Award Winning Wedding Photographer
Happy & informal 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 wedding photographer. By doing that I capture you at your most you, and create genuinely personal images.
Living in Cheltenham I cover the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, the South West and nationwide. I am a known photographer to the region and recommended by many the region's top wedding venues. I enjoy the great relationships I have built within the industry with not only venues, but hair and makeup artists, florists, cake makers, and wedding stylists.
What is does your Wedding Photography journey look like?
It is an honour to be invited to be a couple wedding photographer, and I carry that mindset through every part of my service to you. This is why I commit to such short turnaround times of wedding photos. I am available whenever you need me before your wedding to discuss ideas or timings, and even produce a dozen photos, edited and online for you to see the night of your wedding! A service I know no other photographer does.
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. This results in a set of images personal and tailored to you, and leaving you relaxed and able to enjoy your wedding and not worry about your photographer.
My packages are broken down into time categories so you can get the exact coverage you need, and can supply everything you might want, including engagements shoot, second photographer and an album. Package pricing starts from £995. Complete the small form at the bottom of this page for a full brochure and price list.
What is your approach as a Wedding Photographer?
Every wedding is unique, and that is reflected in the images I deliver to you. I tell your wedding day story creatively and naturally, no standing around for hours having cheesy photos. Blending in like a guest with a camera capturing you and your guests at their most natural rather than being the type of wedding photographer that dominates the day. I love to celebrate the joy and light of your day which hopefully shines through the pages of my website.
Just as every wedding is unique, every couple is unique as well. Some happy to play the model, others deeply shy and inexperienced in front of the camera. I work within your comfort zone, never dictating awkward or forced poses, but preferring for you to have a casual stroll together whilst I shoot from a distance. Sometimes simply placing you within a beautiful scene simply existing together.
I love working with a couple. From those with bags of wedding photography ideas that embrace some of my more out-there suggestions, to those who have no idea what they want, but trust me to blow their socks off when they see the photos. These photos are often delivered back to them as soon as the week after the wedding!
To be as transparent as possible I have also created a number of wedding photography video diaries so you can see behind the lens! You can see a few below, or even more here.
What makes you different to any other Wedding Photographer?
As I mentioned in my introduction, this is not formal wedding photography. I want the work I do to be invisible and to not take anything away from your day, and if possible add to it! I love being a wedding photographer, and that enthusiasm has a habit of rubbing off on my couples, especially after following me on instagram and keeping up to date with what work I am doing. This can result in our little portrait session becoming a really fun part of the day as couples have trust in me creating something special. This is also a lovely time where you get to enjoy a quiet moment away from the madness.
Mixing in with the guests, I'm often asked "how long have you know the bride and groom?" as they assume I am a friend and not the appointed wedding photographer! This is one of my favourite comments, as it is my MO to not impose upon the day. Not to be thought of as the photographer, and to be able to capture people being themselves, naturally and creatively.
How do you provide a bespoke wedding photography service to your couples?
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 wedding photography. This results in you being relaxed and able to enjoy your wedding, and leaving you with a set of wedding photography images personal and tailored to you.
As a wedding photographer I have photographed pretty much everything in my time, but being a wedding photographer is my calling. I love people and photographing our interactions and emotions. Empathy is something I pride myself on and paired with huge experience of wedding days, I often see moments unfolding before they happen. Meaning I can be in the right place to capture it discreetly.
After a 15 year career in project management, I am very organised with a geeky attention to detail. This becomes very helpful as a photographe! More than you'd imagine in the build up or during the wedding day I can advise on timing details to help things run their smoothest. Even help solve emergencies like stuck zips or stubborn vails that need some modifications! Check out my testimonials for some first-hand stories!
Wedding Video Diary
Every wedding is a unique story that I love to tell. Click on the video for a peak behind the lens of a recent wedding and how I captured it. Or click the button for more videos.
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:
- Cheltenham - Where I grew up, and has some of my most familiar venues such as Manor by the Lake, Pitville Pump Rooms, Hatherly Manor, Priors Court Barn, The Barn at Upcote and the Greenway.
- Cotswolds - One of my favourite places in the world. So much character and unique charm, and a wonderful location for a wedding with these venues Hyde House, Manor House Hotel, The Swan at Bibury, Lapstone Barn, Cripps Barn, Melksham Court, Matara, Hare & Hounds, Stone Barn, Kingscote Barn and The Great Tithe Barn.
