The newlyweds embraced, in the courtship session, between a column of Cais das Colunas in Praça do Comercio in Lisbon and the blurred buildings.

An Elopement Session in Cais das Colunas in Lisbon

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LISBON, THE BEAUTIFUL by the WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

The newlyweds embraced, in the courtship session, between a column of Cais das Colunas in Praça do Comercio in Lisbon and the blurred buildings.

The photographs are of the bride and groom during their pre-wedding session in Lisbon’s riverside streets, ending at Cais das Colunas


• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

The Descriptive Genre of a Wedding Photographer in a Pre-Wedding or Engagement Session in Downtown Lisbon

The bride and groom walking, holding hands, on a Lisbon street during the pre-wedding session.

Wedding photography is an art that requires not only technical skill but also sensitivity. Each moment captured must reflect the essence of the couple, their emotions, and the grandeur of the wedding day. The wedding photographer’s role, especially during an engagement or pre-wedding session, takes on a very particular character. Lisbon, with its historic architecture and picturesque streets, offers the perfect backdrop for this type of session, culminating at one of the city’s most iconic locations, the Cais das Colunas.

The Essence of Wedding Photography: Capturing Reality

The groom and the bride, side by side in Lisbon, in the dating session.

When I speak about the descriptive genre of wedding photography, I am referring to an approach that is, above all, sensitive to the context and environment. Unlike other forms of photography, where the image is more rigidly constructed and predetermined, wedding photography, especially during an engagement or pre-wedding session, requires flexibility and careful attention to the unfolding moments. The wedding photographer is not merely an “observer,” but rather an active participant who reacts and adapts to the story being told.

In many cases, the wedding photographers must free themselves from preconceived notions and rigid styles, letting themselves be carried away by the atmosphere surrounding the couple and their guests. When we do an engagement session in Downtown Lisbon, for example, the wedding photographer must capture the essence of the moment without forcing poses or artificial gestures. The beauty of wedding photography lies in capturing the authenticity of the relationship between the couple and the details that make their love unique.

Downtown Lisbon: The Perfect Backdrop for the Engagement Session

On the sidewalk of a street in downtown Lisbon, the couple, facing each other, look at each other.

Downtown Lisbon, with its streets and squares full of history, offers a wide range of settings for an engagement or pre-wedding session. From the grand Praça do Comércio, with its imposing arcades, to the cobbled streets winding through the city, each corner invites wedding photography. The soft light reflecting off the façades of old buildings, the tranquility of the squares, and the relaxed pace of the city create the ideal environment for capturing intimate moments between the couple.

  • Praça do Comércio: The heart of Lisbon, with its classical architecture and stunning views of the Tagus River, provides an imposing yet welcoming backdrop.
  • Surrounding Streets: The narrow, charming streets of downtown Lisbon, with their old buildings, set the perfect stage for capturing the couple’s authenticity.

These streets, often deserted in the late afternoon, provide an intimate atmosphere, ideal for the wedding photographer to create natural and spontaneous images. The textures of the façades, the soft light, and the small architectural details all contribute to composing the perfect setting for the engagement session.

Cais das Colunas: The Perfect Ending to the Session

On a stroll through downtown Lisbon, the bride and groom smile before their wedding.

The engagement, or pre-wedding session, in Lisbon would not be complete without a visit to Cais das Colunas. Located on the banks of the Tagus River, this iconic spot offers breathtaking views over the river and the city. Cais das Colunas, with its majestic columns and serene environment, is the perfect location to end a wedding photography session, giving the couple a sense of living a modern fairytale.

Here, the wedding photographer can explore different angles and perspectives, capturing the couple in moments of closeness, holding hands, gazing at each other, with the river and columns in the background. The contrast between the bustling city and the peaceful, tranquil location creates stunning images that reflect the promise of a future together, in a romantic and timeless setting.

The Descriptive Approach: Wedding Photography That Tells a Story

Framed by the canopy of a large tree in a Lisbon square, close to the Tagus River, the couple next to each other, making love.

Wedding photography, especially in its descriptive form, is about telling a visual story. For a wedding photographer, each click is an opportunity to capture a memory that will last forever. My approach, when photographing couples in Lisbon, is much like that of a storyteller. Throughout an engagement or pre-wedding session, my job is to capture the most genuine moments without forcing or manipulating the scene.

Each photograph is a reflection of the couple’s emotional state, their bond, and their happiness. There is no room for artificial poses or forced images. The beauty lies in the small gestures – a glance, a smile, a gentle touch – that reveal the true essence of love between the groom and bride. As a wedding photographer, the goal is, above all, to preserve these memories for the future.

The Role of the Wedding Photographer on the Wedding Day

Hand in hand and together, the bride and groom look each other in the eyes, smiling under a large plane tree in downtown Lisbon.

The wedding photographer’s job does not stop at the engagement or pre-wedding session. On the wedding day, the photographer faces the challenge of being everywhere at once, capturing the key moments of the wedding ceremony and the gestures of affection between the couple and their guests. The descriptive approach remains constant, with the photographer reacting to what is happening around them, without interrupting or influencing the natural flow of events.

  • Wedding Ceremony: Capturing the most emotional moments of the ceremony, such as the glance between the couple or the exchange of rings.
  • Wedding Guests: It’s not just about photographing the bride and groom, but also capturing the emotions of the wedding guests, who are part of the celebration.

The art of a good wedding photographer lies in balancing their aesthetic vision with the client’s expectations, ensuring that every image delivered to the couple is as unique and special as the wedding day itself.

The bride and groom walking on the street, in the dating session, with the wedding photographer, with a yellow bus in the background.

Conclusion: A Visual Story to Remember

Wedding photography is not just a profession, but a true passion for the art of telling stories through images. An engagement or pre-wedding session in Lisbon offers a unique opportunity to capture genuine moments, with backdrops that help tell the couple’s love story. The wedding photographer, with their descriptive approach and sensitivity, can transform these moments into unforgettable memories.

If you are planning your wedding, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced wedding photographer to ensure that all the precious moments of your wedding day are captured most authentically and beautifully as possible. Each photograph will be a keepsake for a lifetime.

Get in touch with me to ensure that your big day is captured with the most beautiful wedding photography. Whether during a pre-wedding session or on the wedding day itself, I am ready to capture the most special and emotional moments of your love story.

Give me a Call
  • You can see a full wedding story:
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While walking in old Lisbon, the couple, in the pre-wedding session, look at something on their cell phone.
Bride laughing a lot while the groom looks at her, when, hand in hand, they walk in Lisbon.
When the groom hugs her from behind, the bride looks at him, with one hand over his hands, during the elopement session.
The bride and groom together and holding hands, in the arcades of Praça do Comércio in Lisbon.
Black and white portrait of the bride, smiling, in Praça do Comércio in Lisbon.
The bride next to a wall with paintings at Praça do Comercio in Lisbon, in the afternoon of the pre-wedding session.
The bride and groom leaning against a wall with a large clock painted in red and black, at Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, during the dating session with the wedding photographer.
The bride, in a portrait, when the wind blows her hair, in the pre-wedding session.
A black and white portrait of the bride sitting on a wall in Praça do Comercio, with the buildings, behind, blurred.
The groom, in black and white, with his arms crossed, in a portrait of the courtship session in downtown Lisbon.
Near the water of the river Tagus at Cais das Colunas at Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, the bride and groom during the pre-wedding session near one of the columns, a Cacilheiro boat on the pier and, in the blue sky, the Moon.
At the end of the dating session at Cais das Colinas in Lisbon, the couple tenderly embraced and held hands.

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