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Attributes highlighted by couples

Seasoned with weddings
Capturing memories
Pristine quality
Photographer

About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: December 2025

Hey!

I’m Steve, and I’ve been capturing the joy and emotion of weddings for over 12 years with a natural, photojournalistic style. My approach ensures every moment—big and small—is preserved authentically, so your story is told beautifully.

I've also just been named as a Regional Finalist in The Wedding Industry Awards 2026 for East Midlands!

What I Offer
My flexible pricing lets you build a package that fits your wedding perfectly. A £250 reservation fee secures your date and includes meetings, planning advice. You can then choose your coverage option and albums later as your wedding day comes together. I'm happy to travel too. Just mention it in your enquiry. (Additional charges may apply).

My Style
I work quietly in the background, capturing candid moments as they unfold. With two cameras in hand, I’m always ready for whatever the day brings—no posed interruptions, just real, meaningful memories.

Your Photos
You’ll receive all edited images via an online gallery to share with family and friends. They can download digital copies, order prints, or browse keepsakes delivered directly to their door. For added peace of mind, a USB box is also available to safely store your photos offline.

Frequently asked questions

What services do you offer?

Photography
Pre wedding
Albums
Mini albums
Digital album
High resolution photos

What does the wedding package include?

You choose what you would like in your package. Each wedding is different so you choose your coverage time, albums and extras that you would like and tailor your package to your budget and needs

How far in advance should I contact you?

As soon as you've booked your venue is a great time as I can help you find other suppliers. Don't worry if it's short notice though I may be still available!

Do you cover more than one wedding a day?

No

Can you travel?

Yes, uK Nationwide. Overseas can be negotiated as well. Please mention this in your enquiry

What is the charge for travelling?

Free within 20 miles of Lincoln. 45p/mile beyond that

What style of photos do you take?

Artistic
Photo journalism

What kind of technology do you use?

Digital
Analogue

Do you use a specific technique or innovative approach?

I blend into the background and photograph in a candid way. Looking out for the right opportunities and capturing the best moments. My other photography work helps me bring other skills to the industr

What kind of equipment do you use?

Professional Nikon cameras and lenses and portable flash units for evening photos. I carry spare cameras, memory cards and batteries so if anything fails I have a spare

Do you offer any tool to display the photos online?

Yes, i've recently switched to Pic-time. See the galleries over at https://galleries.stevemcsmailesphotography.co.uk/portfolio

What's the delivery time for a photographic report?

1 month

Do you send all the photos taken?

No

Do you work alone or do you have a team of professionals?

Alone

In case of unforeseen circumstances, do you have a replacement photographer?

Yes

Do you have the rights to publish the wedding photos?

Yes

Do you charge per hour or per event?

Per hour

If needed, would you be able to work extra hours?

Yes

How do you charge extra time?

You choose your coverage option after paying your reservation fee but if you want extra time there is a charge per hour extra should you want to extend

What are the forms of payment?

Your booking is managed on my online booking system. You can view how much you owe and due dates for payments on your portal. You can pay by bank transfer

How do you work?

I have a documentary style, watching what's going on and candidly capturing things as they happen rather than staging everything. Always being ready to capture the perfect moment as it happens

Served in

Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire

illustration notebook

Do you have any questions?

Reviews for Steve McSmailes Photography

J
Joseph Sent on 22/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Easy, relaxed and professional photographer for our countryside wedding!

Steve captured our wedding beautifully in a very relaxed manner. We met him a couple of months before the big day for a pre-wedding shoot which helped us get to know him and feel comfortable on camera.

We also asked for a second shooter which Steve organised for us, who was also brilliant on the day capturing other shots for us on the day.

We’ve received our first selection of photos back already which look fantastic, showing the love and fun we felt throughout the day.

We loved Steve’s style of photos too, staying true to the colours of the day and really bringing out the best moments from the day!

