Wedding Photography at Cowley Manor

Shahani & Craig's Cowley Manor Wedding...


Starting blog posts, I always find tricky. I'm not sure how you found me, but my hope is you googled "Cowley Manor Wedding Photographer" or maybe "Cowley Manor Wedding Photography." If I'm correct, you have stumbled across a wedding I photographed at the beautiful Cowley Manor, mid-2020 when numbers were tight, and the pandemic was still at its peak. Don't let that put you off though as never have I photographed a warmer and fun-filled wedding.


A Little About Me...


Hi Gang, I'm James. I am a wedding photographer based in Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds. My work takes me to venues all over the Cotswolds, the UK and even further afield.


Photographing Weddings at Cowley Manor...


Being based in Cheltenham, I am very close to Cowley Manor (less than three miles). Cowley has also been very kind to me over the years and has recommended me to many couples. I know the venue very well and feel extremely at ease there. I'm not sure if this makes a difference to my overall work, but it is always lovely to catch up with the team and to see so many friendly faces.


About Cowley Manor...

When you know a wedding venue so well, it seems more challenging to talk about it, as in some way it's so familiar, so I went to the internet to see what others have said, and thought I'd put my local knowledge take on it.

The Times:

 Just a 15-minute drive from the heart of elegant, happening Cheltenham. The hotel is both very accessible and very rural. Should you wish to leave the beautiful grounds, there's plenty to explore nearby. Take a walk up Crickley Hill (famous for its views and wildflowers) three miles west; see Chedworth Roman Villa eight miles east; visit Painswick Rococo Garden eight miles south-west. Cheltenham Spa station is a 17-minute taxi ride north.

James Fear:

If you can't get to Cowley manor in under ten minutes, you're not trying hard enough. I'd say ten mins max.


Cowley manor is very rural, it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere, but life is all around. It feels alive. That's one of the things which makes it!


Crickley Hill is a classic. I do 99% of my pre-wedding shoots there!


Chedworth Roman Villa. It's a Cotswolds must, but for me, it's the drive there that blows me away. The most unspoilt area of the Cotswolds in my opinion.


Painswick Rococo Garden another fave wedding venue and utterly beautiful.


Cheltenham Spa station is a 17-minute taxi ride north. That may well be true, but the truth is nobody from Cheltenham gets a train from Cheltenham. Instead, we use Kingham station. Ask anyone!


So how about Shahani & Craig's Cowley Manor Wedding?


I have saved the best until last. I had not met S&C before their wedding day. I had also been locked up for months beforehand so I was excited and much more nervous than I would ordinarily be when photographing a wedding. As soon as I arrived, there was an instant connection. Within two seconds, I knew it would be a banger. Because of the pandemic, the wedding was different from usual—no bridal prep and straight into portraits. In America, they do this a lot. They call it a "First Look". I have only ever done this once before. It's normally more difficult this way around. Not for S&A, so in love, so up for it. Easy!


About an hour later, they had a gorgeous private ceremony. It was a privilege to witness and a privilege to photograph.


An hour later, I was off.


I feel I made friends for life.


Thank you for your interest in my work,


James

Testimonial:

Hi James,

Oh my goodness these are absolutely spectacular!!!

You sent them just as I was about to go out for dinner with a friend and I could not wait till I got home to look at them, so I ended up being very late for my dinner! Craig had to literally kick me out the door as I was so late cause I couldn't stop looking at the amazing piccies!!! I got home 30 mins ago, so I am now able to sit down and write to you. 



We seriously LOVE every single one of these pictures, don't know how you did it but you have captured every amazing moment and we are so grateful. Wow, you are incredibly talented. Thank you so much. Smashed it!

Thank you so much for making our day so memorable, I am so so glad I found you and that you agreed to photograph our wedding day! 

I am certain that we will be booking you for our future events in the UK, especially for when we have kids and want to do a family photoshoot!

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend and please stay in touch. 

Love & hugs,

Shahani & Craig

As always a few sneak peeks in black and white...