- Gloucestershire - Something for everyone with Eastington Park, Stonehouse Court, Egypt Mill, Tortworth Court & the Bear of Rodborough to name a few.
- South West - With easy access to the M5 I cover many venues further afield such as Clevedon Hall, Grittleton House, The Other Place plus one of my favourite types of wedding in the DIY and marquee wedding!
- Worcestershire - Now living on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border I get to enjoy some beautiful venues like Redhouse Barn, Wootton Park & Curradine Barns.
How many photos do you supply?
I average about 100 wedding photos per hour. My full day package supplies anything from 800-1200 fully edited images. This equates to about 20 hours of editing and post production time. Many wedding photographers save themselves editing time by only delivering 400-500 photos for the same full day package. It’s not a question of quantity over quality for me though. I just go that extra mile for my couples and won't tolerate photos being left on my hard drive I know you will enjoy, and not put the time into delivering them. Check out these full wedding photography sets below and imagine trying to remove more than half of them!
Do you offer a pre-wedding consultation?
This is more than just finding out when I need to turn up! It should be one of the most important part of a photographers job. I will take the time to get to know the style and feel for your day. How best to work with you both in order to get the most natural images and capture all the special details you have spent time creating.
I am also happy to work with you in figuring out the finer timings for your day, so we can work-in any planned photos to cause the least loss of time. Even photographs of your table decorations need considering. They obviously can’t be done after you’ve eaten, but you also don’t really want me capturing those during your drinks reception and miss photographing the fun and laughs! I consider all these details to get you the maximum value and tell your story in every detail. Something not all wedding photographers do, but a very important part of my wedding photography service.
What questions should you ask your wedding photographer?
Can we meet before booking you as our wedding photographer?
Absolutely! Ensuring that the wedding photographers personality clicks with you is as important as liking their wedding photography. That’s why I am more than happy to meet before you make your decision. I not try and get away with a Skype call or facetime! If you live within an hour or so radius from my home in Teddington, Gloucestershire. I will come to your home armed with an iPad full of photos. If you are further afield (I have many clients in London and the south coast) I will find a convenient pub or café between our homes to meet instead. If meeting up isn’t convenient for you, then that’s also fine. I am happy to chat on the phone or over Skype to help progress your booking.
How many photographs does each package include?
My Biography & Memoir packages result in around 1000 edited images. This equates to about 20 hours of editing and post production time. Many wedding photographers save themselves time by only delivering 400-500 photos for the same full-day coverage. From day one I believed it was my duty to deliver all photo's that my couples would enjoy having. I pride myself on consistently taking around 1000 great photos per wedding.
How long does it take for me to get our Wedding Photographs back?
I have the full wedding photography set available to view online from within as little as 2 weeks. Under 1 month in peak season, but often quicker. This is a huge commitment which I feel is worth the effort as waiting for months just isn't acceptable.
I also produce a dozen or so photos over the night of your wedding for you to wake up to. These have become known as my wedding photography "sneak peeks" and are hugely popular with my couples. Allowing you to update your facebook or Instagram right away, make thank you cards, or have nice memories to look at during your wedding hangover! Check out the sneak peeks below:
What deposit and payment terms do you have?
I offer two payment wedding photography plans to try and help as much as possible. You can spread the costs with a 35% deposit -35% six months before the wedding-30% one month before the wedding. Or to make things nice and simple with a 50% deposit -50% one month before the wedding. You can receive my full package and pricing details by filling in the form at the bottom of this page.
What contact can we expect with our Wedding Photographer?
I pride myself on being a very accessible wedding photographer. I am available on the phone or email an unlimited amount of times. We will have a pre wedding consultation a month before the wedding. We will run through the timings and logistics for the day, plus any ideas you are I might have! I am available for a venue tour with you as well should you wish. I also encourage my couples to follow me on Instagram so you can see my latest work. Plus to get a better idea of how I work as a wedding photographer through my Insta Stories!
What sort of edit do you apply to the images?
Where current trends for wedding photographers seem to be for stylish but gloomy wedding photos. I edit to retain the colour, light and the joy of your wedding as you remember it. Check out my galleries page here where you will see each wedding has a unique feel, as each wedding IS unique.
What do I physically get after the wedding?