Steve was a fab choice for the day!
Eve
Eve Sent on 09/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic photographer

It was an absolute joy to have Steve as our wedding photographer. He was professional and organised, while also having a relaxed and calm attitude which meant that everything ran smoothly without us feeling any stress or pressure. We initially had a few video calls with Steve to discuss our wedding before meeting with him in person for a pre-wedding photoshoot in the Peak District. This in itself was a wonderful opportunity as we were able to get to know Steve and get used to being in front of the camera which was a massive help on the wedding day as there was no awkwardness. The pictures from the pre-wedding photoshoot came out beautifully and it's also lovely to have some professional photos of us as a couple that aren't only from our wedding.
Our wedding took place in Derbyshire and Steve had no issues with travelling to our venue and on the day he was reliable and brilliant at capturing formal and informal photos of us and all of our guests. Steve also has a great eye for locations and suggested that we get photos in different areas of our venue that we probably would have missed. We have already seen a handful of photos and they are stunning so we can't wait to see the rest!
We would highly recommend Steve!
Cat
Cat Sent on 16/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic expreience!

Steve was a pleasure to work with and really understood what we wanted. From the first meeting in a coffee shop to the big day itself, Steve really got to know us and how we worked as a couple. We loved having a pre wedding photo shoot as this gave us the chance to be comfortable in the front of the camera, and made even more special by being able to choose where we went. Steve was great on the wedding day itself, and he knew the best shots to really capture the moment. The quality of the photographs are excellent and really bring back the memories of such a special day. We couldn't recommend Steve enough!
C
Chloe Sent on 14/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Captured our wedding day perfectly!

Steve was excellent at capturing our special day. From the moment we booked him he was great, very easy to communicate with and we had a few video calls to discuss how we wanted the day to go, the pre wedding shoot also made us feel more comfortable on the day and so we knew a little bit of what to expect. We used some of the photos from our pre shoot to put around the venue and they looked lovely.
On the day itself sometimes I didn’t even know Steve was there and that shows in the pictures as he really captured some lovely candid moments. We got some sneak peek photos the day after the wedding which was lovely. We’ve just received our full gallery and the photos have exceeded expectations. Our family and friends have also said the same, we can’t wait to get our album back.
Thank you Steve
Jess
Jess Sent on 13/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely amazing

100% recommend Steve. He is very friendly and approachable. Above and beyond clicking away through the day. He answered all our questions before the wedding and had everything covered. All our guests commented how polite he is. We have received a preview of some of our photos and they are amazing (I cried!) If you wamt professionalism then Steve is your man! Worth every penny!
K
Kelly Sent on 12/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing photographer

Steve turned up on our wedding day with only 2 hours notice as our original photographer cancelled in the morning. When he arrived we did a little consultation about what I wanted and timings about the day. He soon got to work and he immediately put this stressed out bride at ease! He was very professional throughout the day and got all the photos I wanted plus more! Nothing was too much trouble for him and he went above and beyond to make our day perfect. We can't than him enough for saving our day! We highly recommend 100%
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Sent on 30/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Best day ever!

Stop browsing and book Steve! Honestly, he is a god send! Andy and I had the most amazing day with Steve skillfully snapping away virtually undetected but capturing every special moment for us.
Steve is such a genuinely nice guy that make you feel so relaxed on what is a very emotional day. His calm demeanor certainly helped both of us to stay relaxed and very much 'in the moment' too.
Right from the very first video call we knew we had found the man for the job! Our pre-wedding shoot was a proper giggle too, but helped us all find what would work for our big day.
The day of the wedding itself, Steve arrived on time, looking really smart, and despite the baking, wall to wall sunshine, he stayed on top form throughout the day. He interacted with all our guests young and old. They all agreed with us, he is amazing!
The day goes by so fast and in such a blur, but Steve kept us on time and well informed. He kept us relaxed at all times and made sure we enjoyed it all.
Top tip for all couples, look after your photographer and he will absolutely look after you!
So after all those words, there is only one thing to say, hit the book now button and get yourself an amazing photographer who will make your day!
Natalie
Natalie Sent on 26/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Photography

