For those that don't really know my history in the wedding business it goes way back, almost 40 years to be exact. With over 5,000 weddings under my belt I can honestly say it was a amazing journey at times. My good friend Dorothy Smith traveled several years down that road with me and I'm proud to say that we will be riding together again on this new adventure. This is a little bio about my life
that I would like to share with everyone.....
Celebrating almost four decades of Photography, Steven began learning the camera as a teenager. Spending the next several
years as a free lance photographer he began branching out to portraits, and even commercial work. But always returning to his passion of wedding photography. In the early 80's Steven opened his first studio simply named "The Photography Studio". Later renaming it "Steven Russell The Photography Studio"
Steven's photography was becoming well known across the state of Tennessee. In the mid 80's Steven entered his first and only professional photographic competition. With seven images, he won seven merits, best newcomer, and best of show with a bridal portrait titled "Becky's Dream" sending that image on loan for a year to travel across the country. After a life changing event Steven moved to Memphis in the late 80's. Working with Vance Commercial Lab, Steven worked on Wonder Series Projects such as Catherine The Great, The Great Wall of China, Russia, Etuscans, and the award winning The Titanic. In the early 90's Steven opened Wedding Traditions Photography. Within a year Wedding Traditions had become one of the most successful wedding business in the entire mid south. Average 100 plus weddings a year. In 2005 Steven traveled across San Francisco and New Orleans working on his first art project titled "My Image" which captured the amazing but emotional expressions of people living on the streets. Steven retired most of those images in 2010. Steven's work has been featured in magazines, and newspapers across the country. Including Mid South Bride, Southern Bride, The nationwide magazine Grace Ormonde, People Magazine and Timelife Magazine with his portrait of the late country superstar Johnny Cash taken during the welcome home celebration held for Miss America Kellye Cash in 1987. Today, Steven is working on the next chapter in his life. A new business that has been a 10 year dream, Florida Paradise Weddings. He is so proud to share his excitement with everyone today. Florida Paradise Weddings is a all inclusive destination beach wedding, created and designed with custom packages to meet all brides and all grooms' desire. They will offer complete set-up including ceremony design, floral arrangements, music, personal wedding consultant/coordinator for pre and day of, Officiant and photography from some of the most talented and professional wedding photographers including Steven Russell.
