FAR AWAY by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN PORTUGAL
Photos of the bride and groom, and guests at the wedding at Quinta do Louredo in Évora
• Pode ler este artigo em Português.
Wedding Photography in Alentejo: a journey to my roots
As a wedding photographer, every ceremony is a unique opportunity to tell a story through images. But when the destination is Alentejo, there’s always something special in the air. Not just because of the natural beauty of the landscape, but because of the emotional connection this place evokes in me. Inês and Raul’s wedding once again led me down winding roads, flanked by cork and holm oaks, into the heart of the Alentejo plains — a place where time slows down and wedding photography takes on a new dimension.
Reconnecting with Alentejo
Although it’s become trendy and widely chosen for wedding ceremonies, I must admit I rarely visit Alentejo. But every time I return as a wedding photographer, I feel a sort of homecoming. The vast landscape, gentle hills, and warm light create an almost cinematic setting for a wedding day.
There’s a classic joke about Alentejo: if you ask a local where a place is, they’ll say “just over there” — even if it’s half an hour away. That’s how Alentejo welcomes us: calmly, humorously, and with a beauty that takes its time.
A landscape you feel on your skin
Whenever I enter Alentejo, I’m immediately overwhelmed by the scents of rockrose and wheat fields swaying in the wind, and by the distinct sound of cicadas. The heat — daunting to many — feels like a blessing to me, fuelling the long hours of a wedding day. These sensations reawaken something in me. Maybe the wedding photographer I am is more connected to the plains than I thought.
What makes a wedding in Alentejo special?
- The golden late-afternoon light, perfect for magical wedding photographs.
- The unique aromas and sounds, from chirping cicadas to the scent of wildflowers.
- Traditional whitewashed architecture that beautifully reflects light in images.
- Wedding guests who are more relaxed, perhaps influenced by the setting’s tranquility.
The challenge of the roads and the joy of discovery
The journey to Inês and Raul’s wedding led me along roads that twisted through gentle hills. Unlike straight motorways, these paths seem designed to remind us that Alentejo is full of surprises.
The journey becomes part of the story. Every stop to admire the view, every curve with a golden valley ahead, reinforces the idea that we are heading toward something meaningful — the wedding day of two deeply in love people.
Practical tips for photographing in Alentejo:
- Logistics: Careful planning — distances can be misleading.
- Gear: Heat and light require proper technical preparation.
- Connection: Building rapport with the couple and their wedding guests is even more essential in a slow-paced setting.
An emotional connection
Sofia and Nuno’s wedding, also in Alentejo, offered yet another chance to reconnect with this part of the country. Photographing a wedding here is more than capturing images; it’s immersing yourself in a sensory and emotional experience. The melodic accent, the whitewashed houses, the silence broken only by cicadas — all of it creates a visual narrative that is both authentic and heartfelt.
Conclusion:
Photographing weddings in Alentejo is a privilege that always gives something back to me. The wedding photographer who arrives is not the same one who leaves. He carries with him beautiful images, touching stories, and a rediscovered part of himself. The plains, with all their contrast and soul, are etched into both photographs and memory.
Let’s tell your wedding story
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who goes beyond technique and fully immerses himself in telling the story of your wedding day — whether in Alentejo or elsewhere — I’m here to listen, plan, and capture your moments. Get in touch and discover how we can turn your wedding into an unforgettable visual story.
- You can see a full wedding story:
- The photographs are of some of the moments spent by the bride and groom and their guests at the wedding at Quinta do Louredo in Évora, Portugal.
