Frequently Asked Questions
A guide to the questions we hear most often, from how we work and where we travel to what to expect between your wedding day and your final gallery.
Working with us
Where are you based, and do you travel for weddings?
The Lopes Photography is based in the Algarve, Portugal, and photographs destination weddings across Portugal, Italy, France, and select destinations in Europe. Travel is part of what we do. Travel within Portugal is included; for weddings elsewhere in Europe, we discuss travel individually.
Will you be the photographers at our wedding, or could it be a different team?
Rui and Savannah photograph every wedding together. We have no associates, and no one else covers your day. When you book The Lopes Photography, you are booking us specifically.
How many weddings do you photograph each year?
The Lopes Photography limits itself to ten weddings per year. This is a deliberate choice. It keeps each project personal, gives both of us the space to be fully present on the day, and ensures the editing meets the standard our work requires.
Where has your work been published?
Published in Vogue Arabia and Vogue Australia Weddings. Seen in Tatler and British Vogue. You can read the Vogue Arabia feature on Hessah and Ali's wedding at Palácio de Queluz, and see Catherine and Theodore's wedding at Grémio Literário, featured in Vogue Australia Weddings, in our gallery.
Booking and investment
What does the booking process look like?
It begins with an inquiry through our contact page. We read every inquiry personally and respond within 24 hours. If you have not heard from us by then, please check your spam folder or email us directly at hello@thelopesphotography.com. If we are available and the fit seems right on both sides, we send our collections guide and arrange a call to talk through your day. We then recommend the collection that best fits your celebration. Your date is secured once the agreement is signed and the retainer is received.
How far in advance should we book?
Most couples book 12 to 18 months before their wedding date. Peak dates in Portugal and Italy, particularly from late spring through early autumn, tend to fill earliest. If your date is sooner, it is always worth reaching out. We occasionally have availability for weddings with shorter lead times.
How much does wedding photography cost, and how are payments structured?
Wedding day photography with The Lopes Photography begins at €10,000, with VAT included; travel within Portugal is included, and for weddings elsewhere in Europe we discuss travel individually. The total varies based on coverage length and any additions. Payments are divided across several installments, beginning with a retainer to secure your date. Full details are in our collections guide, which we send after your inquiry.
Coverage and style
Do you shoot on film?
Yes. Alongside our digital work, we shoot on 35mm and medium format film throughout the day. Within our full wedding coverage, film is woven in rather than sold as an add-on, and the resulting images carry a quality of light and grain that is distinct from digital. Some weddings are photographed entirely on film, like Celine and Jack's at Mosteiro de Landim. If you already have a photographer, you can also hire us for film photography only. We also offer Super 8 film video, as an addition to our photography or on its own.
What is your editing style?
We do not use artificial filters. Our editing stays faithful to the real light and color of each scene, and brings out what actually happened on the day rather than reinventing it. We edit and curate every image ourselves.
Do you photograph elopements?
Yes. Elopements are a significant part of our work. Whether it is two people on a clifftop in the Algarve or a quiet ceremony in a Lisbon courtyard, we approach elopements with the same editorial intention we bring to larger weddings. Coverage is tailored entirely to the format of your day. To see how this looks in practice, read about Melissa and Josh's elopement at Palácio de Seteais in Sintra.
Do you also offer videography?
We do not offer traditional videography. Our focus is entirely on photography. We do offer Super 8 film video: short, cinematic footage shot on 8mm film. It can be added to our photography coverage, or booked on its own alongside your own photography and videography team. It is a separate investment, and availability is limited each year.
Can we hire you for film photography or Super 8 only if we already have a photographer?
Yes. If you already have a photography and videography team, you can hire The Lopes Photography for film photography only, for Super 8 film video only, or for both. These follow a different process from our full wedding coverage. For film photography only, the investment is shared upon inquiry. Super 8 on its own starts from €3,000.
Do you work with videographers you can recommend?
Yes. We have a small group of cinematographers we trust and whose aesthetic is compatible with ours. Reach out, and we can make an introduction based on your style and budget.
Do you offer drone coverage?
We do not operate a drone ourselves. Our focus is entirely on what happens on the ground. We do work regularly with dedicated drone teams and are happy to coordinate aerial photo and video coverage as part of your day if that is something you want.
Your gallery
How many photos will we receive?
The number varies based on the length and structure of your day, but we never pad a gallery for the sake of volume. Every image we deliver is one we stand behind. Most full-day weddings result in 600 to 900 finished photographs.
When will we receive our gallery?
For wedding and elopement coverage, The Lopes Photography delivers the full gallery within 3 to 3.5 months of your wedding date. We confirm the exact timeline in your contract and keep you informed throughout the editing process.
How do you deliver the photos?
The Lopes Photography delivers every wedding in a private, password-protected online gallery. You can share access with family and friends, and all files are available to download at full resolution. The gallery remains accessible for an extended period after delivery.
Do you deliver RAW files?
We do not. The edit is not a finishing step that can be separated from the photography. It is part of the work itself. What you receive is a complete, finished gallery.
If you have a question that is not covered here, or if you are ready to start a conversation about your wedding, we would love to hear from you.
