Mara Ellis with her film camera

About

Hi, I’m Mara.

I’m a portrait and wedding photographer based in Lisbon. I have been taking pictures of people for fifteen years, mostly on film.

I started with a secondhand Pentax and a roll of expired Portra. These days I shoot digital for weddings and film for everything else, and I still print the ones that matter.

I take on a small number of weddings each year, so each one gets the time it deserves. The rest of the year I work on portraits, editorial commissions and my own slow travel series.

Based in Lisbon. Working across Portugal and Spain.

Mara photographing a portrait session
A portrait session in Belém
Prints and negatives on the studio desk
Contact sheets from the Alentejo series

How I work

What it is like to work with me

Unhurried

I plan the day so there is room for nothing to happen. That is usually when the best pictures do.

Mostly natural light

I work with the light that is already there, and bring a small flash only for the dance floor.

Printed, not just delivered

Every wedding comes with an online gallery and a box of twenty fine-art prints, made in Lisbon.

“We hardly noticed Mara was there, and then the pictures arrived and the whole day came back. Our parents still have the prints on the fridge.”

Sofia and Nuno, married in Comporta

Selected clients

Mãe Studio
Casa Fortunato
Oficina Barro
Quinta da Comporta

Published in

Barro Magazine
Revista Luz
The Coastal Edit
Lisbon Weddings Journal

What I photograph

Weddings and elopements
Portraits at home
Editorial and lookbooks
Fine-art prints

Planning a shoot?

Weddings, portraits and editorial commissions. Tell me a little about what you have in mind and I will reply within two days.