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Introducing: Susana Ferreira
PHOTOGRAPHY Susana Ferreira
February 8, 2026
First picking up a camera in 2018, Susana began photographing her friends on matchdays as a way to hold onto cherished memories, falling in love with photography as an art form in the process.
Last summer, Susana was part of Football Case Study’s WAFCON coverage team. Time spent in Morocco documenting the cutting edge of the women’s game left a lasting impression on her practice and perspective.
“I shared a space with some incredibly talented photographers and a brilliant writer, and it taught me so much about who I want to be as a photographer. Beyond the matches, it was the people, the city, and the sense of openness. Football there felt lived in, and it was one of those trips that shaped how I think about storytelling and will stay with me.”
Ili Hyseni: Hi Susana, you’re a photographer who thrives in the moments that come alive spontaneously. Described your style for those won’t be too familiar.
Susana Ferreira: I’d probably describe my work as documentary sports photography. I’m less interested in staged or overly polished images and more drawn to moments that feel natural and unfiltered. Football provides the setting, but the people, their expressions, and the environment are always at the centre of what I’m trying to capture.
IH: Your work is defined by emotion. Every time I see a photo of yours, some time of feeling is evoked in me. How has your style progressed over the years?
SF: I’d say my style has progressed a lot, especially over the past year. I’m still very much on a journey, but I’m learning to slow down and work more intentionally.
IH: Can you give us some insight into your creative process?
SF: It depends on the brief, but when I’m capturing fans, I try to immerse myself and get as close as possible. That’s usually when people are most open to being photographed.
Every photographer has a go-to camera, one they trust to deliver when it matters most. What’s yours?
I shot Fuji for a long time, but more recently made the switch to Sony for my faster-paced shoots. But thanks to [Football Case Study founder] Matt, I also own a Leica Q2, which is my baby and something I shoot with purely for the love of it. If I had to choose one, it would be the Q2.
IH: In your view, with the proliferation of AI and automated tools, how important is reportage photography in a world increasingly being shaped by artificially generated content?
SF: It matters more than ever. Real photographs carry weight because they’re rooted in lived experience and emotion, something AI can’t replicate.
IH: What’s your view on football culture today?
SF: I’ll try to give a short answer, as there’s a lot I could say on this, but football culture today, particularly in the UK, feels more commercial than ever. Even with those challenges, the sense of belonging and collective joy still remains, and for the most part it continues to bring communities together.
IH: You traveled to Morocco last year as part of Football Case Study’s WAFCON coverage team but have some big trips lined up. Which one are you looking forward to most?
SF: I’m off to Kerala, India on a personal holiday later this year, 7’s football is big in Kerala, so hopefully there’ll be some games to catch. Then we’ll see how Arsenal get on in the league when I’m back!
IH: As you know, we’re on a mission to understand the world through football. What role can our game play in helping us make sense of a complicated world?
SF: I think football reflects real life so closely. By paying attention to football culture, you’re really paying attention to people, how they connect, and what matters to them, and that says a lot about the world we live in.
Thank you Susana! Welcome to Football Case Study.