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Who is the best wedding photographer in the Cotswolds?

The best wedding photographer for one could be the worst for someone else, as photography is so subjective with so many different styles and approaches. There are some basics you should expect from a premium wedding photographer regardless of style, things like being accessible, quick to reply to emails, polite, helpful, experienced and most of all passionate! They should make you feel special, not just a number on their production line.

OK, so who are you the best wedding photographer for?

All my couples are unique in their own way. Every style from vintage chic, 50’s Americana, simple elegance, festival vibes to name just a few, and all ages from 20’s to 70’s, but what they do have in common is they want a photographer that is genuinely informal and natural. They want to fee like they have a guest with a camera rather than a stuffy contractor imposing on the day. Thats how they end up with me! I want to capture the personalities and emotions from your day. Blending in with the guests getting people at their most natural. Iv lost count the amount of time a guest will ask me how long iv known the couple assuming im an old friend rather than the employed photographer!

Do the best wedding photographers have lots of awards?

In short - no. Wedding industry awards should be thought of as a marketing strategy with significant time and money required to enter, often guaranteeing some sort of award and badge for your website. Personally, I prefer to so spend my time getting greater exposure and let you the couple be the judge, rather than try to convince you with awards.

Cotswold Wedding Photography Venues

The best wedding photographers don't rely on the venue. But it does help, and we have some of the best in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds

Hare & Hound

Rural, beautiful and full of character

Cripps Barn

Personal, rural and tailor made for weddings

Great Tithe Barn

Tailor made for the perfect rustic wedding

Hyde House

Exclusive, made for weddings and with loads of character

Kingscote Barn

A bespoke wedding venue set in incredible rolling countryside

Matara

Personal, Unique and one of the friendliest teams in the business!

So we know on the day you're super chilled and blend in, but what are your photos like?

The photos are obviously equally important than the approach, so have a look below at some recent images and my Instagram to judge if im the best wedding photographer for you.

What locations do you cover?

Most of my weddings are in Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and the South West, but I travel nationwide for several weddings each year, and will even go overseas.

Have a look at some of my favourite venues in:

You say you're the best wedding photographer for your couples, but what do they really think?

Glad you asked! You can see loads of testimonials here, and even a video testimonial below!

Why Choose Lee Hawley Photography

This is not formal wedding photography – I tell your wedding story naturally and creatively. No awkward poses, no saying cheese & no taking you away from your guests for hours. My goal is for you to feel like you have a friend as your photographer. By doing that I capture you at your most you, and create genuinely personal images.

I would love you to watch this short video on how I go about my passion.

We’re so glad we found you Lee. Thank you so much!

Following a recommendation from a work colleague, Colin and I searched for Lee’s website and knew instantly that this was the type of natural, beautiful photography we’d like to have capturing our own wedding day. Looking through Lee’s galleries and watching the amazing highlights films, we crossed our fingers and emailed him in the hope that he’d be available on our wedding day. Within no time at all (as is always the case when it comes to any form of communication with Lee) we received a reply and we arranged to meet a few days later. We were extremely impressed with the high quality of the samples of work he brought along to show us and, equally importantly, having met and chatted to Lee, we knew immediately that we would all get on well together. From the outset Lee took the time to talk to us, get to know us and discover what was important to us when it came to our wedding photographs.

We selected a package which included an engagement shoot and were delighted with the fabulous shots he took on that occasion; we couldn’t wait until the big day itself. A couple of weeks before the wedding Lee visited us again to talk through the order of the day and get an idea on timings.
On the morning of the wedding he arrived at the venue and instantly struck up a great rapport with our children who were supporting us that day. During the ceremony we didn’t even realise he was in the room and yet we have the most incredible photographs that prove he was.

