This post is also available in:
Latest update: 7 August 2023
Lisbon is such an incredibly photogenic city. I want to capture everything. I should be able to take some good photos with my SLR camera. In theory at least, because in reality, my settings are almost always in automatic mode. I want to work on that during a photo tour of Lisbon with Pedro.
Photography tour in Lisbon
The concept of a photo tour appeals to me: exploring the city and my camera under the guidance of a professional photographer. It’s like a city walking tour but with an extra dimension. So I took the plunge and asked photographer Pedro if I could go on a photo tour in Lisbon for my blog. Pedro thought that was a good idea too, cool!
(Private) tailor-made photo tours in Lisbon
We meet in the Alfama district. While we drink coffee, we first talk about my blog and his Lisbon photo tours. The idea for the photography tour originated in Barcelona. He saw people offering photo tours in the Spanish capital, and Pedro got excited about the concept. Pedro co-founded Lisbon Photographer and now provides tours through WithLocals. “Think of it as a photography crash course,” he says. After a bit of theory, fully adapted to the participant’s knowledge level, there is time to put what you have learned into practice and receive immediate feedback.
The photo tours are always small-scale and tailor-made. The charm of the tour lies in personal attention. Pedro doesn’t want to work with large groups. He enjoys teaching people about photography in a short time. To help them from automatic mode at least to semi-manual. Will he get me there today? When he compares photography to driving a car, I must admit that I’ve only passed my driver’s license at the fourth try. This might be a challenge. Good luck Pedro!
Playing with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture
Pedro is a friendly and clear teacher. His English is perfect, he explains everything nicely and calmly and draws things where necessary. We cover ISO values, shutter speeds, and aperture and how they work together. We take pictures of a tree with different settings from our place on the terrace. The influence of the various parts of the lighting triangle becomes apparent in a playful way. Check out the different photos.
Oh, oh… photographing people… help!
When we’ve gone through the theory for a while (we also cover composition and zoom, and see how everything works on my camera), we hit the road. Time to take pictures. There’s a flea market in Alfama, so there’s plenty to photograph. I run into my first challenge within a few minutes. I like pictures of people but don’t dare to take them. I think it’s quite invasive to take a picture of someone unfamiliair. I prefer to stay at a distance, but well… then I don’t get the best photo. I try to overcome that fear, but it’s a struggle.
Freeze water
At a small fountain, Pedro explains photographing running water. If I want to see the movement clearly, I have to choose a slow shutter speed. If I want to freeze the image, I must choose a faster shutter speed. And yes… it works!
Shooting is multi-tasking
I slowly start to understand why Pedro compares photography to driving. I found driving so overwhelming the first time. Shifting, braking, accelerating, checking mirrors, you name it —too many things to consider. I also notice the same in photography: looking around, choosing composition, setting exposure, and wanting to do it right the first time. According to Pedro, I should be less afraid to take pictures. Sometimes things in real life are different than in the photo, and it doesn’t turn out well, and sometimes something in an image is more interesting than in real life. So keep trying and practicing.
Looking at Lisbon with different eyes
Although I am not yet very impressed with the creativity of my photos, I am thrilled to learn what I like and don’t like. Even better: I now know how to do something about it! Apparently, I have a preference for slightly overexposed photos. I also learn that the color red has a lot of influence on the success or failure of a picture, and I notice that I look around me much more actively. I’m shooting right now on the street. I usually walk around and pull out my camera if I see something interesting. Now I’m looking for it. So that’s quite a mindset change already.
Photo tips in Lisbon
We slowly move down the roads of Alfama. Pedro is also taking pictures in the meantime and shows me his images. He also gives tips for my photos. This photography tour works extremely well for me. I get to know my camera and can immediately see the results. Amazing! When we say goodbye, I don’t feel done yet. The rest of the afternoon, my camera remains on (semi-) manual, and I take many more successful and less successful photos. The awareness is there, and that was my main goal.
Book a Lisbon photo tour
Do you also want to explore Lisbon and learn from photographer Pedro? Then book your photo tour at WithLocals. You will immediately see the availability there. The price depends on how many people you want to go with. It’s a private tour anyway, so all the time is for you and the people you’re taking with you.
If Pedro has no availability, you could also try one of these tours:
More Portugal inspiration?
Useful links for your Portugal trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Try WithLocals for experiences with Portuguese locals. Book your ‘free’ walking tours with Freetour.com or GuruWalks, and try bike tours with Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. Interested in a 5% discount on museums and other attractions? Use this discount code at Tiqets: KIMOPREIS22
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. If you want to compare prices, check out Discover Cars.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Momondo, Transavia, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guidebooks. I love paper guidebooks to flip through. Buy them at Bol.com or Amazon.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? There is plenty of choices all over. For the Dutch: ANWB vakanties, Tui or Vakantie Discounter. Or choose a trip with Shoestring, Sawadee, or Corendon. Other options are D-Reizen and Sunweb.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Train and Bus Travel to Portugal with Busbud or FlixBus. And reserve buses and trains on the go with 12Go or Omio.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Yoga retreat. Or maybe treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Portugal.
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
Note: My blog allowed me to go on this tour with Pedro in 2016. Lisbon Photographer has not exerted any influence on my texts. This is how I experienced the photo tour.
First published: November 2016. Updated since.