Steve very kindly photographed our wedding in April. From our initial chat to receiving the first of our photos we have been blown away by Steve's professionalism and kindness. Super laid-back to work with, as neither me or my husband are photo people, Steve's way of capturing our day had us feeling really relaxed in front of the camera. Our guests commented too on how amazing he was. We've only had our sneak peek so far and we're truly amazed at the images. We cannot wait to see more. I would highly, highly recommend booking Steve for photography!
Jacob
Jacob Sent on 30/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic Photographer

Steve was absolutely fantastic for our wedding. Nothing but professional and perfect for our big day. Was happy to organise photos and try to get the best pictures possible. He was available throughout the day and easy to speak to and able to translate our vision into pictures. Would recommend for anyone who has a wedding coming up! Perfect!
C
Charlir Sent on 16/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding photographer

I did know Steve previously so when it came to choosing our wedding photographer, I already knew that we were in safe hands with Steve. Honestly wouldn't trust anyone else in capturing all the precious moments of our special day. Cannot recommend enough. You couldn't get better.
K
Katrina Sent on 22/07/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Exceptional wedding photography

Steve was an incredible wedding photographer! He captured our special day beautifully, with stunning and candid shots that perfectly reflected our celebration. Steve's professionalism, creativity, and friendly approach made us and our guests feel at ease. The photos are absolutely amazing, and we couldn't be happier with the results. We highly recommend Steve to anyone looking for a talented and reliable wedding photographer.
K
Kieran Sent on 09/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Captured our wedding perfectly!

Steve captured our wedding day perfectly! The attention to detail and quality of photos was amazing.

We felt very relaxed on the day knowing that Steve was there to capture moments throughout the whole day. Steve was with us from the early morning to late in the evening and was able to bond with all our guests.

He did such a fantastic job and we are so appreciative. Thank you Steve!
C
Charlotte Sent on 10/04/2024
5 out of 5 rating

March wedding

Steve was brilliant, he made everyone feel at ease and took all the pictures we asked for and more. He gave us some of our wedding picture on the day so we had some to show people and they look amazing. Brilliant service, I would recommend him to anyone
Bryony
Bryony Sent on 01/08/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The warmest, most professional and talented photographer we could have asked for

Steve is one hell of a guy. Without beginning to describing his talents, of which there are many, he is a kind, polite, fun and highly professional man with an exceptionally warm and easy-going manner. As someone who hates having their photo taken and regularly becomes awkward/ridiculous in photos, stating that he put us both at ease really is saying something. He is calm, helps eveyrone feel relaxed and was part of the fun side of our wedding. We loved working with him and he made our day incredibly special.

Steve went along with all our changes and requests, travelling to London after we changed our location, always with a smile and helping me to feel calm. On our wedding morning, he turned up, chilled, very well dressed and blended seamlessly into our day. I’ve never felt more relaxed and happy around a camera. His shots of our little London wedding are amazing, he’s captured everything so beautifully and moments I would have never realised were there are now with us forever. All my friends and family have commented on how gorgeous the photos are - one quote ‘literally like a magazine shoot’.

I feel a bit emotional writing this review because I’m so happy and have kept looking at my pictures since the wedding ended. I can’t wait to see our full gallery.

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer, please book this amazing guy, we could wax lyrical about him all day!

Bea and Charlie
Lottie
Lottie Sent on 25/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Such a nice guy and fantastic photographer

What an incredible job! Steve not only took some amazing photos but also made us feel calm and relaxed throughout the day.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.

Badges

Hitched Wedding Awards 2026 Winner
illustration stars

Did the reviews win you over?

Steve McSmailes Photography Real Weddings

Luke & James
21 photos · 16/11/2024
Sammy & Tim
16 photos · 06/07/2024
Kirsty & Charlotte
18 photos · 30/03/2024
Poppy & Scott
14 photos · 02/04/2022
James & Matthew
12 photos · 23/10/2021

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Map

The Terrace, Grantham Street, Lincoln LN2 1BD Lincoln (Lincolnshire)

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