Award Winning Wedding Photographer in the Midlands, What This Means for My Couples

Something pretty special happened recently.

I won Best Photographer in the Midlands at The I Do Wedding Awards 2026.

In 2026, Lewis Bishop Photography was named Best Photographer in the Midlands at The I Do Wedding Awards. The award was based on couples’ reviews, making it a reflection of the experience couples had before, during, and after their wedding day, not just the finished photographs.

As a Northamptonshire wedding photographer covering weddings across the Midlands and throughout the UK, this was a proper career highlight. The awards night took place at Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield, and honestly, I was genuinely surprised when my name was called out.

I have been photographing weddings for over ten years now, captured more than 250 wedding days, and somehow I still felt like a kid at Christmas.

But the biggest reason this award means so much is not just because it sounds nice.

It is because it came from couples’ reviews.

That means this award is not just about taking good photographs. It is about the experience couples had with me before, during, and after their wedding day.

And that matters more than anything.

Winning Best Photographer in the Midlands at The I Do Wedding Awards 2026

Winning Best Photographer in the Midlands at The I Do Wedding Awards 2026 still feels a little bit surreal.

I did not go into the night expecting to win. I was genuinely surprised, properly proud, and, if I am being completely honest, a bit shocked when my name was called.

After more than a decade in the wedding industry, it felt like one of those moments where you stop and think, “Maybe I have been doing something right all this time.”

Over the years, I have photographed emotional ceremonies, wild dance floors, intimate weddings, huge celebrations, rainy wedding days, boiling hot summer weddings, and pretty much everything in between.

So to receive an accolade like this, especially one based on the words and experiences of real couples, means a huge amount.

Why This Award Means So Much

There are plenty of awards out there, and of course, it is lovely to be recognised.

But this one feels different because it connects directly to the people I have photographed.

Couples took the time to leave reviews, share their experience, and vote based on what it was actually like to have me there on one of the biggest days of their lives.

That is why it means so much.

Because wedding photography is personal.

You are not just booking someone to take photos. You are trusting someone to be around your family, your friends, your nerves, your emotions, your chaos, and all the tiny moments that make the day yours.

So yes, winning Best Photographer in the Midlands is a massive honour.

But knowing it came from couples who genuinely loved the experience means even more.

Why Couple Reviews Matter More Than Just Pretty Photos

Good photographs matter. Of course they do.

But wedding photography is not just about the final gallery.

It is also about how you feel while those photographs are being taken.

Do you feel comfortable?

Do you feel relaxed?

Can you enjoy your wedding without feeling like the whole day has been hijacked by photography?

Can you trust your photographer to capture the important bits without constantly pulling you away from your guests?

That is where couple reviews matter.

They show what the experience was really like, not just what the finished images looked like. They show whether the photographer was easy to be around, whether they helped people relax, whether they fitted into the day naturally, and whether the couple felt looked after.

The comments I hear most often from couples are that they felt relaxed, comfortable, and able to enjoy the day without feeling like the photography took over.

For me, that is the whole point.

A wedding gallery should be full of emotion, energy, laughter, atmosphere, and real moments.

But the day itself should still feel like your wedding, not a photoshoot.

Relaxed Approach, Bold Delivery

My approach has always been simple:

Relaxed Approach, Bold Delivery.

That means I keep the experience calm, natural, and easy, while still delivering photographs full of feeling, personality, and impact.

I am not there to take over your wedding day.

I am not there to tell people what to do every five minutes.

I am not there to turn your day into a staged production where everyone feels stiff, awkward, or overly managed.

Most of the time, I am watching, anticipating, and capturing things as they naturally happen.

The quiet moments.

The emotional bits.

The proper belly laughs.

The chaos.

The carnage on the dance floor.

All the things that make a wedding feel real.

When direction is needed, usually for family group photos or couple portraits, I will step in and keep it simple. No fuss. No awkwardness. No making you feel like you suddenly need to become professional models.

