Lookimaginary
PHOTOGRAPHY
LOOKIMAGINARY was born from an almost instinctive impulse: the refusal to accept that a wedding must be staged in order to exist in images. In 2011, Orsi felt — even before she could fully explain it — that she wanted to photograph weddings in a different way. No poses. No formulas. But real emotions, human connections, and what happens in the invisible intervals of the day.
Alongside Zé, her life and creative partner, this vision slowly evolved into a solid and deeply authorial path. What began as an artistic restlessness became a distinctive language, built with intention, ethics, and a profound sensitivity to the human experience. From their very first weddings, it was this honesty that drew couples in search of something rare: true presence.
LOOKIMAGINARY’s approach is documentary at its core and editorial in its gaze. Orsi and Zé observe more than they direct. They blend in, wait, anticipate. They believe couples miss much of what happens around them — and it is precisely there that their work gains strength. In subtle gestures, exchanged glances, hands that meet without thinking. The editorial element appears gently: in the light, the framing, a veil moved by the wind, never imposing itself on the moment.
Empathy is their most discreet signature. Before the wedding, they build connection. On the day, they know when to be close and when to disappear. They work with guidance, never with staging. The result is imagery that doesn’t seek external validation — because it truly belongs to those who lived it.
Over more than a decade, LOOKIMAGINARY has chosen a demanding path: an honest, non-mainstream style, deeply connected to intimacy and authenticity. This choice has shaped everything — from the relationship between Orsi and Zé, balancing dream and pragmatism, to the way they construct each visual narrative.
In the end, everything returns to what is essential: connection. Between the couple. Between families. Between friends. That is what makes a wedding unforgettable for Orsi and Zé.
We are pleased
to present…
Capturing with
love…
Orsi & Zé, how was LOOKIMAGINARY born, and when did you realize that you wanted to work with wedding stories in such an authentic way?
It’s actually a very random story. In 2011, I (Orsi) woke up one morning and told Zé that I wanted to be a wedding photographer — but not in the way wedding photography was commonly understood at the time (think about brides posing on groom’s palms and couple peeking from behind a tree). I wanted to photograph emotions, connections, and real human interactions. Zé thought I had completely lost my mind, but I started obsessively searching for references that spoke to my heart, trying to prove that this vision could actually exist. That same day, I came across an intensive wedding photography workshop in my hometown, Budapest. Shortly after, I flew home and immersed myself in an entirely new world — learning about different cultures, ethics, mistakes, and the realities behind photographing weddings. I also learned very quickly what I didn’t want to do. Zé noticed a kind of confidence and fire in me that he hadn’t seen before. He decided to support this vision, and over the next two years we slowly built a plan together. Our first real opportunity came when a colleague invited us to photograph her wedding as second shooters (shoutout to Sónia, forever grateful!) and unexpectedly, she connected more with our images than the official ones. That moment gave us both the confidence and the foundation to move forward. From there, inquiries started coming from couples who were looking for exactly that: honesty, presence, and a candid, personal approach — values that still define our work today.
Your approach speaks of honesty over staging and capturing “moments between moments.” How do you translate that into the everyday reality of a wedding?
We’re always looking for what’s invisible. We believe couples miss a lot on their wedding day — so while we’re close to them, we also wander. We observe, we wait, we watch how their people interact with each other. We don’t believe in “staging”, we prefer to call what we do guidance. Before the wedding, we talk a lot about priorities, comfort levels, and how much time they want to dedicate to photography. Every couple is different, and we adapt to that. Guidance gives structure — without breaking the flow of what’s real.
How do you manage to balance the documentary side with an editorial touch without losing naturalness?
Editorial today often means more posed, structured images, direct flash, and a certain Hollywood glam aesthetic. We approach weddings in a documentary way, but through an editorial lens. We find this aesthetic in quiet moments, in details, in a veil gently moved by the wind. We use flash with intention — not as something that defines our style, but as a tool when it truly fits. For us, editorial is a way to elevate imagery without losing the honesty and realness of the moments we capture.
Is there a technique or approach that you consider your “discreet” signature?
It might sound cliché, but blending in makes all the difference. We read the room and move with care, knowing when to stay close and when to step back. We connect with our couples beforehand so we’re not strangers, allowing us to capture them as their best, most natural selves. Empathy is key for us. We’re both observers and one of our strengths is portraying people as they truly are — guests included. There’s no point in taking pictures you don’t identify with. At least, there’s no point for us.
What does “capturing the beauty of the spontaneous” mean to you?
