Sara's Family at Praia Formosa, Funchal
Family · Praia Formosa · May 2026
A family of seven booked a morning at Praia Formosa. Two parents, five kids, the youngest still a baby. They had flown in from the States for a week on Madeira, and as Sara put it, this was their first family photo shoot. She messaged me that morning to say they’d just arrived, standing behind the lifeguard stand by the blue railing, all in white shirts and jeans. We met at eleven.
Praia Formosa is Funchal’s city beach. Dark pebbles, a volcanic headland at one end, the Atlantic right there.
The Session
Eleven in the morning is not the light most photographers ask for. Sara had other things planned for later in the day, so we worked with the hour we had. The volcanic rock at the western end of the beach throws enough shade to take the edge off the sun, and the dark pebbles stop the frame from going harsh. They had picked their clothes well, all white and denim, and it looked right against the dark rock.
I sent the three older boys onto the rocks to climb and balance along the water line. The younger boy went with them. The baby watched from his mother’s arms. This was a calm, level-headed family. Nobody was running wild, and I never had to chase a shot.
At one point one of the boys picked up a round stone the size of a melon. Nobody planned it.
Praia Formosa for Family Sessions
Praia Formosa works for families. Ten minutes from the center of Funchal, easy parking, flat ground, the water close.
A few different backdrops inside fifty meters. The volcanic boulders at one end. The open pebbles with the headland behind. The palm-lined promenade above.
The older boys made the session. Three of them, nearly grown, still happy to run down a beach for a photo. By the end they were sprinting at the camera for no reason other than it was fun.
Booking a Family Session in Madeira
This was a Classic session. One location, a couple of hours, enough time for everyone to settle and stop performing. For family photography in Madeira, that scope usually fits best when there are young kids in the group.
Sara wrote afterward that the photos turned out better than they’d hoped, that they could not be more happy with the results.
If you are coming to Madeira and want family photos, send me a short message with your dates and where you’re staying. I’ll suggest a location from there.
Book via WhatsApp →Family photography at Praia Formosa, Funchal.