5 out of 5 stars and 27 reviews
5
(27)Best of Weddings (1x).Serving Bowling Green, Louisville, Nashville, & Beyond
About this vendor
We are a husband-and-wife photography team specializing in documentary-style wedding photography and videography.
Our job is the very best in the world because we get a front row seat to witness + document one of the best days of your life. We desire to create something personal and unique for every single couple that we work with, letting things happen naturally and capturing the "in-between" moments.
VIEW THE WORK ☞ https://shelleyandportugal.com
VIEW VIDEO GALLERY ☞ https://vimeo.com/shelleyandportugal
Details
Business Attributes
- Hispanic or Latinx-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
- Boudoir
- Day After Session
- Engagement
Photo & Video
- Digital Files
- Film Photography
- Online Proofing
- Photo
- Printed Enlargements
- Second Shooter Available
Photo & Video Styles
- Artistic
- Documentary
- Lifestyle
- Modern
Wedding Activities
- Getting Engaged
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Wedding
- After Party
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.027 reviews
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From our first consultation call with Shelley, we knew we had hit the jackpot of wedding photographers. We had a phenomenal team of vendors for my wedding, but Shelley’s responsiveness and helpfulness was unmatched. Every single idea I had was met with enthusiasm and brought to life beyond what I had envisioned. Our images feel like such an authentic reflection of our wedding day, which is the exact style we were seeking. Shelley and Portugal are kind, fun, and genuine, and felt like our friends from the start. They added to the fun of both our engagement shoot and our wedding day. Having their expertise gave me so much peace throughout the wedding planning process, which alone is priceless. They really took two people who feel awkward in front of a camera and produced beautiful images we will cherish forever. We are thrilled with our choice and I guarantee if you choose them, you will be grateful that you did.
These two are absolutely incredible! Their professionalism, creativity, accessibility, and desire to provide the best quality photos and video is untouchable. We made a short notice change in our wedding plans from Colorado to Kansas due to COVID, and they were more than willing to work with us at the new location. Their end product is incredible, not to mention how fun and pleasant they are to work with during the entire process. Such kind souls with a fiery passion for what they do. We love them!
Shelley and Portugal were AMAZING! They are so organized and quick to respond to all emails! They made us feel so relaxed on our wedding day because we knew they would get us where we needed to go and keep us on track for everything. They are extremely friendly as well and so easy to get along with. They made us feel so comfortable, and natural. And of course the photos are perfect
Honestly, Alex and I do not even know where to begin in expressing our gratitude for Shelley + Portugal. Not only are they quite possibly the most incredible humans on the entire planet, their passion for capturing quiet moments, love, and their service towards others is incomparable. In a business where people are not always put over profit, we can say confidently that you will not ever have to worry about coming second if you choose Shelley + Portugal as your wedding photographers and/or videographers.
Alex and I originally fell in love with Shelley + Portugal's ability to capture the most personal, intimate moments of other folk's weddings, but we became head over heels for them in a myriad of other ways.
Alex and I have come to find out that rain is just always going to be a part of our lives when it comes to major events. After having our engagement photos scheduled for what seemed like forever in advance, Mother Nature blessed us with a major storm, cancelling our session. If my memory serves me correctly, I was definitely being dramatic, but I for sure cried. But, when the storm passed sooner than expected and left us with some beautiful golden hour sunlight, Shelley came texting wanting to know if we still wanted to come out to catch the most gorgeous rays. She could have just moved on with her life and chalked it up to Fate, but instead, Shelley went above and beyond for us, giving us some of our most treasured photos and memories.
Lo and behold, when it came it our wedding day, you can probably guess what happened. It rained and stormed, leaving us to scrap a year's worth of outdoor plans and move it indoor 24 hours before the ceremony. Again, I was being dramatic, but I definitely cried and unapologetically panic texted Shelley. Repeatedly. Like, I'm thinking, probably six texts in a row. And Shelley so kindly responded to all panic texts with kindness in the way only an Enneagram Type 1 can, words of affirmations, and promises that her and Portugal would take care of the rest.
