relaxed approach often leads to photographs that feel honest, timeless and true to the experience.

An engagement photoshoot should feel relaxed and natural, not awkward or staged. This post explains what an engagement photoshoot is really about, what to expect on the day, and how a calm approach helps you feel comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding.

A Herefordshire wedding at Dore Abbey and The Haybarn, featuring live choral music, relaxed spaces and a full dancefloor. Natural photography capturing the flow of the day.

A summer wedding at The Barn at Drovers in Herefordshire, with engagement photos and natural, relaxed moments captured by Russell Lewis Photography

When couples receive their wedding photographs, the first thing they usually do is view the full gallery online. Over time though, it’s often the printed images that become part of everyday life. This page explains the different ways you can enjoy your wedding photographs beyond the screen, from albums to framed prints, and how to choose what feels right for you.

Beth and Max were married at Glewstone Court on one of the hottest days of the summer. With the heat influencing how the day needed to run, decisions were made together to keep guests comfortable, including running through group photos early in shaded areas before allowing everyone time to cool down, hydrate and settle into the afternoon.

There’s been a noticeable shift towards delivering images straight out of camera, with some photographers choosing JPEG only and skipping editing altogether. After experimenting with a recycled disposable camera lens on a Nikon Z6ii, I found myself thinking more about RAW versus JPEG, creative control, and where the balance really sits between authenticity and intention.

Your wedding day will always be one of the most special days you and your partner will experience together. However, if you’re hoping to host a celebration that’ll leave a lasting impression on all your guests, you’ll want to make sure you incorporate some unique features. From the decor you use to the entertainment you plan, each detail of your day counts – however, the costs can quickly add up. To help you host a beautiful, affordable celebration, here are three ways to mak

For Ellen & Laurence, Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula is more than a stunning location - it’s a place full of personal meaning. When it came time to capture their engagement photos, it was the obvious choice. We headed there recently, joined by their dog, who won’t be at the wedding. Including her in the session was a thoughtful touch, making the photos even more personal. Engagement sessions are a fantastic way for me to get to know couples ahead of their big day. T

Booking your wedding photographer early isn’t about pressure or urgency. It’s about giving yourself time, choice and peace of mind. This post explains how early booking helps your planning feel calmer and your wedding day flow more naturally.