Look no further - you have found your wedding photographer in Russ. It's hard to know even where to start with him. He's a superstar, a magic-maker, a coordinator, an instant friend, and perhaps a generational talent.

Yes, the photos he took of us were perfect. Yes, he captured the joy we felt in a way that felt raw and real. Yes, he took engagement photos of us in 95-degree weather and did it with a smile on his face. But I'm not recommending Russ for any of those reasons. I'm recommending Russ because he is the person that you want running the show on the most important day of your life. Russ brings joy to the process. He was never too serious, never moody, never negative.

And there were plenty of reasons to be. Just as we started portraits the day of the wedding, it began downpouring. I'm not talking like a little bit of rain. I'm talking total, torrential, 100-year flood level rain and loud cracks of thunder. Russ ran through the rain with us, and changed our entire portrait plan at the last minute. He captured us and our group at City Hall and you literally cannot tell that it's raining. He laid down in puddles to shoot us. He used the wind to make a perfect portrait with my cathedral veil flowing. His assistant dove into our trolley to catch my veil from falling in a puddle. And Russ never let any sort of stress show. It was amazing.

And importantly, Russ made us and our family feel so supported. He used just the right amount of push to get everyone to listen on the day of. And he worked with some complicated family dynamics that he never once made us feel were anything less than normal.

If you are looking for pictures that are joyful and bright, you have found your person. If you're looking for photos that feel just like you remember the moment, you have found your person. If you're looking for fair prices and an incredible value, you have found your person. And if you're looking to spend a day with the kindest, most genuine vendor in Philadelphia, you have found your person. Stop looking.

"We lived it, love it and continue to laugh about the memories captured by Russ Hickman Photography. I don't think I've ever seen my husband pose for so many awesome couple shots! Russ has the perfect balance of patience and wit to charm anyone for a good shot." - Diana, Philadelphia - 2012

So my fiance and I are Chicago natives that currently live in Houston. For our engagement pictures, we wanted to capture the love we have for each other, but also the love we have for Chicago. With various locations in mind and no previous experience getting pictures taken of us, we were a bit nervous about the whole experience.

Russ went above and beyond to not only conduct an amazing photo session but he did it with a great balance of professionalism and levity. His demeanor and masterful execution caused us to get the most out of of each location. His keen perception allowed him to craft and achieve genuine pictures of my fiance and I. His artistry was palpable and collaborative as he always checked in with us to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Also, as someone who is not a Chicago Native, he made sure that he had researched areas and familiarized himself with the city beforehand. This level of preparation really amazed us.

And probably most important was that my fiance and I had fun! A lot of fun! We have amazing pictures but we also have fantastic memories of that day. Not only does Russ provide excellent service, he also brings his authentic self. He is kind, patient and hilarious. Spending time with him was a treat in itself. I couldn't imagine having anybody else making these memories with us.

Working with Russ was seamless, from our first meeting I knew we were going to be a great fit. I felt like he would have gone anywhere to get an amazing picture, and he did! He climbed down rocks so my wedding party and I could get pictures in a river and trekked through a field with grass about 4 feet high to get the most amazing silhouette. You can absolutely tell that Russ is dedicated to photography and has such an eye for great shots. Looking through the pictures is like watching a video, he did not miss one thing. All of this plus the fact that everyone at the wedding LOVED his personality and felt so comfortable with him. I would not have changed a thing about my wedding and Russ by far would be my first recommendation.

My wife and I initially had a tough time picking a wedding photographer. Choosing the best photographer for our big day was one of the most important decisions of the wedding planning process. We met with a number of different photographers and became frustrated trying to find the best choice for us. That all changed when we met Russ. At our initial meeting, we hit it off. We immediately knew that he was the one. His upbeat and relaxed personality perfectly matched his confidence and skill. His long time experience in the field along with his samples proved to us that he is a true professional with an excellent knowledge of his craft. After our meeting, my wife and I, got in the car and looked at each other, both nodded and said “we found our photographer”! With the package we choose, we were privileged to have Russ take our engagement photos. We spent pretty much an entire day at Valley Forge National Park. He took the lead the entire way yet was open to ideas--it really paid off. The photos looked fantastic!  Russ turned around our photos quickly so we had them for our save the date cards. With more than 300 photos to choose from, it was a daunting, but fun, experience.  Russ’ rigorous post production skill was obvious and the payoff was unbelievable. Next up was the big day. Russ, another photographer, and a lighting assistant all were there for the whole day. From makeup, to the church, to the reception. We had an amazing set of photos. We had family portraits, action shots, architectural shots, the whole lot. The best part of the day included a special gift to me from my wife. Unbeknownst to me, Russ had taken a boudoir photo shoot of my wife. Absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. My wife and I are planning on starting our family soon. Guess who will be there to take the maternity shots and the baby shots? Russ. Without a doubt, he is best photographer in the business. My only regret is that we didn’t meet sooner in the wedding planning process.

