Biography
Joel Santos is a travel photographer, documentary filmmaker, speaker, and writer, born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1978. A former economist turned journalist, he has dedicated his career to capturing vanishing traditions and remote cultures, driven by a deep passion for visual and written storytelling.
Winner of national and international photography awards, namely the prestigious Travel Photographer Of The Year, in 2016, and VISÃO/BES (World Press Photo standards and jury, Nature), in 2005. Won 1st (“Dream Places”) and 2nd (Nature and wildlife) place awards at the ART & Tour — International Tourism Film Festival (2019) with the short film “Identidade de um Território”, shot for Geopark Estrela (UNESCO).
Producer of original documentaries filmed in Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana, Mongolia, China, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Iceland, Norway, and Portugal—pioneering the use of aerial imagery. These works have been broadcast in Portugal and the UK, as well as featured across various online media platforms. Documented, directed and produced, in partnership with Magali Tarouca, the following TV documentary series: “VISÃO de Portugal” (43 episodes), “Mundo à Vista” (12 episodes, 4 seasons), “Jangadas de Pedra (4 episodes), “À Margem” (4 episodes) and “Fora de Rota” (4 episodes) - all aired during prime-time on SIC and SIC Notícias, and available on the OPTO streaming platform, with several episodes licensed for international distribution.
Author of best-selling books, namely "FOTOgrafia” (10th edition); “FOTOPortugal” (2nd edition, co-author with Magali Tarouca) "FOTOcomposição” (2nd edition), “FOTOpad” (4th Edition), "FOTOedição” (3rd Edition) and “ÍNDIA – The Color of Contrast” and and "A Energia da Amazonia". Editor in Chief of “O Mundo da Fotografia Digital” (2007 to 2010) magazine, and regular contributor of VISÃO magazine.
Has published over one hundred articles and chronicles in both national and international media, including National Geographic (USA), GEO, The Guardian, The Times, Daily Mail, Courrier, Wired, and The Sun, among others. His photographs are regularly featured by global brands such as Canon, IKEA, Microsoft, ABC Studios, Samsung, and DJI.
Photography educator and international photo tour leader, with experience across more than 40 countries. Travel and inspirational speaker fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Canon Ambassador (Europe, Africa and Middle East) since 2012.
As an economist, he served as a professor at the University of Economics in Timor-Leste from 2004 to 2006, and as a researcher at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management in 2003, during his master’s studies in Economics and Management of Science and Technology.
