LISBON DOCUMENTARY Family Photographer

A father lifts three joyful children in a playful group hug, captured against a plain wall. Their laughter and energy show deep family bonds — a great reference for cozy, real-life home sessions.

Do your family photos feel a bit stiff and staged?

Children playing on a muddy beach in Algarve; one girl in a leopard print dress, stained with mud, with her back to the camera, and a boy holding a blue and yellow surfboard, smiling and covered in mud.

Do your family photos feel not capturing the real joy of your time together?

Are you tired of not being in the photo with your kids?

BOOK NOW
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

are you Always the one behind the camera?

A young girl being held upside down with one leg on a person's shoulder and her arms hanging down, against a clear blue sky in a photo session in Algarve

How can YOU capture memories AND also live the moments?

Embrace a family photoshoot where you don’t have to work!

Documentary Photography Tells Your True Family Story

Close-up of a person's face with candy cottontongue, wearing a fur-lined coat.

let the 

interesting lighting,

interesting patterns,

interesting details,

and beautiful compositions

for the photografer

Long Summer sessionS

WHAT IS DOCUMENTARY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY?

First and most important: No poses, no staging, just real life and real connections

  • emphasizes the beauty in the everyday life

  • focused on the small details and connections

  • capture’s interactions that make each family unique

  • goes beyond the traditional

  • no artificial settings - no performance - or fake smiles - just real reactions

  • freeze’s genuine moments of connection, joy, and love.

  • reflect’s the true essence of a family's story

Silhouettes of two children are holding small branches. The sky is colorful with pink and purple hues, and there are trees in the background on a farm during a documentary family session

“Images can make us see things that we might not notice without them.”

David Hockney

Learn more

This session featured a joyful family of twelve visiting Lisbon on vacation. With no posing and no direction, Marisa blended seamlessly into their day, capturing real interactions, genuine laughter, and the unique personalities of each family member.

Day in the life sessions

  • kids having fun in Lisbon

    DITL VACATIONS

    Vacation is a great opportunity to do a photography session.

    Let me capture the genuine moments in a stress-free, enjoyable session while on vacation.

  • Daddy holding three little kids on his back

    DITL AT HOME

    We can photograph your daily routine:

    Celebrate the beauty of the everyday life!

Book Now

family session at

silent living

casa no tempo

Returning every year to capture this amazing family of six is one of my favourite days of the year. Since 2022, I’ve spent a summer day living "a day in the life" with the triplets, plus a baby who’s not such a baby anymore. Watching these little ones grow up wild and free fills my heart with so much joy. There’s something magical about witnessing their childhood unfold surrounded by nature, love, and laughter. - marisa

CLICK HERE FOR MORE STORIES

A young girl with curly hair and long eyelashes eating a large slice of watermelon on a sandy beach in Portugal

DITL TRIPLETS 2023

Person crouching down to pet a cat on a cobblestone street, with strong sunlight creating shadows in a narrow alley in Marrakech.
A young boy wearing blue shirt and striped shorts is sitting on the floor under a metal chair, hugging his knees and hiding his face, with the chair upside down over him, photographed during a Day in the Life Session by Marisa Martins.

VACATIONS MARRAKECH 2023

A surfboard with shoes and sandals on it resting on a sandy beach near the water's edge at sunset.

VACATIONS IN ALGARVE 2022

Authentic and meaningful photographs

Authentic and meaningful photographs

A young girl with brown hair lying on her side with her eyes closed, touching noses with a woman, both wearing matching red and white striped clothing, on a red and white striped blanket, on a vacation family photo shoot.

  • I can spend a day with your family in your summer Vacation

  • Or we can photograph your daily routine at home

Two children lying on the sandy beach with their arms extended, casting shadows of hands on the sand that resemble a playful scene in Comporta.

DITL

FULL DAY

I can document a typical weekend at home:

Spending more time with your family allows for more authentic and meaningful photographs.