I absolutely LOVE the pictures Russ and his team took on our wedding day. They beautifully captured the day and all the special moments. My only "complaint" is that it's been extremely difficult picking which photos to include in my wedding album. Russ added to the joy of the day with his fun and warm personality. My family and friends raved about him too. I would highly recommend Russ Hickman Photography!!

Russ was an absolute delight to work with! We couldn't be happier with our choice to hire him for our engagement and wedding photos. He did not miss a single detail or photo opportunity, and his experience in the industry really shines through in real time and in his finished work. His kind heart, genuine honesty, sense of humor and flexibility, I think, set him apart from other vendors that you will work with. You spend your entire wedding day with your photographer, and we truly feel that we gained a friend in Russ. He was very patient and receptive to our ideas, and always open to chat about them to help us achieve our vision. He has mastered the delicate balance of being direct and getting the job done, without reducing the sentiment of the most important day of your life. We were so thrilled with our engagement photos and are even happier with our wedding photos! If you are looking for a photographer with a creative impulse and an artistic eye, you will love what Russ does with your day. There are a lot of great photographers out there, but Russ's work offers a level of creativity that you won't find anywhere else. We've gotten so many compliments on the uniqueness of both our wedding and engagement photos, and we couldn't agree more! Bottom line: if you work with Russ you will have FUN and beautiful and thorough documentation of your special day, and if you're lucky, even a new friend

Russ is absolutely incredible.
Two weeks before our wedding we decided to switch wedding photographers. Russ was willing to fly from PA to NH the morning of our wedding and rush to meet us for pictures. He even had a wedding the night before and must have been exhausted (not that he let us see that!). He alleviated SO much stress and anxiety and we did not regret the decision one bit. He is incredibly professional and fun to work with. My fiance and I were so comfortable and we absolutely loved having him around.
He showed us pictures as he went along and they were gorgeous. He knows how to use the light (and lack of it!) to make beautiful images. I would recommend Russ to anyone!

Russ is not your average photographer. His ability to connect with people automatically makes him one of your closest friends. He immediately shares one of your most intimate moments and brings it to life with beauty, color and art. I was introduced to Russ through a friend of a friend's sister, but by the end of our first meeting I felt completely comfortable with my decision. I had seen his work before and loved it, and heard first hand that he was trustworthy and produced great work. I've only heard horror stories from 5 people I knew that were recently married so it was refreshing to hear a great review. Russ lived up to the expectation and exceeded it. My family and friends all talked about how great he was at the wedding. Everyone talked about how friendly and happy he was to be there, and they even commented how fun and friendly his assistant was. You can truly tell he loves what he is doing and it shows in his pictures too. I wouldn't want any other photographer photographing my lifetime memories. Many of my friends yet to be married have already said they want to use Russ. My pictures were done in less than 3 weeks after my wedding and he has kept in contact with me through the whole process. I know someone who got married last July and this March and they still haven't received their photos!!! I'm glad I met Russ and enjoy seeing his photos on his blog of other people's happy occasions and his own life time experiences. I think I might have to have a baby sooner than later just so he can take more pictures for me. wink* Thank you Russ for everything!

Wow, Russ couldn't have done a better job knocking out family portraits and doing it ahead of schedule! Russ is excellent at pivoting as needed while still capturing stunning photos. We've only seen a few proofs, but they captured the day artfully. He takes initiative to find photogenic spots but takes your ideas in stride! Russ was easy to work with and made us smile during stressful moments. Thanks so much!