And, take care of the rest they did. I had not an absolute ounce of worry on the big day because they had it handled. How they are both photographers and certified meteorologists* (okay, not really, but they should be), is beyond me. The mud? Handled. My massive family portraits? HANDLED. Getting my husband and his groomsmen group to the venue site ON-TIME? Perfectly executed. I would considered having my money's worth with just those feats. But, instead, they were even more gracious and captured the most incredible wedding photos, including our split-second golden hour rays while we danced in the rain. Pretty full circle if you ask me.
So, if you're still here- you need to book Shelley + Portugal for all your engagement/wedding needs. You won't regret it. Time will pass and it will be six months later and you'll still cry over your photos/videos. They might even come to Hilligan's with you post-BG wedding if you ask them.
We love you and we like you, Shelley + Portugal.
Shelley + Portugal are hands down THE BEST. Seriously they are such easy going, down to earth people that they were the easiest and best choice we could've made to capture our big day. They're the kind of people that you want to be friends with but are also freaking rockstars at what they do. They captured all the moments we didn't know we needed and made us two very awkward people feel comfortable in front of the camera. Could not recommend them any more!
Shelley and Portugal were our wedding photographers + videographers for our August wedding in Colorado. Not only are they creative and so so talented, but they are exceptional human beings. We were drawn their genuine and down to earth nature. Looking at their work, we loved how they captured real and raw moments. We had to book them! They went above and beyond to plan and coordinate our day — troubleshooting problems I wouldn’t have even thought of.
They even came early for our destination wedding and spent time hiking with us and our friends, had lunch with our family, etc. By the time our wedding day came, they felt more like friends to us! We had a gap between our ceremony and reception which was great. My husband and I got to spend some time to take a deep breath and slow the day down, and Shelley and Portugal got some beautiful shots of us. We were worried about being in front of the camera, but they made us laugh and few so comfortable.
We had a big reception in Kentucky after our wedding and they made sure to get us our video and photos the week before— even in their busiest season. I really can’t express how much I love the video they made. It makes all of the photos come to life and they really captured the essence of what we think was the greatest day ever. I cry pretty much every time I watch. They even picked songs based on our conversations about our favorite artists. And our photos are great too! They really captured priceless emotion from us and all of our guests. I’m blown away by their attention to detail and how they seemed to catch all of the little moments.
Working with them was hands down the best decision we made when planning our wedding. Truly the best people and beyond talented!
Don't hesitate. Just book. When looking for a photographer, of course, I was looking for a gorgeous portfolio and a certain price point. However, the biggest item I was seeking was personality mesh/comfort. Shelley and Portugal did an outstanding job making us feel comfortable the way we are. We are not models, we are not influencers. I wantes to capture us as we are, not as a version of ourselves...if that makes any sense at all? As we all got to know each other, throughout the day, it felt less like a photo shoot and more like hanging with friends who happen to have a camera in their hands :) They're so kind, approachable, relatable...not to mention, crazy creative. We just got our sneak peek and are already thrilled. Like I said, don't hesitate.
Shelley and Portugal were everything you could want in photographers and more. From the second we booked them, they went above and beyond to make us feel important and involved. I first met Shelley and Portugal at my best friends wedding they were shooting in Bolar, Virginia. Their attention to detail and and warm and inviting personalities made every guest feel involved. As soon as we got engaged and picked our wedding date they were the second thing we booked! Throughout the year of our wedding planning Shelley made sure to check in with me as months grew closer to update me and make sure everyone was on the same page. They let us pick locations as well as finding the perfect lighting and spot in those locations. We booked them for 8 hours and requested a video and they just blew us away. The gallery they sent was filled with every picture imaginable from the perfect candid shots, to posed photos of our family and wedding party. The video had me in tears, their music selection and their ability to capture the pure joy and happiness we felt on our big day was perfect. We recieved a sneak peak a week later and then received an adorable package with our full gallery, video, some print outs and other small gifts less than two months after our wedding! They were so speedy and efficient. I could go on for hours and continue to sing their praises but the bottom line is we couldnt have been more pleased with their artistic eye and their abilities to capture special moments from different perspective. They’re the best!
