Gloucestershire Wedding Photographer
I’m Allister Freeman, an established Gloucestershire wedding photographer with many years’ experience of weddings in Gloucestershire, the UK and Europe. My photography has led me to working with couples across a variety of cultures and faiths and in all kinds of interesting locations – from the traditional to the downright quirky and everything in between.
Gloucestershire is a diverse county – a mix of ancient natural landscapes and vibrant modern culture and I’ve photographed lots of weddings in this incredible county, exploring the more urban areas of Gloucester and Cheltenham, to revelling in the unparalleled beauty of the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds deserve first mention when it comes to discussing Gloucestershire as a wedding location, for the quaint villages that time forgot, and a selection of grand manor houses, all set against the backdrop of endless photography opportunities with the many rolling hills and stunning meadows. The Cotswolds covers five counties in England, and in total, amounts to nearly 800 square miles of land. Gloucestershire’s portion boasts some of the most picturesque villages – most notably the ancient architecture of Chipping Camden, or the charming Bourton on the Water, known locally as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ for the little romantic bridges that connect the village over the River Windrush.
There are so many choice venues for a wedding in this part of the Cotswolds, and plenty I haven’t had the pleasure of exploring yet, making the choice very much depends on your desired wedding style. Will you choose a rustic barn like Kingscote in Tetbury, for its intimacy and 17th century stone charm? Or opt for grandeur on a bigger scale and spend your day at Tudor Castle like Thornbury, the honeymoon destination of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn? Will it be rolling countryside and low hanging beams, or dungeon dining and parapets? It’s diversity like this that really make Gloucestershire a sought after county.
If you’re interested in me being your Gloucestershire wedding photographer, get in touch to discuss pricing and availability.
Gloucestershire Weddings
And we’ve only covered The Cotswolds! Gloucestershire is also home to The Forest of Dean, and if you’re a lover of everything outdoorsy, or an avid adventure seeker, you’ll want to consider visiting. Nestled between the Wye Valley and the Severn Vale, you’ll find beautiful flowering gardens, an underground cave system, and 20 million trees of oak, beech, ash, birch and holly. It is the largest oak woodland in the country, due in part to being a planting ground timber to build ships. Iron and steel shipbuilding was invented before the oaks had a chance to fully grow – their loss, our gain. If you want to get married in the rolling woodland, there are plenty of barns, hotels and farmhouses to choose from.
Despite all of the above, Gloucestershire isn’t only a nature hotspot. It does have its urban attractions too. If you’re from the UK (or a fan of sport outside of the UK of course) you’ll most likely be aware of Cheltenham, the home of Cheltenham Festival - 4 days of horse jump racing at the Cheltenham Racecourse. Of course, you’ll also find the city of Gloucester, heaving with history and heritage ranging all the way from the Anglo Saxons, with marks from the Tudors, leftovers from the Industrial Revolution, all the way to the modern day. Gloucester Cathedral is a perfect example of the blend of old and new, as both the final resting place of one of England’s most controversial Kings, Edward II, and the set of Hogwarts, the fictional school in the Harry Potter films. If you’re dreaming about a memorable wedding right in the heart of history, picture yourself being photographed saying your vows in Blackfriars Priory, is a stunning 13th century medieval Priory site, the warm light beaming through a stone glass window.
I love being a Gloucestershire wedding photographer - it’s a hop skip and a jump from my home, and I’ve had some memorable experiences at previous weddings I’ve shot in the region. Do have a good look through the wedding photos I have had a privilege of producing in my Gloucestershire photo galleries. It’ll help you to get a feel for the style and character of my reportage wedding photography. I believe that skilled, natural style wedding photographers should be in the heart of the action and yet go unnoticed. No cheesy poses. No direction or dictation.
Gloucestershire Reportage (aka Documentary) Wedding Photography
Your choice of Gloucestershire wedding photographer shouldn’t be dependent on where you choose to hold your wedding, a good wedding photographer will be able to adapt, using the natural light and all the little details of any location to create a visually stunning story of your day. My style, often called ‘reportage wedding photography’ or ‘documentary wedding photography', is epitomised by this. I aim to capture moments as they happen, and have plenty of experience in bringing out the character of whatever venue you choose as your backdrop.
If you have a look through my portfolio of previously shot Gloucestershire weddings, you’ll better understand the honesty and authenticity you can expect from your collection.
I revel in photographing the intimate cultural moments during any Gloucestershire wedding, especially in my trademark reportage wedding photography style. I photograph moments as they happen, meaning that when you look back at your album you’ll be transported back to that moment, with authenticity, filled with all of that emotion you were feeling (whether tears of heartfelt emotion, or tears of sheer laughter!).