I provide a stylish photography pack which I like to keep the details of which as a surprise. But you get a USB with all the full resolution images, plus a compressed set to keep on your phone without using all your phones memory. Your full set of images will be on a private page on my website as an easy way to share with friends. Check out the full galleries above from Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter weddings!
How much are your albums?
My albums start from £500 for a 24 page 12" album bespoke designed album. I can work with you to tailor an album to your specific budget or aesthetic requirements. Click here for an example album. Duplicates and smaller 8" copies are cheaper and I can always provide a tailored quote for multiples in a single order. My Memoir package includes the 24 page 12" album as part of the package.
Why are your prices what they are?
OK so this is not a very British question. One more likely this is a question to ask yourself rather than the wedding photographer.
If someone is very cheap, ask yourself why? Will they be using substandard equipment? Do they have the right experience? I occupy the premium end of the market, where people book me because they appreciate the quality of my work. However that doesn't mean me and my competitors shouldn't be providing excellent wedding photography value. For example, do they cut corners by only give you ¼ of the photos they take? Editing images typically takes 2 hours for every hour shooting. So someone providing 500 photos rather than the 1000 I provide is saving themselves around 10 hours of work you are not benefiting from. It also leaves you with 500 of your photos sat on a hard drive you will never see.
There may well be a very valid reason they are cheap or expensive. They could be a talented new starter making their way into the industry. As long as they’re honest about this and you like their photos then it’s a gamble well worth considering as everyone has to start somewhere. They may only do 10 weddings a year and know they will find 10 people a year willing to pay for it.
Who owns the copyright to the photos?
I maintain the copyright to the images, but issue them to you for you to print, share or post online restriction free. The only thing you cannot do is sell them or profit financially from them. This is a wedding photographer industry standard.
Do you also do some more formal family group shots?
Yes absolutely. Although the core and real value in what I do is my creative story telling. I still spend time snapping the family group shots that you would like to get to mark the day. The trick here is my approach in getting these shots efficiently and not losing you loads of time. I have a few tricks I use to get these shots quickly! Everyone has a horror story of being at a wedding with the photographer spending what felt like hours doing group after group. I avoid this at all costs! You can see a few by clicking here
What do other people think?
OK, this is a thinly vailed excuse to point you to my testimonials which you can read here. Obviously every photographer has good testimonials on their page. But I am incredibly proud of the specific details of my service my couples pick up on. These are the things I hold dear and put a lot of effort into achieving.
I also get some great feedback from other suppliers and venues you can see here, here, and here,
Below is a word-cloud of all my reviews, plus the lovely Katrina & Rhys were kind enough to speak on camera!
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.
Do you do engagement photo shoots?
I do, and one is included as part of the Memoir package. A shoot can also be purchased as an extra on any other package for £195. They are a great way to get some experience with me and my camera, plus get some nice photos before the day itself! They are helpful for me as the wedding photographer to get some more exposure to you both and how you interact.
Can you provide a second Wedding Photographer?
Yes, I have several optional extras my couples can upgrade to. One of which is a second wedding photographer for anything from prep and the ceremony, to a full day or a tailored package. Fill in the enquiry form below to get my full brochure and pricelist.
What Wedding Photography equipment do you use?
So you'll find this bit either mind numbingly boring, or you'll be really into it if your a bit of a photographer yourself! I use the very latest Sony mirrorless full-frame cameras. Sony have revolutionised the proffesional camera industry in recent years. Introducing many features hugely benefitial to me as a wedding photographer. Such as completely silent shooting, electronic veiw finder, ability to shoot very high frames per second, eye auto-focus, and all in a camera body a 3rd smaller than a traditional SLR, to name just a few.
Where most wedding photographers continue to be tied to legacy equipment from Canon & Nikkon. I took the plunge last winter fully changing all my cameras and lenses to Sonys system and havent looked back. It's revolutionised how I work. It enables me to be even more ambitious witht he photos I take, and increased how descreat I can be.
I have a complete suit of Sony full frame large aperture lenses. Star highlights and personal favourites being the 70-200 f2.8 G Master, 35mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4.
I also have a variety of toys up my sleave to use for my more creative shots!
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 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.
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.
Want to know more about my wedding photography?
As you will hopefully see that to me, being a wedding photographer isn't just a job to me, it's my life passion. I love having the opportunity to capture the images that I do for so many wonderful couples. If you would like to know more, complete the form below and get full details on pricing and packages.
Request a Wedding Photography
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