Lewis and Amanda were married at Owlpen Manor, a historic venue set in the Cotswolds. This was my first time photographing a wedding here, and it’s a venue that totally suits my relaxed, natural, documentary style of wedding photography. The layout, light, and quiet surroundings make it easy to work in a candid, unobtrusive way. As a wedding venue it offered exactly the kind of atmosphere they wanted for their wedding day: personal, calm, and focused on the people around them.
One particularly meaningful aspect for me was photographing this wedding having already photographed Lewis’s parents’ vow renewal some years earlier. Being asked back by the same family was a real honour it was also nice to have a couple of familiar faces.
Both Lewis and Amanda got ready at the venue, which helped the day feel calm and unforced. From a photography point of view, this allowed me to focus on real moments rather than staging anything — people talking, laughing, and settling into the day at their own pace.
The ceremony was especially memorable, being conducted by a close friend of the couple. It was deeply personal, with every guest given the chance to get up, add a flower to the couple’s bouquet, and greet them. Moments like these created a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere and made for some genuinely heartfelt photography.
After the ceremony, guests moved naturally through the gardens for drinks and conversation. Owlpen Manor works very well for documentary-style wedding photography, with good natural light and plenty of space for people to relax. It meant I could step back with my cameras and capture moments as they happened, without interruption.The reception continued indoors with genuine, light-hearted with speeches and plenty of tears, this was followed by their wedding breakfast. Amanda and Lewis went for my short day package and chose to use the hours having me there to document the earlier parts of their day, this meant I wouldn’t be around for their first dance. Knowing this, after the food the three of us headed onto a grassy area away from the rest of their guests for some final photos – including them having a little practice first dance.
Photographing Lewis and Amanda’s wedding at Owlpen Manor was a great introduction to the venue. I love weddings like this — ones that feel genuinely personal. Amanda’s tattoos, Lewis’s snappy style, and the way they involved their guests gave the day real character and made it a joy to capture. Nothing felt forced or generic, just two people doing things their way, surrounded by the right people in a setting that suited them perfectly. They were both totally happy being themselves which always results in honest, natural images. This set of images also shows, even by only booking my short coverage package (5 hours) you can still have your day captured in the way you want.
Getting to photograph at a wedding venue outside of Staffordshire also means I don’t visit the venue beforehand. I always make time on the day of your wedding to have a look around and get a feel for the best places for photographs. I love getting to take photos at a new venues as my creative side gets all excited at seeing all the photo opportunities!
Message me if you’d like details on this or any of my other packages – which are all named after biscuits!
