Portugal: On Location with Joe McNally & Ari Espay
Portugal is simply incredible! We'll start in the UNESCO city of Porto, travel to the stunning Douro Valley and end in the ancient yet hip city of Lisbon. This country's fascinating history is woven with vibrant cultural traditions. Peer down at the Douro River which flows through the center of Porto and spills in the Atlantic Ocean. In Porto, catch a sunset from the iconic Dom Luis I Bridge, camera in hand. Find secret spots in the winding, cobblestoned streets of Lisbon and listen to the haunting melodies of the Fado singers. Indulge in the port wine and the Pastéis de Nata, the most iconic pastry of Portugal.The Castelo de São Jorge stands majestically above Lisbon and its oldest parts date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors.
We'll visit Amarante, a lovely medieval town situated in the rich agricultural lands of the Minho region, the northern section of the country which is responsible for the grapes of the vinho verde, the young semi-sparkling ‘green’ wine unique to Portugal. It has been a settlement since 4th century BC. We'll explore the 'glorious eden' of Sintra with its pastel colored palaces and Castle of the Moors. Daily classes, on location help and edit/critique sessions make this workshop a must!
Photography Workshop
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May 22 - 30, 2027 SOLD OUT/Waitlist available
We are working on a second date.
*Please note this workshop starts in Porto and ends in Lisbon.
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Participant Rate: $7245 per person
Companion Price: $3445 (non-photographing companion, staying in the same room)
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- Accommodations for 8 nights in luxury properties
- On location classes, demos, and assistance in the field
- 5 Classes/edit & critique sessions
- 2 Dinners
- 1 Lunch
- All Breakfasts
- Private Boat charter through the Douro Valley & Wine Tasting
- Internal transportation once the workshop starts
- Travel, landscape, architecture, and people photography
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- Round trip airfare to and from Portugal
- Transportation to and from airport
- Additional nights before or after the start and finish of the Workshop
- Travel Insurance
- Additional gratuities
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- Lisbon, São Jorge Castle, Le Seu
- Alfama and Fado
- Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site of fairytale castles and colorful palaces.
- Amarante and the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley by boat
- The UNESCO city of Porto
*These locations are tentative and may change depending on weather and spontaneous photographic opportunities.
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While in Porto, we will be staying in 5 star luxury at theOrigine Porto Gaia Hotel, located in the lively downtown neighborhood. Origine Porto Gaia Hotel is part of the Tribute Portfolio Hotel Collection, a Marriott Brand.
In the medieval town of Amarante, we will be at the spending 2 nights at the newly renovated Casa de Calçada, an elegant Relais & Chateaux property, complete with a Michelin star restaurant, Largo de Paço.
We will be staying at the highly rated, 5 star Corpo Santo, right in the heart of the historic Çais do Sodré district, brimming with history, culture, and life.
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- Amateur, enthusiast, and semi-pro photographers looking to build their portfolio
- Photographers who love travel and learning about other cultures
- Photographers interested in landscapes and night photography
- DSLR, mirrorless, compact camera users
*Please note both Lisbon and Porto have many hills and steps. Additionally, the streets of Lisbon and Porto, the Calçada Portuguesa, are a stunning form of urban mosaic made from small, hand-laid limestone and basalt blocks cobblestone, which are beautiful but can be murder on the legs, feet and back. Please remember to pack comfortable shoes with soles that grip.
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We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for your trip. Aside from medical care, travel insurance can protect you in the case of lost or stolen luggage, equipment, and personal effects, trip cancellation, personal liability, funeral expenses (we don't mean to sound morbid, but dying overseas can be very, very expensive), emergency dental treatment and evacuation back to your country of residence. All that being said, please read the policy carefully (especially the exclusions) to make sure that it covers what you will need, especially trip cancellation.
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We provide personalized service and you can sign up for a workshop by emailing us directly at liza@lizapoliti.com
DATES | 9 DAYS
PRICE
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
OUR LOCATIONS
OUR HOTELS
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR?
TRAVEL INSURANCE
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The Team
About Joe McNally
Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning photographer whose prolific career includes assignments in 70 countries. McNally won the first Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Journalistic Impact for a LIFE coverage titled, “The Panorama of War.” He has been honored numerous times by Communication Arts, PDN, Graphis, American Photo, POY, and The World Press Photo Foundation. A contributor to National Geographic magazine for more than two decades, Joe has published numerous cover stories, including "The Future of Flying" (December 2003). His assignments have taken him from the heart of India's Diwali celebrations to the deserts of the Middle East to China's Great Wall. He regularly writes a popular, occasionally irreverent blog (joemcnally.com/blog) about the travails, tribulations, oddities and high moments of being a photographer. On social media: @joemcnallyphoto.
About Ari Espay
Award-winning photographer, Ari Espay, has shot documentary pieces, campaigns and editorial essays for magazines in the US and all over South America including; Architectural Digest, Vogue Latin America, Que Pasa, and ED. He has worked for Amazon, Maybelline, Gillette, Corpbanca and Ferouch and has shot portraits for Presidents, internationally known actors, Emmy Award winning directors, Broadway performers, politicians and high profile business people. Ari has won Chile’s prestigious Fondart Grant, was a finalist in National Geographic’s Photo Competition, “Luces de America” and in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 he was a ‘CHOSEN Winner’ in Latin American AI-AP. He has received an Honorable Mention in IPA's Deeper Perspective Category in 2023 for his series, "Butterfly Children".
More Info
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May - Temps 68-75/55 F
Sunrise 6:15am | Sunset 8:50pm
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*Please note this workshop starts in Porto, Portugal and ends in Lisbon. Please book flights accordingly.
Airports:
Arrival at Porto Airport; Airport Code OPO
Transfer time is about 20 - 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Departure: Lisbon Airport, Humberto Delgado Airport; Airport Code LIS
Transfer time is about 20 minutes, depending on traffic.'
*Check in for the Origine Porto Hotel Gaia in Porto is 3pm and our workshop will begin around at 5pm on the first day.
*Check out is at 12pm at the Corpo Santo in Lisbon. We do not have a class scheduled for that morning to accommodate any early departing flights.
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Portugal is the oldest country in Europe.
Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, is said to have led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
Despite having been heavily involved in the Atlantic Slave Trade, Portugal abolished slavery in 1761 - a half a century before Britain, France, Spain, or the United States.
The world's oldest bookstore is in Lisbon: Livraria Bertrand, specifically the Chiado store, which opened in 1732. One of the world's most beautiful bookstores is in Porto, the Livraria Lello. Located at Rua das Carmelitas 144, it is famous for its intricate Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, ornate wooden carvings, stained-glass ceiling, and the iconic, winding crimson staircase.
The Portuguese’s relationship with sardines isn’t limited to just eating it. It is a true symbol of Portuguese culture, present in music, literature, painting and other forms of art which gained strength throughout the 20th century representing a national identity and resilience.
Fado is the soul of Portugal's musical heritage. Born in the 1800s in Lisbon’s working-class neighborhoods, this deeply emotional genre is famous for saudade - a complex, bittersweet sense of longing and melancholic nostalgia. Typically performed by a solo singer accompanied by acoustic and Portuguese guitars, it is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.