Maria Abranches

Documentary Photographer

BIOGRAPHY

Maria Abranches is a Portuguese independent documentary photographer and photojournalist who uses photography to highlight critical issues, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire change.

Originally trained as an architect, Abranches worked in the field for several years before studying analog photography at Ar.Co in Lisbon. This led to an internship in photojournalism at the Portuguese newspaper Público, after which she decided to dedicate her career exclusively to photography. She now contributes to Público, Reuters, The Guardian, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Abranches developed an interest in Portuguese colonial history while documenting the production of Pele Escura (2021), a film exploring racism and inclusion directed by Graça Castanheira. This experience inspired Trançar o Mundo (2022), a visual exploration of African hair heritage and its cultural symbolism, created in collaboration with Afro-descendant hairdressers.

In 2023-2024, she was selected for the Masterclass Narrativa. During this program, she began developing MARIA, an ongoing project that won the Cortona On The Move Award 2024 and was a finalist for the Prix Virginia 2024, APhF Dummy Award, and Blow Up Press Book Award. It also received an Honorable Mention at Novos Talentos Fnac 2024. She was awarded the LensCulture Emerging Talent Award 2024.

PHOTO: MARIA

Ana Maria Jeremias’ life as a carer and domestic worker in Portugal echoes the experience of countless women around Europe. Trafficked from Angola to Portugal aged nine, under false promises of education, Ana Maria has spent more than four decades working in other people’s homes, making a vital contribution to their daily lives. By focusing on Ana Maria’s story, the photographer aims to encourage reflection on privilege, as well as to honor her life (and that of so many women like her).