Workshop starts: September 25th Hotel in Lisbon
Workshop ends: October 1st, Airport in Lisbon
Difficulty: Fairly easy, longer walks, stairs, some uneven sidewalks, tiled and uphill streets.
Minimum Number of Participants: 3
The improvement of smartphone cameras has drastically changed travel photography -and the phone camera is now globally used by beginner and professional photographers alike. It is a great and convenient tool for sharing our pictures with the rest of the world in realtime; it is small in size, portable, more discreet and less intimidating than a large camera.
During this 7 day, 6 night guided smartphone photography workshop we will take you on a journey through three fabulous cities in Portugal: Lisbon, Aveiro, and Porto. We will travel by train from city to city to fully enjoy the local culture in a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere.
Our journey starts in Lisbon where we will spend our first two nights – the stunning capital city of Portugal, known for its rich history, charming neighborhoods, and picturesque landscapes, provides countless opportunities to capture beautiful moments through the lens of our smartphones. The winding streets of Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest and most atmospheric neighborhoods, with its labyrinth of alleys, colorful houses, and iconic azulejos (decorative ceramic tiles) make for perfect photo opportunities. We will walk along Baixa, the grand downtown area of Lisbon, where wide boulevards and elegant squares make for classic shots. We will capture the majesty of Praça do Comércio, the grand waterfront square, with its arches framing the blue sky and the river beyond. The Rua Augusta Arch offers a great perspective shot of the bustling pedestrian street leading to the square. For a pop of color, we will visit the famous Pink Street in the Cais do Sodré neighborhood. This vibrant street, once known for its nightlife, is now a colorful, Instagram-worthy spot perfect for snapping photos of the pink pavement against Lisbon’s classic tiled buildings.
From Lisbon we will take the train to our next destination-the vibrant city of Aveiro, also called the “Venice of Portugal.” Aveiro is known for its canals, colorful moliceiro boats, Art Nouveau architecture, and charming streets. The lagoon, with its old fishing boats and piers, is the perfect canvas for tranquil long exposure shots with our phones. This picturesque city will be our home for the next two nights.
From Aveiro we will travel to Porto by train, where we will spend the last two nights of our journey. During our stay, we will photograph the heart of Porto, the Ribeira District with its cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and scenic views of the Douro River. This is one of the most picturesque areas of the city, especially at sunrise or sunset. The Dom Luís I Bridge is an iconic double-deck iron bridge which we will capture from various angles, both from the riverside and from the top. The view from the bridge at dusk, with the city lights reflecting on the river, is simply breathtaking. On October first, we will say goodbye to Porto and return to Lisbon Airport by train where we will end our trip. If you choose to stay in other areas of Portugal or longer in Lisbon, we can help you make arrangements.
This workshop is geared towards people who like to take pictures with their smart phone and would like to improve their skills; although you are welcome to bring your regular camera along! We will offer tips and tricks how to take fabulous still images and videos with your phone. This will be a fun, informative workshop while exploring the creative features built right into our phones, aftermarket lenses and filters, and different apps to use for turning our phone pictures into works of art. We will illustrate composition rules, talk about lighting options, and correct exposures. The demonstration will be on an iPhone, but the concepts covered will be applicable to any smartphone. You will return from this trip taking better pictures with your phone camera than you ever thought possible, and having more fun doing it!
September 25-27, 2025: Hotel MeraPrime Gold Lisboa, Lisbon
September 27-29, 2025: Hotel Aveiro Palace, Aveiro
September 29-October 1st, 2025: Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira, Porto
