PHOTOS LIKE YOU
the way you are
You’ve been thinking about this for a while. Maybe you live in Porto and you keep meaning to book before the kids grow another inch. Or maybe you’re here for a few days — and you realise that this city, with its light and its streets and the way the Douro looks in the afternoon, is too beautiful not to photograph. Not a tourist snap. A real photograph, of your family actually here.
Both of those people find me.
I’m Mary Fernandez — a family photographer in Porto with 12 years of experience and more than 200 families photographed. I work with families who are rooted here and families who are passing through. Multicultural families, bilingual families, families from Europe, from Asia, from everywhere in between. My job is the same each time: to photograph you the way you actually are.
a family session
how it looks
Sessions are 45 minutes and take place outdoors — at one of Porto’s locations — or at your home. Both work well, and both have their own quality of light. I’ll guide you towards whichever makes more sense for your family, or we go with what you already have in mind.
45 minutes might sound short. But it’s enough time for the children to forget the camera exists, for the self-consciousness to fade, and for something real to happen. Most families are surprised by how much comes out of it.
If you have something bigger in mind — a family event, a gathering, a walk through a neighbourhood you love — tell me what you’re imagining and we shape the session around it.
I don’t ask anyone to pose. What I do instead is give your family something to do — a direction, an activity, a moment to move through together. The images that come from that look natural because they are natural. There’s a difference between being told where to stand and being guided into something real, and you’ll feel it from the first ten minutes.
I work in English, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish.
We start with a connection. Send me an email — tell me about your family, what you’re envisioning for the session, and when you’d like to shoot. I’ll write back the same day.
A 30-minute video call to listen to your vision. I want to hear what this session means to you — where you’d like to shoot, what the energy of your family is like, what you’re hoping to walk away with. I’ll give you guidance on locations, timing, and what to wear. You’ll already know how I work before we’ve picked a date.
I’ve spent 12 years photographing weddings and events, which means I know how to read a moment, keep energy up, and make sure nothing good gets missed. Sessions move quickly. Most families are surprised by how relaxed they feel and how fast the time goes. That’s not a coincidence.
Three days after your session, your full edited gallery is ready. Download every image immediately, in full resolution. Through the gallery, you can also order prints, albums, and other products — everything delivered to your door.
CONTACT ME
01
LET'S PLAN TOGETHER
02
your session
03
your images
04
THE PROCESS
how it works
FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY PORTO
WHERE WE SHOOT
I know these places the way someone who lives here knows them — not as backdrops, but as locations with specific light at specific hours. That knowledge is part of what you’re booking. Here are the ones I know best and work in most:
Across the river, with the whole city spread out behind you. Hilltop terraces, the Dom Luís bridge, and the kind of view that makes you understand why people choose this place.
ribeira
Salt air, open sky, and a horizon that makes everything feel a little more free. From Matosinhos to the Gaia coast, the sea changes the mood of everything it touches.
Matosinhos to the Gaia coast
Open meadows, a lake that holds the sky, and enough space for children to be entirely themselves. The city disappears here. What's left is your family and whatever they decide to do with all that room.
PARQUE DA CIDADE
The most considered spaces say something about the people who chose them. When a home has that quality — its light, its materials, the way each room has been designed and thought about — it becomes part of the story. The photographs that come from those sessions carry something the others don't. Some of my most quietly extraordinary sessions have never left the front door.
YOUR HOME
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
porto
A significant part of the families I photograph have roots in more than one country. A Portuguese mother and a British father raising bilingual children in Foz do Douro. An Asian family visiting Porto for two weeks who wanted something more real than a phone snapshot. Two people from Germany and Japan who chose this city and never left.
Some of these families live here. Some are passing through. What they have in common is that they wanted photographs that look like them — not a generic session, but something specific to who they are and where they are right now.
If you’re looking for multicultural family photography in Porto. A photographer who works naturally across cultures, languages, and family backgrounds. That’s exactly what I do. I photograph in English, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. Mixed sessions are completely normal. I’ve been that person — building a life somewhere that isn’t your country of origin — and it shapes how I work.
