OCEANVIEW CREATIONS
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Frequently asked questions

How we work.

The practical questions we’re asked most — preparing for a shoot, the work itself, where we go, and what you get back. Anything not covered here, just ask.

Before the shoot

How far ahead should I book?
It depends on the calendar rather than a fixed lead time. Some weeks we could shoot tomorrow; the February-to-May listing season fills first. We'd rather you asked than assumed we're booked.
How can I book a shoot or project?
You can book a shoot or project by contacting us through our enquiry page, emailing info@oceanviewcreations.com, or reaching out via our social channels. We’ll confirm availability and provide a written quote before scheduling.
How should the property be prepared?
Fully ready when we arrive — prepared, staged, cleaned and accessible. We photograph the property as we find it, and time spent tidying is time not spent shooting. We'll make small adjustments where it helps a frame, but the property being ready is what makes a single visit enough.
Does the property need to be furnished?
No. Empty properties photograph perfectly well, and for a sale listing the space itself is the subject. Furnishing changes how we shoot rather than whether we can.
Do I need to be there?
No. What we do need, agreed in advance, is how we get in, what time, and who to call if something isn't as expected. In practice an empty property shoots better — we can work through the rooms without scheduling around anyone.
What happens if the weather isn't good on the day?
We shoot anyway, in most cases. Perfect light is lovely and it isn't the deliverable — a great deal of what makes a set work is done in the edit, and overcast days often produce softer, more even interiors than hard sun does. Some of the work we're happiest with was shot on grey days. We'll only postpone if conditions genuinely prevent the work — heavy rain, storms, anything that would put the equipment or us at risk. That is our call, and if we make it there's no charge for moving the date. Aerial work is a separate judgement. If it's too windy to fly safely we'll still complete the photography as planned, and either return for the aerials or adjust the set accordingly.
Can I move the shoot date?
Yes, with reasonable notice. Inside 48 hours of a confirmed booking a small fee applies to cover the preparation and the lost slot — that's about the notice rather than the reason. If we're the ones postponing, there's no charge.
What happens if a shoot needs to be rescheduled?
We understand plans change. If you need to postpone due to weather or availability, we’ll reschedule at no extra charge with reasonable notice. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before a confirmed booking may incur a small fee to cover preparation costs.

The work — real estate

What's the difference between photographing a property for sale and one for holiday rental?
The buyer is different, so the photographs are. Someone purchasing a property is buying the space — the light, the proportions, the flow between rooms, the plot — and most of the furniture will leave with the seller. Someone booking a holiday rental is buying the stay, so the things a buyer would ignore become the subject: the coffee machine, the breakfast station, the outdoor shower, what's actually in the kitchen. The same villa is photographed two quite different ways depending on which of those we're doing, and we'll ask which before we shoot.
Do you charge extra for drone?
No. Where a property's value is in its setting, aerial work isn't an upgrade to the set — it's part of it. It's included wherever it adds something and wherever it's safe and permitted to fly.
Do you photograph the surrounding area as well as the property?
Often, and here it matters more than people expect. Most buyers in the Algarve and Alentejo are international, and many are relocating or at a turning point — retiring, moving countries, starting again. They aren't only assessing the building; they're assessing whether they could live there. The beach, the marina, the town, the coffee places, the restaurants and the local schools are part of what's being decided on. Where that's relevant we shoot it, and it's often the difference between a listing that explains itself and one that doesn't.
Do you photograph properties for long-term rent?
Yes. Long-term rental is a substantial part of the market, particularly in the Alentejo, and it's approached much as a sale listing is — the space, the light and the setting rather than the amenities.
Do you work on off-grid and rural properties?
Regularly, and mostly in the Alentejo. The isolation is usually the point rather than a problem: no immediate neighbours, the quiet, the views. Alongside the house itself, agents generally want the infrastructure that makes the property viable — solar, water, access — and the setting that makes it worth having: hillside views, lakeside frontage, the surrounding land.
How many images does a property need?
As a rough guide, an apartment usually needs 15 to 20 finished images, a medium-sized house around 30, and a large villa around 40. But it's a conversation rather than a formula: a five-bedroom mid-terrace with a small garden is a completely different job from a two-bedroom off-grid property with hectares of land. The number in your proposal is a minimum, not a cap. When we review the set, anything we think earns its place goes in at no extra cost.
How long is a property film?
Around 90 seconds is typical. Larger properties run longer — the film for Quinta do Pedro is about three minutes, split roughly evenly between the property itself and the setting around it.
What's the difference between a property film and a 360° virtual tour?
A film is directed — it decides what you see and in what order, and it carries atmosphere. A 360° tour is navigable: the viewer moves through the property themselves and inspects what they choose. A film sells the property; a tour lets someone verify it. Many commissions include both.
Why do your rooms look straight?
Because we correct for it. Wide-angle lenses make rooms look larger, which is the point, but uncorrected they also bend verticals and exaggerate space in ways that don't survive a viewing. We shoot wide to show the room honestly and correct the geometry so what the viewer sees is what they'll walk into.
Do you do smaller refresh shoots?
Yes. Not every commission is a full set. If a garden has been landscaped, a kitchen replaced, or a few rooms in an existing set have never quite worked, we'll come and shoot the difference. It's common for holiday rentals and long-term lets, where the listing lives for years and the property doesn't stand still.