From grocery shopping to sports activities,f to family time - and show you the love that shines through, it’s all about the real moments - cooking together, going to school, outdoor activities - capturing your unique family life.

  • Approx. 8-hour session.

    100 digital photos, edited in high resolution (online gallery)

    Slideshow with the best moments

    Beautiful linen coffee table book

  • Family life is a beautiful dance, a silent symphony of connection played out in expressions and gestures. Documentary photography offers a powerful lens to capture this unspoken language. As your photographer, I'm dedicated to learning your family's unique choreography and finding the perfect angle to preserve these precious moments. This isn´t just work for me – for years, I've dedicated myself to learning and improving my skills to become a master storyteller in documentary family photography.

Candid beach photo of baby crawling in sand toward a pigeon, perfect for relaxed family session vibes.

DITL

HALF DAY

No posing!

No direction!

Turn your summer family photo session into a cherished tradition! 

Watch your children blossom and your family evolve year after year through these heartwarming images, allowing you to compare photos and reminisce about how your family has changed

  • Approx. 3/4 hour session

    50 digital photos, edited in high resolution (online gallery)

    Slideshow with the best moments

  • These are long sessions to reach the point where the photographer is completely transparent and everything happens in a truly spontaneous way, the family does not work for the photographer, they live their daily life and allow their presence. After a wile, everything look so natural and happens in a very easy way.. just trust the process and the photographer ;)

ABOUT MARISA

Canon Ambassador Marisa Martins describes herself as a 'documentary family photographer'.

“Trying to capture the beauty of everyday life, even in its most chaotic moments." she says.

Marisa's natural approach has earned her many awards, winning the World’s Photographer of the Year 2023 by This is Reportage Family and Documentarian of the Year 2023 by Documentary Family Photographers.

Marisa Martins with shoulder-length brown hair standing outdoors near a concrete wall, wearing a black jacket, white top with circular design, and blue jeans, smiling at the camera. She is a day in the life photographer,a documentary photog in Lisbon
Award graphic for 2023 Photographer of the Year by This is Reportage Family, with a smiling Marisa Martins, the winner, at the beach wearing a black dress with buttons and tie shoulder straps.

 FAQs

  • I can spend a day with your family in your summer Vacations:

    Turn your summer family photo session into a cherished tradition!

    Watch your children blossom and your family evolve year after year through these heartwarming images, allowing you to compare photos and reminisce about how your family has changed

    Or we can photograph your daily routine:

    Celebrate the beauty of the everyday life! I can document a typical weekend at home:

    - from grocery shopping to family time - and show you the love that shines through in the everyday moments. I can document the real moments - cooking together, going to school, sports activities, family time at home - recording your unique family life.

  • Family photo sessions are more than just pictures; they're a chance to capture the love and growth of your children, creating a lasting record of your unique family bond, intangible items.

    Long Summer Sessions

    Approx. 8-hour session.

    100 digital photos, edited in high resolution (online gallery)

    Slideshow with the best moments

    Beautiful linen coffee table book

    Half day

    Approx. 3/4 hour session

    50 digital photos, edited in high resolution (online gallery)

    Slideshow with the best moments

    ———-

    Delivery time for edited photos: around 60 days.

    The session must be booked at least one month in advance with a 30% deposit to make the reservation of the date.

    For sessions held at +100km from Torres Vedras, travel expenses are added

  • Send me a message and let’s talk!

  • I can accompany you on a vacation day or your everyday routine, that is just like any other day, from going to school to extra-curricular activities to piano or swimming lessons. If you prefer, I can accompany you on a weekend, when you have to go to the supermarket, visit your grandmother, and do your homework. The more normal and typical your day, the better!

  • This will always be a topic that we will discuss and decide in advance. Of all the photographs that result from the many sessions I take, only a few, very few, end up in my portfolio and on social media – but they are all essential for the promotion of my work and to keep doing what I'm doing. However, I honor the special requests to keep the images 100% exclusive.