I wish I could give Shelley and Portugal more than 5 stars. They captured our day perfectly. We used them for engagement pictures, our wedding photos and our wedding video. Their work far exceeded any expectation I had. They were such a sweet and caring couple. They carried as much about our day and capturing every moment as we did. Not only is their work amazing, they were so easy to work with during the entire process. I highly highly recommend their services.
Such a sweet couple that take very amazing photos!
They were absolutely phenomenal! They were so easy and fun to work with and extremely professional at the same time. We felt so at ease while they were shooting and we had an absolute blast. I can’t say enough good things about this photography duo! They made our special day so incredible and I would book them again in a heartbeat. If you have the opportunity, definitely let them capture your big event!
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. They are such awesome people and everything was perfect! I don't think I will ever stop bragging about them! Thank you all so much for making our day the bomb!
While looking for a wedding photographer, I was really struggling to find someone with an editing style that I liked. Many wedding photographers are following trends on coloring that I just am not a fan of. I wanted our photos to look timeless. Luckily, I found Shelley and Portugal and their beautiful shooting and editing style!
I was very happy to find two photographers who work so well together. I really think having two photographers is a must for your wedding day. Shelley truly put me at ease. She is incredibly kind and organized, and I loved having her by my side on my wedding day.
They took photos for both our engagement and our wedding. They are great with both posed and candid shots, and were fast in getting our photos back to us. I literally had a sneak peek two days after the wedding! They are unique, lovely, thoughtful people, and I'm very grateful to have found them.
When we were looking into vendors for our wedding, choosing the right photographers was one of our top priorities. Everyone says that your wedding day will be a blur (and they’re right!) and your photos are what you get to take with you years and years into the future. We did a ton of research and are beyond happy that in the end we chose Shelley and Portugal. They offered just the right amount of guidance, so that we were eased through some of the more posed photos and portraits, and their candids captured the spirit and the feeling of our day perfectly. They were kind, fun to work with, and blended right in with our guests. As a wife-and-husband team you can tell they love what they do, and are so in sync with one another - in fact, when we were looking through our gallery, which has at least 1000 photos, we could count the ones where you could see Shelley or Portugal in the background on one hand! Not an easy feat at a small 40-person wedding! Their processing was also gorgeous and gives all of the photos such a classic look. We have received countless compliments on how beautifully the photos turned out, and we know we will cherish them forever. I can’t thank them enough, and urge anyone looking for wedding photographers to book them!
We feel like we hit the jackpot in booking Shelley and Portugal. They were incredibly nice, professional, and easy to communicate with and their passion for their work shows in all they do. They were insightful in planning out the details of our big day and executed it perfectly. Our pictures are AMAZING!! They captured us perfectly. Literally cannot say enough good things about these two. I hope that you are lucky enough to have them photograph your big day!
Shelley and Portugal were the only people I would have wanted to record our special day. They not only gave us the most amazing pictures and video of all time but were a joy to have share these special moments with us. When I look back at pictures of our wedding I see the pure talent they have for this field but I also see how they added personal touches that fit my style and the things I valued as a bride. I have watched Shelley grow into her craft for several years and I am constantly amazed how she can individualize each session she has with creativity and quality. Our memories of our wedding day will last forever because Portugal Story Co. perfectly captured the joy and love that took place!! I would recommend them to anyone I know!! So thankful to have their work and even more thankful for their friendship throughout the process.
Shelley and Portugal do such good work, we're always pleased. I knew once they photographed my wedding that I had to have them photograph the rest of the big moments in our life. They truly are amazing people, I couldn't have picked better people to share all our big moments with. I cant thank them enough for everything they do!
