Istanbul: Private Photoshoot Tour with Local Photographer

5.00

(123 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to feel so awkward at first—posing on Istiklal Street while the red tram rattled by, people weaving around us, some glancing, some not caring at all. Our photographer (Serkan? I hope I’m spelling that right) just grinned and said, “Pretend you’re waiting for someone you love.” It helped. The old tram bell clanged behind me and suddenly it was less about the pose, more about being in this swirl of city life. He told me a bit about the tram’s history—I forgot most of it honestly, but I remember how proud he sounded when he talked about his city.

We wandered down toward Galata Tower next. I’d seen it in photos before but up close it’s rough stone and cool shadow, pigeons fluttering overhead. Serkan had me lean against the wall while he crouched low for a shot—he kept making little jokes in Turkish to passersby, which made them laugh and wave at us. The light was perfect, kind of golden but still soft. He shared a story about Genoese merchants and secret tunnels under the tower—no idea if any of that is true but it made me look at the place differently.

Crossing Galata Bridge felt like stepping into another part of Istanbul—fishermen lined up shoulder to shoulder, buckets clinking, seagulls shrieking above. We stopped halfway for more photos; I could smell grilled fish from somewhere nearby and there was this salty breeze off the Bosphorus that stuck to my skin. Last stop was the New Mosque—400 years old but somehow still lively with families coming and going. I tried to copy one of Serkan’s poses (failed spectacularly), but he just laughed and snapped anyway. He promised to send the edited pictures by email later that day—and actually did, which surprised me.