FAMILY AND WEDDING DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER

MODERN WEDDINGS | DAY IN THE LIFE | DAY IN VACATIONS | WORKSHOPS | based in Lisbon, Portugal

Family Photos in Lisbon

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“This is absolutely amazing! I am genuinely speechless.

The photos are so beautiful.

It’s really amazing getting little glimpses of emotions and feelings with I. and P. every day, but somehow you have captured it in photos. It feels like us.”

- Testimonial by Duncan G. from Australia in September 2025

A family lounges together at the edge of a calm shoreline, children and parents close in natural poses. Some rest on towels, one child plays in water, and another stands nearby — this image evokes warmth and relaxed connection, perfect for beach fami
Natural family photography with kids playing in mud and sun by the water, full of energy and fun
Candid beach photo of baby crawling in sand toward a pigeon, perfect for relaxed family session vibes.
Two children lying on a sandy beach holding hands with their shadows casting hand shapes in the sand.
Three siblings sipping juice from a pineapple, captured in a playful documentary family photo session.
Child on a rope swing in mid-air, captured in motion during a documentary-style family photo session.
Real-life family photo showing mom with baby and toddler climbing, ideal for lifestyle home sessions
Kids feeding cows through a fence at golden hour, perfect for natural rural family photo sessions.
Two small dogs dressed in cartoon-themed outfits sit beside a crawling baby in a bright pink dress with Hello Kitty patterns. The playful, colorful scene blends pets and children — a fun way to add personality to family photography.
A child sits near a small water splash, lit by striking low sunlight with deep surrounding shadows. This style is great for emotive, artful photo sessions that move beyond the traditional.
Children’s legs and bare feet lying on pebbles after water play, a real-life family photo moment.
Multiple mirrors reflect people’s faces in a crowded antique shop filled with brass items. Though not a direct family image, this kind of visual layering can inspire creative framing ideas for unique family sessions.
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“I’m a very passionate family photographer always looking for MOMENTS that reflect life in a raw, more real in a less perfect way.

I believe documentary family sessions are focused on children’s real reactions, interests, emotions and preferences.

Children feel like they are seen.

It's about their personalities, and this sends a powerful message: who they are inside matters“.

Marisa Martins was named Photographer of the Year 2023 by This is Reportage: Family, a world-renowned platform that celebrates family photography.

Your Family Photographer in Portugal

A child stands quietly in front of a large, colorful abstract painting in a minimalist museum space. Their pose and curiosity capture a thoughtful, artistic moment — ideal for showcasing creative family session storytelling.

What IS Documentary family photography?


Documentary family photography is a powerful way to capture the essence of everyday life, focusing on what connects the family, how they are unique, and how they interact.

The focus it’s also on the context in which family members grow. It captures the ambience, at home, on vacations, all the familiar spaces where memories are made. No poses and no directions.

Learn more
Bride and groom holding hands and smiling in Lisbon, with a vintage yellow tram passing by in the background. Two children wave from the tram window, adding a joyful and family-centred moment to the intimate micro wedding

MODERN WEDDINGS IN LISBON

Wedding Galleries

documentary wedding photographer

It focuses on more than just perfect and beautiful photos; a documentary style digs deep, capturing real moments without staging or posing.

let’s talk about your plans!

 

Get in touch

Elegant micro wedding moment in Lisbon: A woman and young boy walk up sunlit stairs beside a modern white architectural building, with a man in a navy suit following. A stylish, intimate family wedding under a bright blue sky.
Chic Lisbon micro wedding portrait: Woman in a white suit, gold earrings, and sunglasses smiles confidently against a modern white striped wall, capturing elegant, contemporary bridal style.

Fill the form or e-mails us :

marisa@dayinthelifephotographer.com

and let’s talk about the best way to capture your special day

Jeff Wiswell @jlwiswell.photography

TESTIMONIAL

“We were in Lisbon in April and we had never had our own documentary family experience before, but we absolutely loved our day with Marisa.

We went to Hawaii last year and booked posed family photos but didn’t enjoy the experience. The kids weren’t happy to be there and I spent most of the time trying to keep them out of the ocean. Ultimately, it was a frustrating experience for us and I decided to book a documentary session on our next trip.

I found Marisa through the TiR:F website. In short, we would never go back to a posed family session after our experience with her.

My wife loved how relaxed it was to just go about our day exploring the city. She interacted so well with our kids and was quickly part of the family to the extent that they didn’t notice her photographing their chaotic sense of adventure. We were so excited waiting for the images and truly loved our slideshow.

She captured what it felt like to be there and you can hear their laughter in the photos.

She took this one of our kids and so many other great ones.

On top of that, it was so nice for me to be in some of the photos myself. I basically do 24/7 documentary coverage for our family as long as I have my phone, but I’m never in anything.

It was actually almost surreal to be included when I saw the photos.

In short, we couldn’t recommend her highly enough. We joke that we want to fly her wherever we’re at on our next vacation.” – Jeff Wiswell @jlwiswell.photography talking about Marisa Martins in July 2023

A group of people standing on a balcony overlooking a body of water. A man is carrying a young boy on his shoulders, and a woman is taking a photo. Other children and adults are present, with one small child sitting on the ground near a railing covered in stickers.