Russ Hickman Photography

ing 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. Every one of our guests complemented our photo! 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--all the photos captured our special day. 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. I was speechless when I opened the book. 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? With no hesitation - Russ. Without a doubt, Russ is best photographer in the business. My only regret is that we didn’t meet sooner in the wedding planning process.

tons of time and energy planning this one day that is over in a flash. Of course we wanted beautiful pictures capturing it all! We also realized that we would basically be spending our day with our photographer so it was important that we "clicked". Russ was the perfect fit! He was professional, creative, and so much fun to be around. He made us feel so comfortable and was super effective in managing time on our wedding day. The moments he captured on camera were simply incredible. Russ, thank you for your amazing work!

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.

unity, 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.

meone you just met) relaxed and fun. He listens to what you want out of your engagement pictures and makes very good suggestions without being pushy at all. His ability to frame shots using unique angles, reflections, and natural light gives you an incredible set of photographs. Some of my favorite pictures are ones that, when he was taking them, I honestly wasn't sure would be all that great but I was mistaken. I really can't recommend him enough.

ing... otherwise, we would definitely go with Russ! The experience: Neither of us had professional pictures taken before, so to say we were nervous was an understatement. Not only did Russ make us feel comfortable, but his easygoing and complimentary nature was exactly what we needed to relax in front of the camera. He was more than willing to go to our favorite spots in the Philly neighborhood we live in. He made sure to fit in all of the locations and outfits we wanted to wear for our pictures. He even let our dog come along for a few of them. We could not stop talking about how much fun the entire process was! Since we are planning our wedding (in Chicago) from a distance, this allowed us to do something of a "wedding nature" as a couple. It was a very special day for us. The photos: Russ put up a "teaser" photo immediately the next day, which barely pacified us until we got our hands on the rest of the photos. It was such a great picture that really captured who we are and how much we care about each other. Luckily, we did not have to wait more than the expected 3 weeks for all of the photos. One by one, we looked through the photos which were artistically and professionally done. We looked so in love and he could not have captured our personalities better. There are so many "frameable" pictures, we can't decide which ones to hang up! Value: This was a great deal for the price. The freedom to do what we want with the pictures is also an added bonus. I highly recommend Russ for any photography needs and, should we need additional photos taken in the future, I would use him again without hesitation. Thanks again, Russ, for the timeless photos and enjoyable experience!

e wished Russ was with us to take photos! He has such a great eye and is able to work so quickly you can have photos in multiple locations without feeling rushed. He talked the hotel into allowing us on the roof! Our photos are amazing and I know Russ will do our family photos for years to come and remain our friend! I would pay double for him and never regret it!

vendor that day but one of his photos caught my attention and I KNEW that I had to have him for my wedding. In this photo I could tell that this was a person with a seriously creative eye and someone who would produce shots that were as unique and the men and women on the other side of the lens....and I was right. My feelings were only confirmed the first time I saw the photos from our engagement session; bright vibrant colors and unorthodox camera angles/techniques. Exactly what I was hoping for. The morning of the wedding Russ arrived extra early to walk around the venue. When it was time for us to start shooting he was teeming with ideas and suggestions. So many guests throughout the night mentioned how impressed they were with his ability to "be everywhere". They could tell that Russ was not going to miss a photo. And he doesn't. Russ always goes above and beyond to get the shot. Even if it means being on the roof of a 20 story building (at night) to get the most beautiful pictures of my husband and I in front of our venue's neon sign (yes this happened!) or wrangling 50+ rowdy wedding guests at the end of the evening just because I requested photos of a "sparkler send off". I would HIGHLY recommend Russ to anyone looking for a photographer for their special day. His pricing is more than fair and his end results are unlike any other. I am so happy I chose him for our wedding, I really do not believe anyone else would have been able to do as good of a job as he did!

ic job on our photos by Russ Hickman Photography!

photos. Thanks for coming out with me to the shaving place. You and Dan looked awesome in your plaid shirts, bow ties, and camera harnesses. Probably the biggest compliment, many of my friends/family members thought we have been friends for years. You were so integrated with us, and had so much fun with us that people thought you our friends. Thanks a lot and continue to do awesome work for your future customers!!!!

s truly an artist. His style and eye for beauty is one of a kind. It was such a joy to have him capture so many special moments and work so hard to keep the memory of our day alive for many years to come. I can't tell you how many guests as well as our entire wedding party complimented Russ and his capabilities. He has so much talent and he is also so personable and becomes your friend. There is not one downside to having Russ Hickman be a part of your big day, we recommend him for any and all special occasions you may have! Thank you Russ!!! --Avi and Brian :)

ts 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!

