Everything you need to know before your photoshoot in Havana

These are the questions we get every week — by email, by WhatsApp, in the first ten minutes of a session, sometimes from the same traveler twice because they forgot what we said the first time. We've answered each one a thousand times. Here they are once, properly, so you can read them in advance and arrive lighter.

— What should I wear?

Linen breathes. Black cotton in May does not. Bring two outfits if you can — one easy, one slightly dressier — and shoes you can actually walk in. Heels on Habana Vieja cobblestones are a short story with an unhappy ending. Saturated colors photograph beautifully against Havana's already-saturated walls — terracotta, mustard, deep blue, dusty pink. White is fine if you don't mind a little dust.

— What's the weather like?

Warm year-round, with two real seasons. November through April is the kinder window — mid-twenties Celsius, less rain, longer dry stretches. May through October is hotter, more humid, and prone to short, dramatic afternoon downpours. Those storms are usually thirty minutes and great for pictures; we shelter under an arcade and shoot the after.

— What does Cuban Soul bring?

Two cameras, three or four lenses, a battery pack for your phone, water for the walk, and one or two of us who know which café will let us take a picture in their courtyard without making a fuss. You don't need to bring anything technical.

— What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes. A change of shirt if it's hot. A small bag for the things you'd otherwise be juggling. Cash for tips at the end. And whatever feels like you.

“Heels on Habana Vieja cobblestones are a short story with an unhappy ending.”

— How long do sessions actually last?

The clock starts when we meet, not when the first picture is made. A two-hour session is two hours of walking and shooting; a four-hour Experience is closer to a long lunch with photographs threaded through it. We don't run on stopwatches — if the light is suddenly perfect at the end, we stop and shoot it.

— When do I get my photos?

Within seven days, by download link. Thirty edited photographs for the group session, fifty for the private, more for an Experience or Escape. High-resolution and web-optimized, both in the same folder. Print them. Frame them. Or just keep showing them to your sister.

— What if it rains?

Havana rain is mostly fast and dramatic and great for pictures. If it's a real downpour, we move under an arcade or shift the session to the next morning at no extra cost. We've never lost a session to weather; we have made some of our favorite pictures because of it.

— Can I bring kids? Extra outfits? My dog?

Yes, yes, and yes — we've done all three in the same week. Kids are easy; we've photographed three-year-olds and seventy-three-year-olds with equal patience. One extra outfit is included; more than one, let us know in advance because it depends on the package and the route. Dogs we love. Just tell us at booking so we plan for water and shade.

— Anything else?

Show up rested. Eat breakfast. Drink water. Don't try to plan the session in your head — that's our job. Yours is to walk with us and let the city do the rest.