Sitting on the floor of the garden of Casa de S. José in Albarraque, the bride and groom talking in a pose for the wedding photographer in Lisbon.

Portugal Weeding Photographer: harmony for the photos

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THE DECISION by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN SINTRA

Sitting on the floor of the garden of Casa de S. José in Albarraque, the bride and groom talking in a pose for the wedding photographer in Lisbon.

The photographs are of a wedding with the ceremony at the Church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim in Sintra and the party at Casa de S. José


• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

The Right Moment to Take the Photograph

Wrapped in blurs, the bride's face during the hairstyle, as if she was between clouds.

One of my biggest debates with myself and my photography concerns the relationship between colour and black and white. It’s not exactly a conflict because my preference for black and white is a very biased one, but it is also a kind of calmness when colour causes colour-related issues.

Let me explain. When I’m photographing, I encounter problems that require immediate solutions. What’s the best framing, and within that framing, what’s the best composition and the right moment to take the photograph? In framing, I decide which part of the scene in front of me I will include within the rectangular frame of my camera’s viewfinder.

Awakening the Senses in Photographs

The bride in a mirror, with the hairdresser taking care of her hair.

After quickly making that decision, I must understand how I will compose that scene, what lens to use, which angle will bring out the dramatic intensity it contains—joy, emotion, satisfaction—and whether the light is bathing the scene from the right direction for the photo. Finally, what is the exact moment for that mysterious click that will hopefully become a beautiful image?

The problem is that not always, in the desired harmony, do the colours agree with each other to produce an image that awakens the viewer’s senses. Sometimes, colour—or rather, colours—compete to be the protagonists and do nothing more than assault us in a telluric cacophony that drives our eyes away, even when everything else is in the right place. That’s when black and white usually restores balance and lets the entire image speak, not just its tiny parts.

The Harmony of Each Wedding Photograph

View of the hairdresser's space with the bride being combed in the background.

That’s why knowing whether a photograph should be painted in pieces of a rainbow or in the greys that make up black and white cannot be a random decision but one of harmonic wisdom, like a song arranger who knows the colours of musical notes.

From that decision, one by one, the wedding photographs of Susana and Edgar were finalised, with the ceremony at the Church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim and the celebration at Casa de S. José. Throughout the day, I made choices about framing and composition. In the calm of my desk, in front of the computer, just like the arranger working on an album soon to be released, I reviewed and decided whether colour or black and white better preserved the harmony of each photograph.

Susana and Edgar were pleased and realised that being a wedding photographer is more complex than simply pressing a camera shutter. And it is that harmony that I wish for them throughout their life.

The bride's face dressed in red and the hairdresser's hands.

The Art of Photographing a Wedding in Sintra: Between History and Emotion

Ceremony at the Church of São Pedro de Penaferrim: A Setting of Tradition and Spirituality

The Church of São Pedro de Penaferrim, located in Sintra, is a place of great historical and spiritual value. With origins dating back to the 14th century, this temple underwent significant renovations in 1565, sponsored by D. Álvaro de Castro, resulting in the construction of a coffered ceiling in the nave. In the 18th century, under the guidance of D. Tomás de Almeida, the first Patriarch of Lisbon, the church received an exuberant baroque decoration, including a tiled panel attributed to the workshop of Valentim de Almeida, portraying episodes from the life of Saint Peter.

This historical and artistic environment provides a unique setting for the wedding ceremony, where the natural light streaming through the windows highlights the architectural details and the emotional expressions of the bride, groom, and wedding guests. Choosing between colour and black-and-white photography becomes crucial to capturing the essence of the moment, considering the harmony of colours and the emotional intensity present.

  • Wedding ceremony in Sintra
  • Wedding photographs at the Church of São Pedro de Penaferrim
  • Historical and spiritual setting for weddings
  • Baroque decoration and 18th-century tiles
  • Decision between colour and black-and-white photography

Celebration at Casa de São José: Elegance and Comfort in Rio de Mouro

Bride, seen in profile getting her hair done, with a blurred face to the side.

After the ceremony, Susana and Edgar’s wedding celebration took place at Casa de São José, located in Rio de Mouro. This venue stands out for its large green area, where a tent is set up to accommodate up to 300 people, offering all the comfort needed for a memorable party. The landscaped garden features a swimming pool and refined landscaping projects, providing an elegant and welcoming environment.

Casa de São José offers a full range of event services, including personalised catering, decoration tailored to the couple’s taste, high-quality audiovisual equipment, and exclusive parking for guests. The professional team is dedicated to ensuring that every detail of the celebration is carried out with excellence, guaranteeing a unique and unforgettable experience for all attendees.

  • Wedding reception in Rio de Mouro
  • Casa de São José as an event venue
  • Full-service support for wedding celebrations
  • Elegant atmosphere with garden and swimming pool
  • Tailored catering and custom decoration

The Decision Between Colour and Black and White: Capturing the Essence of the Day

After dressed, a portrait of the new looking down.

