HOW MUCH DOES A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER COST IN PORTUGAL?
Couples planning a wedding in Portugal ask us about price more than almost anything else, and the honest answer has two parts. Quotes in Portugal vary widely, and there is no reliable published average to point you to. What we can do is explain what moves the price, what our own investment covers, and how to compare quotes that look very different.
We are Rui and Savannah of The Lopes Photography, a husband-and-wife studio. Published in Vogue Arabia and Vogue Australia Weddings. Seen in Tatler and British Vogue.
The Short Answer
Wedding photographers in Portugal sell very different things under the same name: different hours, a different number of photographers, different editing, and different preparation. That is why two quotes for the same date can be thousands of euros apart.
Our collections start at €10,000, VAT included. Travel within Portugal is included, so the starting price is the same in Lisbon, Sintra, the Douro, or the Algarve.
What Moves the Price
When two quotes are far apart, the difference usually sits in a few places. Ask every photographer you are considering about each one, and the quotes become comparable.
Hours of coverage
Ask exactly when coverage starts and ends. A day that runs from getting ready to the first hour of the party needs more time than one that begins at the ceremony. Our base coverage is 10 hours.
Who is behind the camera
Ask who will photograph your wedding and how many people will be there. At our weddings, it is always the two of us, Rui and Savannah, so while one of us is with you, the other is with your guests and the room.
Preparation before the day
Ask whether the photographer visits the venue and who builds the photography timeline. We always visit the venue, including venues we know well, ideally with your planner or with you. We look at the ceremony, cocktail hour, and portrait spots at the hour you will use them, and we build our own photography timeline around that light.
Editing
Ask who edits the gallery and how. Savannah edits every image we deliver herself, one by one. Nothing is batch-processed or sent to an outside editing studio.
Film and delivery
Ask what you receive, in what format, and by when. Every one of our collections includes film and digital. You receive 600 to 900 photographs, sneak peeks within 24 to 72 hours, and the full gallery in three to three and a half months.
How many weddings a year
Ask how many weddings the photographer takes on. We photograph a maximum of ten weddings a year, so each one gets the same preparation and the same time in the edit.
What Our €10,000 Investment Includes
Both of us photographing your wedding day: Rui and Savannah
10 hours of coverage
A visit to your venue and our own photography timeline
Film and digital
600 to 900 photographs, each one edited by Savannah
Sneak peeks within 24 to 72 hours, and the full gallery in three to three and a half months
VAT and travel within Portugal
Welcome dinners, farewell brunches and full weekends are planned individually. For weddings elsewhere in Europe, we discuss travel individually. You can add Super 8 film to any collection, and if booked on its own, it starts from €3,000. The full details are on our services page.
What Price Cannot Tell You
A higher price does not make a photographer right for you. What matters more is whether the work you are looking at matches the way you want to remember the day.
Ask for two or three complete wedding galleries, not only portfolio highlights, and look at the parts of the day that are hard to photograph: an afternoon ceremony in strong sun, a dinner by candlelight, family photos on a tight schedule. A portfolio shows the best moments. A full gallery shows how a photographer works when the day does not go to plan.
For a step-by-step way to compare photographers, see our guide to choosing a wedding photographer in Portugal, or browse our wedding portfolio.
Photography Within Your Wedding Budget
Photography is one line in a larger budget that also covers the venue, the planner, catering, flowers, and your guests' travel. For the full picture, see our guide to destination wedding costs in Portugal.
For Couples from the US
Our prices are quoted in euros with VAT already included, so no tax is added at the end. Your bank or card will convert the payment into dollars at its own rate.
Because travel within Portugal is included, the starting price does not change with the region you choose. We work in English from the first call to the final gallery, and we also photograph select weddings in the United States.
Questions About Wedding Photographer Prices in Portugal
How much does a wedding photographer cost in Portugal?
There is no reliable published average. Prices vary with the hours of coverage, the number of photographers, the editing, film, and travel. Our collections start at €10,000, VAT included, and include travel within Portugal.
Is VAT included in your price?
Yes. Our prices include VAT.
Is travel included?
Travel within Portugal is included. For weddings elsewhere in Europe, we discuss travel individually.
Do we need a second photographer?
With us, the question does not come up: both of us photograph every wedding. One of us can stay with you while the other covers your guests, the room, and the details.
How many photos will we receive, and when?
You receive 600 to 900 photographs. Sneak peeks arrive within 24 to 72 hours, and the full gallery in three to three and a half months.
How far in advance should we book?
As soon as you have a date and a venue in mind. We photograph a maximum of ten weddings a year, and we confirm availability within 24 hours of your inquiry.
Can we add Super 8 film?
Yes. Super 8 can be added to any collection. Booked on its own, Super 8 starts from €3,000.
If you are comparing photographers at different prices and want to see how our process fits your day, tell us about your wedding. Other questions are answered in our wedding photography FAQ.