No family needs to translate itself for my camera.
from the core family sessions at home and around the city, vacation photography in Porto, to maternity, newborn sessions, family events, and seasonal moments throughout the year:
MY SERVICES
WHAT I OFFER
In-home or outdoor maternity photography capturing the beauty and emotion of motherhood.
Natural family photography in nature, city, or home settings — capturing genuine connections.
Family event photography to capture your family's milestones and relive them just as they were.
A meaningful photography experience to gift loved ones — perfect for birthdays, holidays, or special family moments.
Festive seasonal photography for occasions like Christmas or Mother’s Day, offered as limited editions.
Vacation family photography in nature or city to preserve your memories forever.
"We had the most amazing session with Mary at one of the beaches in Porto.
Mary is an absolute professional with such a warm energy. Time flew by during the shoot, and now we have these precious memories captured in the most perfect way."
- Daria.
"I have been working with Mary for many years and I can only say that she is amazing. When the kids were young, she alway made them feel comfortable and now they are teenagers she also meets them and still gets us the most amazing pictures. If you need a photographer don’t look further just book Mary."
-Charlotte B.
clients
KIND WORDS
frequently asked questions
How much in advance should I book?
How much in advance should I book?
For a standard session, three to four weeks is usually enough. For sessions around busier periods — summer, the Christmas season, or if you’re planning around a visit to Porto — I’d recommend six to eight weeks. Seasonal campaigns have limited spots and fill quickly once they’re announced. If you’re unsure, send me a message and I’ll check availability straight away.
Where do you photograph families in Porto?
Where do you photograph families in Porto?
Anywhere that suits your family. Foz do Douro, Ribeira, the beaches, Vila Nova de Gaia — all with different qualities of light and atmosphere. Many families choose a home session; Porto homes often have beautiful natural light and their own character. I make location suggestions once I know a bit more about your family and what you’re hoping to capture.
What time of day works best for family photos in Porto?
What time of day works best for family photos in Porto?
Sunset or sunrise — and the right choice depends on your family. Sunset golden hour is warmer, more relaxed, and generally easier with young children. Sunrise is quieter, the light is different, and the city belongs to you in a way it doesn’t later in the day. We’ll talk about which one fits your family best during the consultation.
What happens if the weather is bad?
What happens if the weather is bad?
We reschedule — simple as that. Porto weather can be unpredictable, and there’s no point photographing in conditions that don’t serve your family well. We find a new date that works for both of us and we shoot then. I always have a solution, from A to Z. You won’t be left without photographs.
My children don’t like being photographed. Will this work?
My children don’t like being photographed. Will this work?
Almost always, yes. I’ve spent 12 years photographing families, weddings, and events — which means I’ve worked with children of every age, temperament, and patience level. I don’t direct children to pose; I give them things to do and let them move, react, and get distracted. The self-consciousness fades quickly when there’s nothing to perform. In twenty years, the honest photographs are the ones your family will be grateful for — not the ones where everyone is standing still.
My partner doesn’t like being photographed. Should I still book?
My partner doesn’t like being photographed. Should I still book?
Yes — and this comes up more than you’d think. Most people who say they don’t like being photographed have never been photographed the right way. I don’t ask anyone to perform or smile on cue. I guide everyone through activities, keep things moving, and work fast enough that the self-consciousness fades before they notice it’s gone. By the end of most sessions, the person who was most reluctant tends to be the one who doesn’t want to stop.
Can you photograph multigenerational families — grandparents included?
Can you photograph multigenerational families — grandparents included?
Yes, and these tend to be some of the most significant sessions I do. If you’re expecting family from elsewhere — grandparents visiting from the UK, from Asia, from anywhere — that’s one of the best reasons to book. Those windows are finite.
Do you offer other types of family sessions?
Do you offer other types of family sessions?
Yes — newborn sessions, family events, and seasonal campaigns throughout the year. See the services section above, or get in touch and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Amazing photography starts with getting know each other. Take a moment to fill out my contact form, and let's get to planning your beautiful photo session!
i cannot wait to meet your family!
contact me
Amazing photography starts with getting know each other. Take a moment to fill out my contact form, and let's get to planning your beautiful photo session!