The choice between colour and black-and-white photography is an artistic decision that deeply influences the wedding’s visual narrative. During the event, the photographer faces challenges such as ideal framing, harmonious composition, and the precise moment to capture the perfect image. Colour can convey the vibrancy and joy of the moment, while black and white can emphasise emotion and timelessness.

In Susana and Edgar’s wedding, each photograph was carefully analysed to determine the best approach. The decision to use colour or black and white was based on visual harmony and the ability of each image to convey the emotions experienced. This meticulous process ensures that the photographs not only document the event but also evoke the feelings and memories associated with that special day.

  • Wedding photography: colour vs. black and white
  • Artistic decisions in wedding photography
  • Capturing unique emotions and moments
  • Importance of composition and framing
  • Visual narrative of the wedding day

Schedule Your Wedding Photography Session

Wedding photography is more than capturing images; it’s about telling each couple’s unique story through authentic and emotional moments. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who values harmony, emotion, and the beauty of your special day, I’m here to transform those moments into eternal memories.

Contact me to schedule a meeting and discuss how we can eternalise your wedding day with photographs that reflect your essence and love.

Give me a Call
  • You can see a full wedding story:
Wedding
The groom's belt and tie.
Groom tightening his belt.
Seen through an opening of light, the groom buttons his suit vest for the wedding.
Groom's hands tightening his belt.
The groom making the bow tie.
The groom wearing the coat of the wedding apparel.
Through the opening of a door, the groom in a black and white portrait, smiling ahead.
Among blurred objects, the groom smiles looking to the left.
Makeup artist's hand on the bride's face, painting her eyes.
A friend of the bride looks at the bride getting her make-up done, with the make-up artist.
The bride's dress hanging near a window.
The bride's shoes on the floor, next to a part of the wedding dress.
The bride's bouquet on black background.
The wedding rings on a fabric rose, next to the bride's bouquet.
The bride, helped by her mother, adjusts the veil held in her hair.
Now that she is ready, the bride, standing, sees herself in the mirror.
The bride poses for someone who takes her picture.
By a window, the bride had a final touch of her lips.
Two female friends putting on the bride's shoes, with her holding the veil by the hand.
The bride's shoes, footwear, between a wedding dress opening.
The bride with two wedding guests taking a selfie.
The bride, smiling, in front of women in her family.
The bride with a girl as she walks down the stairs from the house to the street.
A friend of the bride holds her veil as she gets into her car to go to the ceremony.
The groom, by the altar of the church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim, waits for the bride.
The bride, at the door of the Church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim, with her father and children in front.
The moment when the bride enters the church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim with her father.
The couple, side by side, smiling towards the altar of the Church of S. Pedro de Penaferrim.
The bride and groom are seated in front of the altar, with the bride looking up.
The groom looking ahead.
Bride and groom, sitting and holding hands, at the wedding ceremony, looking to where the priest will be.
Bride and groom in front of the priest at the beginning of the wedding ceremony.
Among blurred objects, the groom's face listening to the priest in the homily.
Leaving the church, at a party, by the bride and groom greeted by the guests.
The bride receiving greetings from a guest as she leaves the church.
The bride smiles at the wedding photographer through a car window.
The groom, in the car, through the windowpane.
Photographs of the bride and groom's families, hanging in the decoration of the wedding party.
A rectangle with a decorative message, at Casa de S. José in Albarraque.
Flowers and decorative objects for the wedding, on a table at Casa de S. José in Albarraque.
Flowers in a glass cup.
Guests at the wedding at a table in the garden of Casa de S. José.
The bride with two dolls in her hands, being photographed by two wedding guests.
With a boy next to her, the bride looking at someone out of the picture.
A friend hugs the groom at the wedding meal table, with the bride looking down at them.
The couple, in the photo session with the wedding photographer, between cloths and pillars of Casa de S. José.
The bride sitting on a bench in the garden, with the groom standing beside her.
Groom, leaning against a pillar of the Casa de S. José in Albarraque, hands in his trouser pockets.
Bride leaning against the groom, and holding hands, next to a table and a palm tree in the background.
Portrait of the groom, with a red light in the background.
The groom, from behind, with his face close to that of the bride who caresses him.
Among tall flowers in the garden of Casa de S. José, the bride and groom look at each other.
The bride and groom, showing each other their rings, joining hands.
The groom converses with a wedding guest, who is seated at the table.
The bride distributes gifts to the guests.
With two girls running around them, the couple opens the ball for the wedding reception.
The bride and groom dance with their guests at Casal de S. José in Albarraque.
The bride is thrown into the air by her friends at the wedding feast.
The bride and groom kiss while, seated, they watch a movie about them.
Bride, with a girl on her lap, among the guests in a circle, dancing.
The bride and groom cutting the wedding cake, with guests holding luminous sticks in hand.
The newlywed couple, dancing hand in hand.
Among the blurred decorative objects on the table, the bride in conversation with the groom.

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