The work — business & brand

What does a brand commission usually cover?
It depends what the work has to do. Some commissions are a library of images for a website and social; others are a launch, a product range, or a documentary film about how something is made. We’ll ask what the material has to achieve before we plan the shoot, because a set that has to serve a website, a campaign and social at once is planned differently from one that doesn’t.
Can you produce film as well as photographs?
Yes, and often both from the same commission. Film is the single largest factor in what a commission costs — a minute of finished video takes several hours of editing — so it’s worth deciding early whether you need it.
Do you photograph products?
Yes, as part of a brand commission rather than as a catalogue service. Where the product sits in a setting, or is made by hand, that context is usually what makes the images worth having.

The work — portraits

What kind of portrait sessions do you do?
Individual, couple, family and professional portraits, on location across the Algarve and Southern Portugal. Most sessions are outdoors or in a setting that means something to the people in them, rather than against a backdrop.
How long does a portrait session take?
Most run one to two hours at a single location. What extends a session is variety — moving between locations, changes of clothing, or a family photographed both individually and together. If you have somewhere particular in mind, or more than one place, tell us early: travel between locations is part of the day.
What should we wear?
Whatever you feel like yourselves in. As a general steer, simple colours photograph better than busy patterns, and a group looks best in tones that sit together rather than matching exactly. If you’re unsure, send us a photo of what you’re considering.
Can you photograph a large family group?
Yes. Larger groups need a little more time — for the group itself, and for the smaller combinations everyone wants afterwards.

The work — celebrations

What kind of celebrations do you cover?
Baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries, family parties and private occasions. Photography, film, or both.
Will you direct the day?
No. We work quietly and photograph what actually happens. We’ll gather people for the few formal photographs you want, and otherwise stay out of the way — the aim is a record of the day rather than a staged version of it.
How long do you stay?
As long as the occasion needs, agreed in advance. Some days are an hour in a church; others run from the morning into the evening across more than one location.

The work — community events

Do you cover local festivals and events?
Yes — festivals, markets, sporting and cultural events across the Algarve and Southern Portugal. Scale and duration set the shape: a single afternoon is a different commission from an event running across a weekend.
Can you supply images for press or a programme?
Yes. Tell us where the images will be used and we’ll shoot and size them accordingly — press, a programme, a report or a film all want different things from the same day.

Equipment and technical

What equipment do you use?
A Nikon Z6 III mirrorless body for both stills and film — mirrorless for the reliable continuous focus that moving shots need. Wide-angle glass for interiors, a prime for film, and shorter primes and zooms for detail. A DJI RS4 gimbal for stabilised movement, and a DJI Mini 4 Pro for aerial work, alongside supporting bodies and cameras.
Do you deliver in 4K or HD?
Both.

Where we work

Which areas do you cover?
Southern Portugal — the Algarve, the Alentejo and Setúbal. We're based in Pêra. The southern Alentejo is the same drive from us as the eastern Algarve, and we work there regularly: Ourique, Casével, Sabóia, Relíquias and the surrounding area.
How far will you travel?
It depends on the scale of the commission rather than a fixed radius. A single apartment needs to sit within a normal working day; a larger estate or several properties in one location can justify going further. If you're unsure, ask.

After delivery

What do I actually receive, and when?
Photographs come first, normally within three working days of the shoot — watermarked proofs in your own private gallery. Film takes longer, and we'll agree a timescale with you. You review them there and request any changes. Once you're happy you approve the set, we invoice, and when payment clears we email you a link to download the finished files. Raw and working files aren't part of the deliverables.
How will I receive my photos or videos?
By a download link, emailed to you once payment clears. The link doesn't expire — files are added to the same folder as work is completed, so it stays current. Please save your own copy.
What’s your turnaround time for delivery?
Standard delivery is usually 3–5 business days for photography and 5–10 days for video, depending on the scale of the project. We also offer express delivery options for urgent listings or campaigns.
Can I request revisions or additional edits?
We keep adjusting until you're happy with how the set looks. Reasonable aesthetic changes within the agreed scope are unlimited — colour, crop, tone, the small things that make a set feel right. What sits outside that is new photography: return visits, extensive object removal, compositing, or anything that materially changes what we agreed to shoot.
Do I own the photos and videos after delivery?
You receive full rights for personal or marketing use once final payment has been received. Oceanview Creations retains creative copyright, allowing us to display selected work in our portfolio or social media unless otherwise agreed.
How do you handle privacy and GDPR compliance?
Client galleries are private, reached by an access code, and never shared publicly. Finished files are delivered by a private link sent only to you. We may show selected work from a commission in our portfolio and on our own channels — if you'd prefer we didn't, tell us and we won't. Oceanview Creations complies with EU GDPR standards for data protection and storage.

Payment

What payment methods do you accept?
We accept payments via bank transfer, MB Way, or major credit cards. A small deposit secures your booking, with the remaining balance due upon project completion or delivery of final materials. Invoices are issued by Chromperfect LDA, the company trading as Oceanview Creations.

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