I blended in as a tourist and waited for them to arrive. The viewpoint was busy, as expected, with people stopping for photos, talking, and taking in the view over Lisbon's red roofs and the Tagus River. But Trevor was focused on just one person. When Emily joined him at the terrace, he took a breath, got down on one knee, and asked the question he had been planning for so long.
She said yes.
For a few minutes, the world around them almost disappeared. Emily was laughing, crying, looking at the ring, then back at Trevor. Those are the moments you cannot direct, and they are always my favourite ones to photograph.
After the proposal, we left the busy viewpoint and went into Alfama. It is one of the best places in Lisbon for an engagement photoshoot, especially when you know where to turn. The narrow streets, old façades, tiled walls, small balconies, laundry above the pavement, and steep staircases all give the photos a real Lisbon feeling.
And the light was beautiful that evening. Lisbon has this warm, soft light that reflects from the pale buildings and falls across the cobblestone streets in a very special way. In Alfama, it moves between the houses and creates little pockets of light and shadow. We used all of it.
We walked slowly through the neighbourhood, stopping whenever something felt right. Trevor and Emily kissed, hugged, laughed, and enjoyed the first hours of being engaged. I gave them simple directions when needed, where to stand, how to walk together, when to look at each other, but mostly I let them be themselves.
We found quiet streets with almost nobody around, even though we were right in the centre of Lisbon. We caught a yellow tram passing by, the last golden rays on the walls, stairs with the city opening behind them, and some classic azulejo tiles, because a Lisbon photoshoot would not feel complete without them.
By the end, they had the full story: the surprise, the "yes," the emotion, the streets of Alfama, Lisbon's magical light, and all those little moments in between.
