Documentary Film Wedding Photographer in Lisbon, Portugal
Julia is a Lisbon film wedding photographer and works exclusively on 35mm and medium format film. Most of her couples are already familiar with film as a medium and want that timeless, nostalgic, authentic quality in their wedding images, but other couples first choose Julia for her spontaneous, effortless, candid photographic style.
Julia focuses on what makes each wedding and each person unique and uses that as guidance for all the images she creates. She believes empathy and a genuine interest in human connection are absolutely essential to make a good photograph. For that reason, no two of her wedding galleries look the same - each is an honest testament to how it felt to be there on the day, amongst that specific group of people, collectively shaping their own story.
If you're curious to see what a wedding photographed fully on film in Lisbon can look like, you can check the galleries below.
If you want to get in touch, you can fill out this contact form. You can also follow Julia's work on instagram.
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Julia Jardim is a film wedding photographer in Lisbon specialising in authentic, unique wedding celebrations of all shapes and sizes. What does it meant to be a film wedding photographer in Lisbon? Julia photographs weddings and elopements in Lisbon in a spontaneous, stress-free, authentic way, using a documentary, photojournalistic approach with a creative flair to create images that are honest, unique, interesting to look at, and true to the story they're telling. If you love film photography and would like your Lisbon wedding to be documented on film, do get in touch.
FAQ
Which venues do you recommend for our Lisbon wedding?
Lisbon is packed with incredible wedding venues. If you're looking for a smaller venue that feels intimate and modern at the same time, you can look at Casa Sacoto (or, for a more colourful setting, Quinta de Sant’Ana). If you want something that feels grand and elegant, Palácio de Queluz is a great option. The Vandelli Botanical Garden is also a favourite for me as it offers a gorgeous view of the river and a breathtaking mix of lush nature and elegant architecture.
Why do you shoot only film, and not a mix of film and digital?
The short answer to this question is that a digital camera would not do anything that a film camera can't do in a better way. I know a lot of photographers choose to shoot film only in certain lighting situations, but I have extensive experience working exclusively with film not only in weddings but also on commercial assignments, and my honest opinion is that it can be used in any situation if you have the necessary knowledge. Film is versatile, consistent, and beautiful under almost any condition. Given all that, a digital camera would just be an unnecessary distraction.
Do you work with second shooters?
I work by myself unless the wedding is organised in a way that requires me to be in two places at the same time, but I recommend a second shooter for weddings with a large number of guests. I view a second shooter as another photographer with their own unique creative language and set of eyes, so I take a lot of care in choosing someone to work with one on your wedding.
Can we hire you for our multi-day wedding in Lisbon?
Absolutely! As long as my schedule is free for the period and it won't interfere with any weddings scheduled just before or right after yours. I love multi-day weddings and I absolutely love a pool party because they show such a different side of your wedding guests :)
What cameras do you use as a film wedding photographer?
I work with many different cameras at the same time - mainly because they offer different qualities to the final negative, but also because I like my workflow to be as fail-proof as possible and having different cameras capture the same moments can guarantee that. On a regular wedding day, you can expect to see me carrying at least a medium format Mamiya, a Contax G1 and a Konica Hexar at the same time.
Can we meet in-person before our wedding?
Yes, of course! This is not always possible as most of my couples are planning a wedding away from the country they currently live in and because I spend most of the wedding season on the road, but if we happen to be in Lisbon (or any other city) at the same time at any point during the planning process, I'll do everything I can to have a coffee with you! Even if in-person meetings are not possible, we do several video calls throughout the planning process so we can hopefully feel like old friends when the day comes, and you're welcome to message me on WhatsApp at any point after booking. In other words, we'll be in touch a lot :)
We are looking for a film wedding photographer in Lisbon and love your work. How can we book you?
If you like my work and my approach to photography and think it matches what you dream your wedding photos to be, please get in touch through my contact form.
Where are you based?
I am based between Portugal and The Netherlands and photograph weddings primarily in France, Portugal, The Netherlands, Spain and Italy, as well as a few weddings a year in the UK and Brazil. Even though I spend most of the wedding season (from April to October) on the road, I have recently made the conscious choice to focus mostly on locations I can get to by train for sustainability reasons. A single wedding season would easily see me boarding 40+ flights otherwise.
How many images will we receive?
The total number of images will vary based on factors like number of guests and duration of the ceremony, but I deliver an average of 500 images for a full day wedding. I also focus on quality instead of quantity, so I make sure each image I deliver is unique and can stand on its own.
Do we receive black and white photos as well?
Yes, of course! By default, I shoot 30-35% of the wedding using BW film, but this is thoroughly discussed with couples during our pre-wedding talks so that the final proportion meets your expectations and personal preferences - I can either increase the BW photos or remove them altogether if it suits the couple.
Should we worry about rain for our wedding in Lisbon?
While rain is always a possibility, if you're planning a wedding in Lisbon between April and September you have already done everything you can to minimise your risks of a rainy wedding. Lisbon is generally a very sunny city, but late spring and summer are particularly so. With that being said, it's always best to organise a Plan B with your venue - and make sure the Plan B is something you're happy with, just to avoid disappointment in case it does rain! I honestly believe that rain is not a big issue on a wedding day as long as the spirits are not affected.
How will we receive our images? What does the film process look like?
Once the wedding is done, I'll take all film rolls to my trusted lab in Lisbon for developing and scanning. The final photos will be delivered to you as high-res jpg scans of the original negatives uploaded to an online gallery for viewing, downloading and sharing. In 2026 I will also be offering darkroom prints of your images as an add-on - as artisanal as it can possibly get.
What is your photographic style?
My photographic approach can be called documentary or photojournalistic, but I use the term loosely. What that means is that I try to work with as much creative freedom as I can, but the ground on which I stand is life itself. I don't believe there's such a thing as the "real" photographic representation of a moment - once a moment comes and goes, it opens itself to infinite possible interpretations or narratives, and many of these can be called true. So I think it matters to know that I'll bring my very own pair of eyes to any wedding day, along with a lot of empathy, energy, and a deep and ever-growing understanding of my craft, as well as a genuine willingness to dive into the story that is to unfold in front. With that said, I don't pose my couples and I don't try to manufacture moments or emotions that are not already there.