Bride and groom saying cheers looking very very happy
Black and white wedding Photograph bride and groom kissing at the pool with reflection
Bride and groom kissing on the stairs outside Cowley Manor black and white
Black and white photograph of guest at wedding reportage style looking at mobile phone photograph
Black and white photograph taken at Cali manner against leather wall bride and groom having fun looking happy candid
Candid wedding photograph small ceremony at Cowley Manor
Groom setting up zoom call for wedding in pandemic 2020 taken in the Cotswolds
Black-and-white reportage photograph
Guest reading letter at wedding emotional black and white
Bride looking through a door black-and-white happy
Bride and groom in bracing after first kiss at ceremony taken in black-and-white at Cowley Manor
Wedding photograph groom seeing grandmother for the first time both look very happy
Black-and-white portrait of bride and groom holding hands looking happy at Cowley Manor
Black and white photograph taken at Cali manner by the lake groom has hand in pocket looks super happy
Quirky reportage candid black-and-white photograph people pointing and taking photographs at the same time a very artist
Mother of the bride looking happy at the ceremony at Cowley Manor
Artistic black-and-white photograph of the bride looking through a door waiting to see guests arrive at Cowley Manor
Classic black-and-white wedding Portrait of the bride and groom at Cowley Manor on the lake taking that distance
Candid black-and-white photograph of the groom having a chat with the wedding coordinator at Cowley Manor
The wedding party having dinner at Cowley Manor saying cheers taken in black-and-white
Candid artistic wedding photograph
Black and white ceremony photograph of bride and groom holding hands and laughing
A very artistic black-and-white candid wedding photograph of guests arriving interesting composition and framing
A black-and-white image of of the interior Cowley Manor ceremonyroom
A romantic black-and-white photograph of bride and groom walking through the grounds of Cowley Manor holding hands and b
Bride and groom by the lake bride swishing her hair both a very happy black-and-white
Candid shot of wedding coordinator and mother of the bride
The first kiss after the ceremony in black-and-white taken at Cowley Manor
Contemporary classic wedding photography black-and-white taken at the pool at Cowley Manor kissing reflections strong li
Bride and groom playing hide and seek through a door
Candid black and white wedding photograph guest kissing bride
Bride and groom saying their vows holding hands looking happy at Cowley Manor
01 / 40

Shahani & Craig's 'First Look' Wedding Photographs taken at the swimming pool at Cowley Manor...

Cowley Manor classic wedding Portrait Brian Groom holding hands at the swimming pool beautiful reflection of the water
Cowley Manor wedding portrait the bride and groom are in bracing and kissing the brides leg up lovely reflections green
Bride and groom kissing at the swimming pool Cowley Manor
Bride and groom sitting on chairs at the swimming pool looking at each other with reflections

Shahani & Craig's Wedding Photographs at Cowley Manor...

The wedding ceremony room at Cowley Manor flowers and art work no people
Detailed shot of flowers on the table at Cowley Manor wedding
Beautiful flowers
Artistic photograph of bride waiting for the guest to arrive at her wedding
Portrait of bride and groom inside Cowley Manor looking very happy sunny day
Covid wedding groom and his father having a talk father wearing face mask
Bride seeing the groom for the first time as she walked down the aisle
Father of the bride kissing the bride before he hands her to the groom
Candid wedding photograph of the ceremony at Cowley Manor bride looking over shoulder very happy
Bride and groom kissing for the first time at the ceremony
Bride and groom having a loving in brace after first case at their ceremony at Cowley Manor
Bride and groom kissing by the fireplace at Cowley Manor
Very happy bride and groom saying cheers to the photographer family and friends
Bride and groom portrait taken at the lake at Cowley Manor
A candid reportage portrait of bride and groom walking through the grounds are Cowley Manor holding hands
Bride and groom with and umbrella on the stairs outside kissing
Bride and groom looking out of the window at Cowley Manor cuddling warm loving photograph
Cowley Manor lovely happy photograph of wedding guests waving goodbye at the dinner table

Would you like me to photograph your Cowley Manor wedding?

Please fill in this little form - I reply to all enquiries within 48 hours, so please check your junk/spam folder if you have not heard from me.

Bride and groom at the lake Cowley Manor contemporary wedding photography by James fear

Where is Cowley Manor?

Cowley Manor Wedding Venue