I booked Russ Hickman Photography for my wedding in June of 2011. I had met with about three to four photographers before meeting with Russ. In truth, I liked almost all of the people I met with before Russ. They were all nice, accommodating, somewhat reasonably priced (I think the term “reasonably priced” takes on a new meaning during wedding planning), and anxious for me to book with them. Despite them all being lovely photographers who had great work product, I didn’t feel like I really clicked with any of them. Then, I met Russ. Russ immediately made me feel comfortable. We met at Starbucks. He made me laugh. He told me he thought I would be photogenic and that he couldn’t wait to take my picture (what bride-to-be doesn’t want to hear that???). All of this was within the first 5 minutes. When I finally got myself to calm down, I took a look at some of the pictures Russ brought with him. They were beautiful and I could tell he had an “eye” for making the subjects really stand out and look their best. I can’t remember if I booked on the spot, but if I didn’t, I knew I was going to. Let me tell you, booking Russ was one of the easiest and best decisions I made while wedding planning. Russ and I chatted and emailed a few times before the wedding about the day’s logistics. Each time we spoke, I felt better and better about this guy! Jumping to the big day… Russ showed up at my house – ON TIME – the morning of my wedding. He brought an assistant with him, Heather (Heather was amazing!). Russ and Heather came in, introduced themselves around, made a few jokes, got a few laughs, and then got right to work. While I was busy getting pampered by my hair and makeup team, Russ and Heather captured so many incredible shots of me, the bridal party, my mom, my dress, my shoes, my jewelry, little things around my house, etc. When I was finally in my full garb, we did some great shots outside. NOTE – my neighbors have this old garage door. To me, or to anyone not artistic, I think it looks like a crappy garage door. Not for Russ. We took some solo shots in front of it, and they came out AMAZINGLY! During our service, I hardly noticed Russ and Heather. They were not in your face. Yet, somehow there are some great close ups. Fantastic. We had a BLAST driving around Philadelphia taking pictures with the wedding party. We did it all – Art Museum, LOVE Park, South Street, Broad Street, etc. My groom was NOT looking forward to this part of the day. When it was all done, he actually said that he thought it was really fun. Without a doubt, Russ made it fun. The bridal party was relaxed, comfortable, and enjoying themselves. Taking pictures was, by no means, a chore. It was one of the highlights of the day. And, the photos are incredible. I can’t comment too much on Russ at the reception as it is all a blur. What I do know is that there are AMAZING shots of the reception, particularly on the dance floor. I am so glad that I hired a photographer comfortable enough to get right in there and get the great shots! I booked Russ for the entire day. He and Heather were with me from the minute they got to my house in the morning until almost the end of the reception. That is a LOT of time. Not once, through the whole process,

Russ has the perfect balance of patience and wit to charm anyone for a good shot." - Diana, Philadelphia - 2012

er photographers. His pictures were beautiful and natural, just what I was looking for! And anyone who is wearing an Kellogg's Eggo shirt has to have a sense of humor! On the day of the wedding, he and his assistant showed up with tons of energy! They really made me feel special and that it really was my day :-) He was subtle in taking pictures too so that I could still enjoy the time getting ready. Throughout the ceremony and reception he captured beautiful moments of my husband and I as well as "black-mailingly" hysterical pictures of our guests at the reception. He was never intrusive about getting a shot and managed to get all pictures we wanted and more! At a point in the reception I actually had a couple groomsmen coming up to me saying "how cool" the photographer was! I was shocked to hear that come out of a guy's month, but couldn't agree more :-) Once we got our pics, after a quick turnaround from Russ, we couldn't believe how many there were! So many great shots to remind us of what a special day and great celebration we had!

d made the whole process a lot of fun! He also designed our Save the Dates-- they're gorgeous! Everyone tells us how amazing all of our photos are-- and it's all thanks to Russ (and of course our photogenic nature--kidding!) We loved Russ!! One of the things that I really enjoyed about working with Russ was that he had fun with it. At no point did he seem like this was a boring job, he seemed to really be loving every minute of taking pictures, and I think that's why his photos are so amazing! One thing that I didn't know about when looking at photographers initially-- the rights to your photos. They're photos of you, but all too often the photographer or photo company retains the rights. You can buy all the photos (for a STEEP price), but why can't you have the pictures of you? Russ let us own digital copies of all of our photos- even those we didn't order. He's the best! I'm trying to think of other reasons to have a photo shoot just so I can use him again! I would DEFINITELY recommend him!

was the perfect fit for us. Our wedding photo's turned out beautifully and we had a blast working with him (and his lovely assistant Heather) while he was taking them. Not only was his work outstanding and his presence a welcome addition to our special day (it literally felt like we had an old friend taking our pictures), but his prices were extremely reasonable as well. I'd recommend Russ to anyone and everyone!!!! I know that he also travels for wedding's too ladies!

and family have been emailing us nonstop about how fantastic they are. You will not be disappointed. I recommend him 200%!

the pictures with family that lived far away when they were ready. I would highly recommend Russ Hickman Photograpy Great quality and great pictures.