A Portuguese Photographer of Vision

An alternative eye from the Algarve

Vitor is a very talented photographer who has a slightly more alternative approach to his profession, compared to other photographers. For Vitor, photography is more than a job— it’s a way to learn about the world and connect with people.

Vitor completed a master’s degree in landscape architecture and is deeply interested in history and geography, which helps him capture documentary-style portraits. Photography, for him, is a great way to learn about the world and connect with people.

Taking photos of people from different nationalities comes with a responsibility to better understand their origins and cultural backgrounds. Vitor always does detailed research before his projects. As he says, “You cannot take good photos of something you don’t know very much about”.

Philosophy and human connection

“I would describe my style as the way I see the world. Photography made me a better human. After many years in this profession, working with people and travelling, I have learned that you need to give first and you will receive later.

Also, I realised that looking for similarities between people is very important. People always tend to focus on differences, I think it’s because many people like conflict, conflict with others or within themselves, that’s human nature.

When you are a photographer, you start to understand human nature better. Empathy, respect and understanding of other cultures is very important”. Vitor believes that photographing another country without understanding its history, people and culture means that you are taking photos only as a tourist and not capturing the real soul of the country. “I like people, and I photograph people, the camera is just a tool, to create great photographs, you need to understand the world”.

A journey across cultures

Vitor’s curiosity and passion often takes him far beyond Portugal.

He regularly travels to Russia and is fascinated by the diversity of the country and the rich cultural life. His dream is to travel all the way from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok, documenting the people and landscapes along the way.

For Vitor Pina, photography is not just about images - it’s about understanding humanity and finding beauty in truth.

The Algarvians: Portrait of a changing region

One of his captivating projects is called “The Algarvians”, where Vitor captures people who live in the Algarve. The Algarvians series is an intense street photography project. The Algarve is a very touristic region and a place where different cultures come together.

Increased tourism in recent years has transformed this part of Portugal considerably, and the residents have changed too, as a large percentage of residents are now foreign. This is the reason why Vitor tries to capture the authentic local people of the Algarve. “Because the people from Algarve are different, in their faces, in dress, in speech and in some many other ways from the rest of the Portuguese. It takes some practice but I can recognise a person from the Algarve, the main reason it's because I grew up here. It would be easy to distinguish them from tourists but not so easy compared to other Portuguese or Spanish”.

But there are still differences between Algarvian people and other Portuguese: “Somehow, to me, and because I know the country and its people, the phrase: Portugal and the Algarve, doesn’t seem so strange. The region is different; it has a different landscape and the people are a bit different. It's not so obvious to the eyes of a foreign visitor because the Algarve shares with the rest of the country the same language and religion. But after travelling around the country, you are able to notice the differences”.

After photographing in several different countries, Vitor believes that Portugal is one of the most colourful countries, perfect for photography, thanks to its architecture and landscapes.

Despite having seen different places around the world, Lisbon remains the most beautiful city to him. Also, Portuguese people are very open, curious, interested in other countries and he has great experiences capturing street portraits showing these qualities.

Vitor loves to capture raw moments and real emotions. His work is defined by honesty and realism. “By editing photos, you can make anyone look ugly or nice, but I try to show what is real”. His way of taking photos is very unique and he always prefers to photograph truthfully, showing people as they are. He loves catching natural reactions of a person, when people don’t expect a camera, to capture the first reaction and reveal their authentic selves.

If you’re looking for someone to capture your wedding, event, or special moment with honesty and real emotion, don't hesitate to contact Vitor. He always tries to build a friendly relationship with his clients, taking the time to understand their needs and discussing everything before their big day.

For more information, send him a DM on Instagram @vitorpinaphotography or send him an email vitorpinaweddings@gmail.com.