Pre-Wedding Session in Lisbon by the morning

The wedding couple sitting on a bench at Praça do Rossio in Lisbon.

AFTER THE FOG by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN LISBON

The wedding couple sitting on a bench at Praça do Rossio in Lisbon.

The photos are from a morning spent in Lisbon during a pre-wedding session


• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

Downtown Lisbon, the Couple and the Wedding Photographer in an Engagement Session

With Lisbon to the Castle in the background, from Rossio, the couple, in the pre-wedding session, looks at the Convento do Carmo.

Downtown Lisbon never ceases to amaze. As a wedding photographer, I’ve roamed its streets countless times, camera in hand or not. Yet each time, something feels new. Every square, alley, and façade offers a fresh surprise — a new texture, a new light, a new story. This elopement session with Patrícia and Ricardo confirmed, once more, that Lisbon is made to be photographed — especially in the days leading up to the wedding day.

The Morning Begins: Rossio, Light and Fog

On a terrace on Rua Augusta in Lisbon, the bride and groom in conversation.

We met early, as planned. The moment I arrived in Rossio, a light fog greeted me — enough to save any film production thousands in special effects. For a wedding photographer like myself, who usually seeks clear light, this could’ve been disappointing. But instead, it was a gift: a perfect challenge, offering soft, misty backdrops ideal for romance.

  • Cinematic mood: The fog gave a dreamlike atmosphere, enhancing the couple’s intimacy.
  • Unique textures: The façades of Lisbon’s downtown glowed with a rare softness.

Through Pombal’s Streets, Designed for Photography

Strolling hand in hand along the Ria Augusta in Lisbon, the bride and groom go up to Rossio.

The three of us — bride, groom, and wedding photographer — walked the elegant lines of Pombaline Lisbon. The Avenida was still asleep, while Rua Augusta slowly awakened with cafés preparing to receive the day. Its quiet, calm walls and diffused morning light seemed crafted by an expert set designer, ideal for our lenses.

From Sé to the Castle: Timeless Promises

The bride and groom in front of an old store, in downtown Lisbon

We continued to the Lisbon Cathedral and São Jorge Castle. These iconic spots blend history and romance, perfect for wedding photos filled with meaning.

  • Historic elements: The contrast of ancient stones with youthful love is visually striking.
  • Timeless vows: The medieval feel invites knightly promises and eternal love, fitting preludes to the upcoming wedding ceremony.

Engagement Sessions as Emotional Rehearsals

The bride and groom looking into the distance, with a Carris tram behind them, at the pre-wedding session.

Often viewed as simple photo shoots, these sessions are much more. For the couple, it’s time to connect, away from the chaos of the wedding day. For the photographer, it’s a chance to observe and capture their dynamic, paving the way for authentic moments later.

The Emotional Power of Wedding Photography

The groom and the bride, sitting on the stairs of a church at the end of Rua da Conceição in Lisbon.

Wedding photography speaks to those who look at it. It doesn’t just document; it narrates. Every image holds an emotional truth. Patrícia and Ricardo will, I hope, one day tell many stories through these pictures — their stories.

Why Downtown Lisbon is the Perfect Setting

  • Versatile scenes: From grand plazas to narrow romantic alleys.
  • Unique light: Whether under the sun or fog, Lisbon’s light is both dramatic and soft.
  • Authentic feel: Easily walkable and endlessly inspiring.

Final Thoughts: Love, City, and Memory

With the church doors in the background, the bride and groom look at Rua da Conceição in Lisbon.

Photographing in downtown Lisbon is like revisiting a classic stage with new leads. Patrícia, Ricardo, and their wedding photographer experienced a magical morning — the kind of moment that lives on, long after the wedding ceremony, through images that continue to speak.

Planning an Engagement Session in Lisbon?

If you’re engaged and dreaming of genuine pre-wedding memories, consider an engagement session with a wedding photographer. Beyond beautiful photos, it helps you connect as a couple and sets the tone for your big day. Give me a call.
Discover how I tell a complete wedding story, in black and white, with the ceremony in the Church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção in Cascais
The bride and groom at trams street in Lisbon, in the dating session.
Portrait of the groom in downtown Lisbon, in the elopement session.
The bride, leaning against a balustrade, with Rua da Conceição in the background in Lisbon.
The bride and groom together in a Carris tram, at the pre-wedding session.
Looking at postcards and hats in a shop in Lisbon, the bride and groom embracing.
The bride and groom on a street on the way to the Castle in Lisbon.
The couple embraced on a walk during the pre-wedding session, in an old street in Lisbon.
Portrait of the bride next to an old castle wall in Lisbon.
The bride and groom sitting on a stone bench at the Castelo in Lisbon, during the courtship session.
Bride in front of very old trees, at Lisbon Castle.
Portrait of the groom, in black and white, in front of the old walls of Lisbon Castle.
The couple, in the dating session, walks inside the Lisbon Castle.
Sitting by the trunk of an ancient tree in Lisbon's Castle, the bride and groom rest in the courtship session.

By Fernando Colaço

I am Fernando Colaço a wedding photographer based in Portugal. My approach to wedding photography is open and not intruder, leaving the event just to happen. We may call it photojournalism. But, it is better to let the photos talk. I am at your service.

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