Lee is unobtrusive whilst he’s at work but at the same time always friendly and ready to join in with the banter and have a laugh and a joke with you. His attention to detail is second to none and he captured all of the special features and elements that made our wedding personal to us. As well as commenting on what a nice guy Lee is, many of our guests remarked on how efficient he was too. They were pleasantly surprised at how little time he spent taking traditional portraits and group shots, meaning that we spent our time enjoying the drinks reception and chatting to them instead!
Lee was with us until quite late into the evening but by the time we went to bed he had already emailed us a link so that we could have a sneak peak at our highlights.

Lee was happy to go along with the ideas that we had for photographs and proposed some of his own too. A few days later we had some wonderful surprises when he sent us the link to the rest of our photographs. We spent an emotional evening reliving our wedding day and seeing for the first time expressions and details we hadn’t even noticed on the day. As for the couples’ portraits, we were speechless! Please listen to Lee’s advice and put your trust in him when he suggests something because if you do it’s likely to result in some truly spectacular shots.

Just before our wedding day we decided to add a photo film to our package and I’m so grateful that we did. Lee compiled a DVD of our photographs and set them to a backing track of our wedding songs. We absolutely love it because it captures every emotion and brings the whole day back to life.

Lee instinctively knows what will make a good photograph and captures memories to treasure. He is always willing to go the extra mile to get candid, honest photos which retell the story of your wedding day so beautifully. Whilst highly professional, Lee is also a very friendly, likeable guy who instantly puts you at ease and gives you the chance to relax, thereby allowing him the opportunity to capture the truly magical, natural, shots he’s so good at.

We’re so glad we found you Lee. Thank you so much!

Michelle & Colin

Who is the Wedding Photographer behind Lee Hawley Photography?

Lee Hawley Photography is owned and run by little old me. Everything you see on my website, every photo, web page, brochure, leaflet, email or social media post is made by me. This is way more than a wedding photography business. It is an all consuming passion and I want everything you experience with Lee Hawley Photography to be the result of my approach, work ethic and style. Warts and all! I would rather things be a bit quirky but be the real me. I know for every couple that is puts off, another will feel a connection. Resulting in me being the right wedding photographer for the right couple.

I am never not at "work". Email me, and you will get a reply ASAP, often at all hours. In a previous life I worked for well over a decade in construction and building services. Including 3 years on the tools as an electrician. I know what hard work is and what long hours are. I maintain that work ethic and then some as a Cheltenham wedding photographer in my own business Lee Hawley Photography. Often up late into the evening editing your images to stick to the short turn around times I promise, or meeting couples any evening of the week, sometimes in different counties.

The truth is, this isn't really work. I feel immensely privileged to do something I love so much. So it is the least I can do, to give it my all.

You can see my obsession on my Instagram updated daily here.

Homelife

I live in a little village near Cheltenham in the Cotswolds. With my wife Kim, our 4 year old son Milo, new born Monty, Hugo the Bearded Collie, cat Dexter and 3 chickens. We also have 3 ponies, Paddy, Fern and Whisper. Oh, and my wife is a veterinary nurse, and serial animal hoarder. Can you tell?

Kim’s veterinary work and my working from home results in me being a very hands on dad. Spending a lot of my time with Milo, finding fun things to do, roping him into wedding photography research trips. Sat on my lap watching Thomas and Friends whilst I catch up on admin. Serving hundreds of meals, plus bath and bedtimes! I love it.

 

about me lee hawley photography

Request a Brochure & Price List

This is not formal wedding photography

I tell your wedding story naturally and creatively. No awkward poses, no saying cheese. My goal is for you to feel like you have a friend as your photographer, and by doing that I capture you at your most you.

I truly invest in my couples, spending time to understand what makes you tick. Even if you don’t really know what you want, in a brief chat over coffee I will understand how best to approach your day, resulting in you being relaxed and able to enjoy your wedding and resulting in a set of images tailored to you.

​To receive my latest brochure and full price list, please complete the simple form . I’d also love to hear a bit about your day! Packages start from £995.

This is not a wedding production line, you will not be added to any mailing lists and I will reply to you in person