Choosing our wedding photographers was truly one of the easiest decisions we made while planning our wedding. I was first a bridesmaid in a wedding that Shelley was photographing. I was struck by her natural and joyful presence, and when I saw the photos I was amazed! Shelley and Michael are passionate, easygoing, no fuss, talented artists. I was not stressed for one minute on our wedding day. They were hard working and joyful. Their ability to capture incredible photos AND video while feeling like guests, or really just like friends, is a gift. They find beauty in candid/real moments. I absolutely love our wedding photos and video, and am so thankful for how beautifully & well our day was captured. I received countless praises from family and friends about Shelley and Michael's natural presence that day and about our photographs. I would highly recommend Shelley and Michael to any bride confidently! They are quality photographers and people!
Shelley and Portugal were the PERFECT duo for documenting our wedding! They took both our engagement photos as well as photos on our wedding day. While ALL photos were spectacular, the candid shots were by far my favorite! They really understand how to live in the moment to find the most memorable photos, and capture them in perfect time. They were just a joy to be around, and run a very professional and reliable business. One of the most important things when planning our wedding was finding the perfect photographer, because the photos are what will last a lifetime. Shelly and Portugal definitely exceeded my expectations!
The Portugal Story Co. captured my wedding day without making us do corny poses or feel uncomfortable. Shelley and Michael have such a relaxed and enjoyable vibe. Many people approached me at our wedding telling me that I was so lucky to have found photographers who truly LOVE what they do. I can't look at my wedding photos or highlight video without tearing up. They made sure to capture all the smiling faces of the people I love and ever happy moment. They are a blast to be around! I will certainly be using them in the future! I cannot thank them enough for what they have done for us!
Shelley and Portugal were beyond fantastic. From the minute I got engaged, I knew that I wanted this amazing duo to be the ones to take our wedding pictures. Even with some crazy accidents and time scheduling issues along the way, they were both able to make me feel cool, calm, collected, and (most importantly) beautiful on such a special day. If you look through their website, the photos really speak for themselves. Not only do they look amazing, but taking them was effortless. They took an already special day, and made it a million times better. I will be calling them for all my future photography needs.
Shelley and Portugal are AMAZING! We booked them for our wedding and would recommend them over and over again. From booking, to organizing the details of our wedding day and overall professionalism they went above and beyond our expectations. We purchased the 8 hour coverage with the add-on video. You can’t beat their price and the breathtaking pictures and videos they captured at our wedding. You can clearly tell they love what they do and made sure they captured every detail of our day and more! Their work is truly one of a kind and uniquely beautiful. Thanks again Portugal Story & Co.!
Shelley and Portugal were incredible to work with! They took photos for both our engagement and our wedding, as well as took care of the videography for our wedding day. They know how to make anyone look natural and comfortable in front of a camera, and they don't miss a single moment! They are great with both posed and candid shots, and were incredibly fast with getting our photos/video back to us afterwards. They have such a unique vision, and their gorgeous work speaks for itself!
We cannot say enough great things about Shelley and Portugal. They definitely made us feel comfortable and were so much fun to work with on our wedding day. Our wedding video and photos are PERFECT and we couldn't ask for more! They captured our special day so beautifully. I definitely recommend Portugal Story Co. for any of your photography needs.
I can not rave enough about Shelley and Portugal! They were such joy to spend time with on our wedding day that it just felt like we were with friends. Not to mention the fact that the final product was so special and well done. We will cherish our wedding video forever. I would recommend these two to everyone!
I requested more candid shots than posed ones. She took the time to even get the posed shots more of a candid feel. We also received a lovely short video she made of the whole event.
Shelley is young, but don't let that fool you. She is amazingly talented and full of energy. We loved her creativity and all of the special moments she captured.
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Serving Bowling Green, Louisville, Nashville, & Beyond
Shelley + Portugal's photos