Hello!
I’m Carlota Leitão
And I’m a photographer
It’s never just about the perfect image
What drives me as a photographer isn’t just capturing the perfect image, but telling the story behind every photograph — whether it’s the effort of those who build an orphanage, or the dedication of those who create a product, a space or a brand. What I seek is always to reveal what makes each reality unique and true.
I have been working as a photographer for 18 years, balancing commercial photography in Porto with documentary work developed in Portugal and abroad. Over this time, I have developed two complementary ways of seeing the world through the lens: a documentary approach focused on real and human stories, and a commercial practice, where I help brands, companies and institutions communicate visually in a clear, authentic and effective way.
In my documentary work, I am drawn to what happens beyond the immediate moment. I aim to capture emotion, context and human effort behind each reality. I have developed projects on subjects such as Drag culture, humanitarian work, emergency medical services and the impact of pandemic confinement.
In my commercial practice, I work with brands and companies across food, product, architecture, interiors and hospitality photography. My clients include UberEats, Kankura Golf, Ecco, Zoo, Lugar das Letras, Casa de Gouvães, Tanagra, Holiday Inn Express, Lemonone and Lvpremier, as well as collaborations with Dice, Nuvem de Talento, Hotshop and Inedia, and editorial and institutional work for Contraponto and IPO.
I was also interviewed by Volta ao Mundo magazine, about my career and photographic projects.
In 2009, I founded Fullframe, a company dedicated to commercial photography for brands and businesses.
In 2026, I decided to close Fullframe and bring all my work — documentary and commercial — into a single space, under my own name as author signature.
In 2012, I published the technical photography book “Luzes Câmara Ação”, co-authored with photographer Pedro do Canto Brum.
I am currently based in Porto, Portugal, from where I continue to develop documentary and commercial photography projects.
Awards
*BIFA 2024
Silver winner in Analog / Film / Editorial/Journalism / 2024 Shamanism Ritual In Katmandu - Nepal. August 2023.
*BIFA 2024
Bronze winner in People / Lifestyle / 2024 Seaside Harmony: A Parade of Styles and Memories.
*CEWE Photo Award 2023
You belong to the best 30! In total, more than half a million photos from 147 countries were submitted - making the CEWE Photo Award once again the world's largest photo competition and you have personally contributed to this title. You also helped CEWE to generate the proud donation sum of 50,961.20 euros to the SOS Children's Villages worldwide - we would like to thank you very much. The donation was handed over on 21 September during the festive award ceremony at PHOTOPIA in Hamburg.
*Make History Second Edition
World photo contest, one-year duration – 3 stories for online publication and one of the 101 finalists selected for exhibition and publication of a book in a contest with 2.398 Photographers| 9.667 delivered works | 1.716 stories published online.
*Winner of the contest “Lá e Cá”
promoted by IPF Oporto, Lisbon and São Paulo, Contest distinghising the best students’ works of the year.
Exhibitions
2023
CEWE Photo Award 2023 exhibition in Europe
2023
Collective exhibition VISIONS with the - It's the little things project. - Tapial Virtual - in Santiago do Chile.
2022
Collective exhibition DISCONNECT with the - Under the skin project. - Holy Art Gallery in London.
2022
Collective exhibition AESTHETICA with the Quarantine project. Holy Art Gallery in London
2011
“INEM - Histórias do Limbo” - Casa do Alto - Maia
2010
“Voyeur” - Cultural Center of Trofa
2010
Collective exhibition “Make History Second Exhibition” - Italy
2010
*Collective exhibition“A visão de duas mulheres sobre o transformismo” - Café Fenix|Convite Grupo F4
2010
“Voyeur” - Collective exhibition at Sandim Parish Council
2009
“Voyeur” - Collective exhibition - II Bienal of Milheirós.
2009
“Voyeur” IPF (Portuguese Institute of Photography) Oporto
2008
Collective exhibition “Lá e Cá” - Contest distinghising the best students’ works of the year IPF - Oporto, Lisbon and Senac Brasil - Brasília
2003
Collective exhibition on the several Delegations of IPJ - Theme “Nude”
Publications
2024
Lens Magazine May 2024 Issue #116. The MIX Edition 2024. Shamanism Ritual in Katmandu
2023
Volta ao Mundo Magazine - September. Article | Through the Lens of Carlota Leitão - Images That Speak
2023
August - Publication of multiple photo reports in various Nepalese newspapers, notably - Enewspolar, Ehimalaya and Myrepública.
2023
Lens Magazine August 2023 issue #107. Usury Victims Stage Protest in Kathmandu
2012
Technical book on studio photography “Luzes Câmara Ação”, in an Author edition, in partnership with photographer Pedro do Canto Brum, which aims to provide students, amateurs and professionals with an instrument that explains and exemplifies how photography is actually produced in the studio.
2010
*Book “Make History Second Edition”
2010
*National Newspaper Cover Page “Jornal de Notícias” - March 5th 2010, Photostory “5 burned out cars in two days”
2010
*Newsletter INEM - August 30th 2010, Photostory with the INEM (National Institute of Emergency Medical Services)
Want to work together
contact me
Partners
It is a video and photography production company, digital creative and marketing agency, specializing in creating impactful audiovisual content for brands and companies.
Platform of products or services created and based in Portugal, representing national identity and quality.