Just a bit of relaxed guidance, a laugh, and enough direction to make sure you look great without it feeling forced.

What This Means for Your Wedding Day

If you are looking for an award winning wedding photographer in the Midlands, the award itself is lovely, but what it really means is this:

You can relax.

I will take care of the photography.

That does not mean I disappear completely or leave you wondering what is going on. It means I know when to step in, when to step back, and how to keep things moving without making the day feel controlled.

If you hate having your photo taken, you are not alone.

Most couples tell me they feel awkward in front of the camera. My job is to take that pressure away.

Usually, that starts with having a laugh.

Nothing too intense. Nothing overly posed. Nothing that makes you feel like you are auditioning for a perfume advert in a field.

I want you to feel comfortable enough to be yourselves, because that is when the best photographs happen.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is honesty, connection, emotion, and photographs that feel like you.

A Northamptonshire Wedding Photographer Covering the Midlands and UK

I am based in Northamptonshire and photograph weddings across the Midlands, throughout the UK, and occasionally further afield too.

So winning Best Photographer in the Midlands felt especially meaningful.

The Midlands is full of brilliant wedding venues, from countryside barns and manor houses to tipi weddings, relaxed outdoor celebrations, elegant halls, and family-focused wedding days where the dance floor does not stand a chance.

I have photographed weddings across Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and beyond.

Every venue is different.

Every couple is different.

Every wedding has its own rhythm.

But my approach stays the same.

I want couples to feel relaxed, looked after, and completely free to enjoy their wedding day while I capture everything properly.

Thank You to My Couples

To every couple who voted, reviewed, trusted me, laughed with me, and let me be part of such a huge day in your lives, thank you.

Genuinely.

I never became a wedding photographer to win awards or show off.

I became a wedding photographer because I love weddings, I love people, and I love capturing real moments that actually mean something.

But winning this award has shown me that after all these years, I must be doing something right.

And that means the world.

Looking for an Award Winning Wedding Photographer in the Midlands?

If you are looking for an award winning wedding photographer in the Midlands who will help you feel relaxed, capture the real moments, and let you actually enjoy your wedding day, I would love to hear from you.

My photography is relaxed, natural, and documentary-led, with a bit of creative portrait magic when the moment is right.

No forced awkwardness.

No taking over your day.

No dragging you away from your guests for ages.

Just real moments, properly captured.

Planning your wedding and want relaxed photography that still delivers?

You can also have a look through my wedding portfolio, read more about my Northamptonshire wedding photography, or learn about my relaxed approach to wedding photography to see how I work on the day.

FAQs About Choosing an Award Winning Wedding Photographer in the Midlands

What award did Lewis Bishop Photography win?

Lewis Bishop Photography won Best Photographer in the Midlands at The I Do Wedding Awards 2026.

Was The I Do Wedding Awards 2026 based on reviews?

Yes. The award was based on couples’ reviews, which makes it especially meaningful. It reflects the experience couples had with Lewis before, during, and after their wedding day.

Are you a Northamptonshire wedding photographer?

Yes. I am a Northamptonshire wedding photographer, but I photograph weddings across the Midlands, throughout the UK, and occasionally further afield too.

Do you photograph weddings across the Midlands?

Yes. I photograph weddings across the Midlands, including Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire and surrounding areas.

What does “Relaxed Approach, Bold Delivery” mean?

It means the experience feels relaxed, natural, and easy, while the final photographs still have emotion, personality, energy, and impact.

What if we feel awkward in front of the camera?

That is completely normal. Most couples feel a bit awkward at first. My approach is relaxed and friendly, so you do not need to know how to pose. I will guide you when needed, have a laugh with you, and help you feel comfortable.

Do you take over the wedding day?

No. I am there to photograph your wedding, not run it. I will step in when needed for group photos and portraits, but most of the day is captured naturally as it happens.