It means looking for unseen moments and focusing on connection between people. It’s about anticipation rather than direction. Trusting a moment enough to unfold on its own. And being present enough to catch it when it does.
What was the biggest creative challenge you’ve faced, and how did it help you grow as a duo?
Our biggest challenge — and strength — comes from our different personalities. I’m a dreamer, the “artist,” deeply passionate about wedding photography even after all these years. LOOKIMAGINARY is my first “baby,” and I take everything about it very seriously. I’m stubborn about our creative direction and chose a harder path by committing to a rather different and non-mainstream style that naturally speaks to a niche of modern couples. Choosing this honest, niche approach meant limiting our audience, and that was a hard decision. I question myself a lot, especially being very aware of trends, and that sometimes creates creative blocks. Zé, on the other hand, is much more of a realist. Thanks to him, this dream actually became a business. Most of our discussions are about me overthinking and being too demanding, and him pulling me back down to earth.
You capture “moments between moments”— can you share one such moment that deeply marked you?
This is a hard one. Over our 13-year career, we’ve received many messages confirming that our approach matters. One of the most significant came recently from a bride we photographed in 2021. She reached out to thank us and shared that revisiting her wedding images helped her process a deeply hidden childhood trauma.
The way we captured small, seemingly insignificant interactions — eye contact, gentle touches — helped her heal something she hadn’t even realized was there. We can’t imagine a stronger affirmation of our work than knowing our photography helped someone heal.
How do you see the evolution of your style over the past few years?
We’ve always stayed true to our beginnings, focusing on connection and moments. Our editing has evolved over time, and we enjoy experimenting and keeping up with trends without losing our signature look. Whenever possible, we also play with different techniques like freelensing or flash — it keeps things fun and inspiring. But always intentionally, never just for the sake of it.
If you had to choose one wedding that represented a turning point in your journey, which would it be and why?
A wedding in the Azores in 2016. We spent over a week there with a couple from Canada and their closest friends and family — cooking together, hiking, going to hot springs, documenting everything along the way. The ceremony was intimate, grounded, and deeply meaningful, incorporating indigenous rituals to honor the groom’s heritage. That experience shaped our approach forever. The intimacy and sense of legacy we constantly seek definitely trace back to those days.
What unique aspects of weddings in Portugal do you think deserve to be immortalized in every photograph?
Couples don’t just come to Portugal for a ceremony — they bring their people for a full experience. Beyond iconic venues, it’s the moments in between that matter: wine tastings, boat rides on the Tejo or Douro river, welcome dinners under the stars, beach picnics. Portugal’s diversity adds incredible depth to wedding stories, and documenting these experiences enriches the narrative immensely.
Do you feel that, as photographers, you learn something new about love with every wedding you document?
We have definitely learned a lot throughout the years. Our weak spot is seeing families blending together, supporting the couple no matter what, and having huge group of friends coming together to celebrate this love – it is very very special and makes us emotional every time.
What was the simplest gesture you’ve photographed that became one of the most powerful images of your career?
One of our most powerful images is of bride standing alone in the wind on a foggy, rainy mountain, simply staring into the distance. No instructions, no posing — just her, blending into nature and facing its powerful forces. That image remains a reminder to stay true to our path and to authenticity in its purest form.
Is there a type of couple that challenges you more creatively?
Yes — when connection between a couple is hard to sense, or when trust isn’t fully there. While we have ways to gently guide situations, authenticity can’t be forced. That’s why we take initial meetings very seriously and always aim to meet both partners before booking. Observing how they communicate — their looks, gestures, and energy — tells us a lot and helps us serve them better on the wedding day. Trust is essential. When trust is there, authenticity follows naturally
What have you learned from each other as people by working so closely together on such intense days?
Orsi is learning to slow down from Zé, and Zé is learning to push further from Orsi. :) After 17 years together, we communicate almost instinctively, often without words. That connection translates directly into our workflow on a wedding day: we anticipate each other’s movements, divide roles naturally, and adapt in real time without needing to speak. This fluidity allows us to stay present, discreet, and fully focused on what’s unfolding in front of us. And since we have a six-year-old daughter, weddings have also become our “date nights,” moments where we get to share dinner, to party, and to create together, which makes these intense days even more meaningful.
What makes a wedding truly unforgettable for you — regardless of the setting or production?
Again, connection. With the couple, between the couple, with their guests, and among the guests themselves. It’s our fuel and always will be. No wedding is ever the same, and meeting people who often stay in our lives is incredibly special.
Are there any projects or dreams that you can share with us?
Simply being able to do this for a few more decades would be more than enough.