  • I want to know you and your family not just as a documentary photographer of your family's story I want to be a part of your story.

    I'm not a silent observer, we can chat a little, and we can talk about all your favorite activities, and foods, talk about the kids and their personalities, No need to pose or fake smiles. I'll be there, waiting to capture the magic that unfolds naturally, the unexpected moments that become cherished memories. Trust me, I thrive on the energy of real life! So relax, have fun, and let your family story unfold. I'll be there to freeze the beautiful magic of playful chaos for you to treasure forever.

  • To discuss these ideas in more detail and understand how we are going to interact, I would be honored to request a Zoom call. This way, we can connect face-to-face, share examples of my previous work, and discuss how I can tailor my services to perfectly match your preferences.

    During the call, I will present a comprehensive overview of my approach, line up the day, and any customization options available like wall art, coffeetable books or travel expenses.

    Moreover, I would be delighted to answer any questions or concerns you may have, ensuring that you feel completely comfortable and confident in my ability to capture your family beautifully.

JEFF’S FAMILY STORY

photography family sessioN

DAY IN THE LIFE - VACATION IN LISBON

three young children drinking from pineapple with straws during a playful family photo shoot with Marisa Martins in Lisbon
A woman pushes a stroller with a sleeping child on a cobblestone street in Old Town Lisbon, with a small white electric vehicle decorated with flowers passing by and other pedestrians in the background.
A young boy with red hair sitting on cobblestone ground, petting a small tan poodle. An older girl with red hair is sitting in a stroller nearby, with a woman standing close by. The scene appears to be outdoors.
A woman and a man holding hands, with the woman's hand clasping the man's hand over a rocky surface, during a documentary family session in Lisbon.
A family of five spending time together outdoors on a sunny day, with a man and woman with three children, two girls and a boy, near a monument and black fence.
A group of people, including children and adults, gathered outdoors near a seaside railing with a view of a body of water and a beach covered in umbrellas and lounge chairs. Some are taking photos, while a child is sitting on the ground in front of a
Two young boys holding paper fans on a cobblestone promenade with old town Lisbon and a church in the background. One boy is jumping in mid-air, the other is standing and looking at his fan, during a documentary family session
A young child wearing a navy blue polo shirt standing outdoors on a stone path, surrounded by an adult woman in a pink top and jeans, with part of a black stroller visible. In Lisbon castle during a documentary family session
A person leaning over a stone railing looking down at a sandy outdoor area with a woman and a child walking together, and a trash can nearby.
A young boy leans over the edge of a small pool, holding the hand of a toddler who is splashing in the water, with another child observing and smiling nearby outdoors.
Child leaning over a stone water fountain in a park surrounded by green trees and shrubs.
A young girl with curly red hair and a floral dress isplayfully pulling the hair of a boy with dark hair wearing a yellow shirt, while sitting on sandy ground. The girl is smiling, and the boy's head is slightly turned away, with sand on his hair.
People relaxing on benches of Lisbon Saint George Castle and sitting on the cobblestone ground under large trees near a body of water, with some children playing and walking, and a stroller parked under a tree.
A young girl in a floral dress sitting on a stone step, holding a sandal in her hand, with soil and plants around her.
Black and white photo of two children sitting in a stroller outdoors. The child on the left looks down with a curious expression, and the other child on the right is partially visible, with only part of their face and hand showing.
A young child resting their head on an adult's shoulder, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression during a documentary family session in Lisbon
A view of a parked silver car on a cobblestone street next to a baby stroller with a behind-the-back view of a child reaching out.

TestImonial by Jeff WiswelL

“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

People walking on a cobblestone street in Lisbon near a small white three-wheeled vehicle, with a woman pushing a stroller containing a sleeping child, and several children and adults in the background.

freeze genuine moments of connection, joy, and love

LET'S TALK

DAY IN THE LIFE PHOTO session

Vacations in Marrakech 2023