From Savannah to the Cotswolds, Part 1: Bibury

If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a postcard, then the Cotswolds should be high on your travel list. Now, living in Savannah, I’m no stranger to picturesque views—Spanish moss draped over centuries-old oaks, historic homes, and cobblestone streets can feel a bit like a postcard come to life on a daily basis. But the Cotswolds? It’s a whole different level. Imagine storybook cottages, rolling hills, and fog settling over ancient stone buildings that seem untouched by time. Being there felt like living in a fairy tale.

After following Julie Paisley, a former wedding photographer, on Instagram for many years and seeing all of her beautiful pictures of Europe, the Cotswolds became a location on my bucket list of places to go. Of course, I wasn’t sure it would ever happen…but when Julie announced her 2024 retreats for photographers and one of the locations was the Cotswolds, I knew I had to go.

When I first reserved my spot for the Cotswolds, my whole family was going to travel to London the week of the retreat, do some sightseeing, and then they would head back before the retreat started. After my husband fractured his foot during the summer, however, that was out. Instead, I reached out to Julie, and she happened to have an extra spot at the retreat. My mom decided to reserve that last spot, and on October 12 afternoon, Mom and I took off for London!

We arrived in London early in the morning on October 13 and spent a whirlwind of a day taking in many of the iconic sights and bustling streets. I’ll share more about our time in London later–that first day was busy but amazing! A trip to the Tower of London and a four-hour black cab tour with the BEST tour guide, who took us around London to see the big tourist spots as well as some that were more off the beaten path kept us awake and moving so that we could (hopefully) eliminate some of the jet lag (it worked!).

The next day, we hopped on a train to Moreton-in-Marsh, ready to dive into the heart of the English countryside. But we weren’t alone! Mom and I had the joy of traveling with a lovely group of women who were also attending the retreat, all of whom are incredibly talented photographers.

After a train ride through rolling hills (seriously, so much charm), we made our way to Stow-on-the-Wold, our base for the retreat. And let me tell you, waking up in our cottage in Stow each morning felt like living in a storybook—cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and timeless Cotswold charm.

Our retreat was centered around exploring picturesque towns, taking in the beauty of each village, and capturing it all with our cameras. On the first day, we made our way to Bibury, and I’m convinced it was the most magical spot of the entire trip. Imagine arriving early in the morning with the fog gently hanging over everything, making the whole place feel like a scene from a fairy tale. Incredible, right?

As if that’s not magical enough, seeing Arlington Row, with its perfectly preserved stone cottages, and Rack Isle, where wool was once dried, looked like something out of a dream. The mist and fog added a layer of mystery and beauty that made every photo feel special. In fact, some of my favorite shots from the entire trip came from that morning in Bibury. If you’re planning a trip to the Cotswolds, you have to put Bibury at the top of your list. Trust me, you don’t want to miss the chance to experience it.

Whew, this blog post is getting long, and I have so many more stories and photos to share from this trip! I’ll be writing more blog posts soon, diving into the other beautiful towns I visited and showcasing some of the incredible sights we explored. So, if you want to see more of the Cotswolds’ charm—and a few of my favorite shots from this dreamy adventure—make sure to check back soon! For now, enjoy some of the beauty captured in Bibury!

Would you like to own one of these beautiful portraits? Click on the link below to purchase a fine art print or matted fine art print to display in your home or gift to a loved one!

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