How to plan a perfect engagement and pre-wedding session in Paris

From the stunning architecture to the picturesque landmarks, Paris has everything you need to create the pre-wedding or engagement photos of your dreams. Imagine strolling along the Seine River in Paris and gazing at the centuries old architecture along the riverbanks, smelling a whiff of a flaky buttery croissant as you walk by a cafe, and hearing the chimes of bicycle bells along the light filled streets.

Now, imagine doing all this while wearing your prized wedding gown and bridal jewelry, looking gorgeous in hair and makeup, and doing it all in stride while holding hands with your betrothed. We can make your dreams come true, and turn those imaginations into reality! Let’s capture your best self in the City of Lights and Love whether it be in front of the Eiffel Tower, or frolicking across the golden Alexandre III Bridge to the glass pyramid of the Louvre.

Reasons to have your engagement or pre-wedding photos taken in Paris

1. Create memories in the most iconic locations

Paris never ceases to amaze, regardless if you’re a tourist or a local, or if it’s your first or hundredth visit. Capturing your love on film in one of the most picturesque backdrops of the world will be a memory you can cherish for a lifetime.

2. Relax and get comfortable in front of the camera

Most of us aren’t comfortable in front of a camera, especially when expressing our love for someone. I am here to guide you and familiarize you with how to pose and where to look in front of the camera, so that your romance and relationship can flourish on the photos. By the time the wedding comes, you won’t even notice anyone behind the lens, and you can dance and act like nobody’s watching.

3. Distribute professional photos for your wedding save the dates, website, and invitations

Want to be a step ahead of the rest? Do you want to shine? Having professionally processed photos set in Paris on your invitations and wedding distribution materials will set you apart and allow your guests to expect nothing but the best on your wedding day.

4. Test your hair and makeup 

A wandering strand of hair, smeared mascara around your eyes, and glitter in all the wrong places are mishaps that you can live without on your wedding day! There is often a difference in the perception of how you look in front of a mirror that’s a foot away, and how it appears in photos. Having your hair and makeup done for a pre-wedding shoot allows you to test the durability of it all so that you and your artists know where to make alterations for the wedding day. A pre-wedding shoot also gives you a glimpse of how you’ll look on your wedding day photos.

The most iconic locations in Paris

THE LOUVRE

The Louvre is an art museum in central Paris that houses famous works of art including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. It features 35,000 works of art and can take 65 days to see everything! Its famous protruding modern glass pyramid, courtyard, and nearby Tuileries Garden provide one the most amazing backdrops for your pre-wedding or engagement photos. I adore it in the morning light, and the assortment of French Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture scattered around the premises provides the perfect framing.

PALAIS ROYAL

The Palais Royal is a former French royal palace. Today, the Palais Royal is home to the Constitutional Council and the Ministry of Culture. It is surrounded by beautiful and ornate townhouses, luxury restaurants, and a grandiose theater. The courtyard of the Palais Royal features various black and white candy striped tubes in an art installation called Les Deux plateaux created by the French artist Daniel Buren in 1985–1986. This setting is a perfect background for representing the juxtaposition of modern and classic artistry.

THE ALEXANDRE III BRIDGE

The Alexandre III Bridge offers an unbeatable view of the Seine River, its surroundings, and the Eiffel Tower in the background. It connects the Champs Élysées (most beautiful avenue in Paris and one of the world’s most famous commercial streets) with the Invalides (complex of buildings containing museums and monuments displaying military history) and the Eiffel Tower. The bridge in its Beaux Arts style featuring Art Nouveau lamps, nymphs, and winged horses in gold at both ends, was built between 1896 and 1900 and remains the most ornate bridge in Paris. Everyone, young and old, reconnects with their inner fantasy character when they walk across this bridge.

THE EIFFEL TOWER

The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron tower 330 meters (1,083 feet) tall, designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, and built from 1887 to 1889. It was originally built to be a decorative centerpiece for the 1889 World’s Fair, hosted in Paris. Can you believe it was criticized by the French people, especially its artists and intellectuals, for being ugly? It’s now one of the most recognizable structures in the world with over 5 million visitors a year. No matter what angle you look at it, you’ll see its breathtaking beauty shine through.

THE TUILERIES GARDEN

The Tuileries Garden was created by Catherine de’Medici to display art and sculpture and has been a public park since the 19^th century. Parisians and tourists alike meet here to relax and stroll through the park grounds and observe the wide variety of sculptures, some dating back to the period of Louis XIV. There are two gorgeous basins in the garden: the Grand Bassin, or circular pond, and the octagonal basin near the gates leading to the Place de la Concorde (public square in Paris that was the site of notable public executions). When you have your pictures taken in the Grand Couvert (tree-covered portion of the garden) and the Grande Allée (wide path that runs from the Grand Bassin to the gates of the Place de la Concorde), you’ll be transported back to the times of the Kings and Queens of France.

A PARISIAN CAFÉ

The sound of coffee beans being ground into a perfect cup of joy and happiness, the floating smells of buttery croissants, and the tinkling of silverware against glass and plates provides the sensory background. While the red, white, and blue of wicker chairs dotting the outsides of Parisian cafes provide you an immediate sensation of knowing you’re in Paris. Cafes line the streets everywhere in Paris, and no doubt we can find one that provides a glorious backdrop for your photos.

helpful tips

1. Bring comfortable shoes for walking between the shoot locations. You don’t want to get any heels stuck in a cobblestone or sewage drain, and you certainly don’t want to exasperate yourselves weaving through traffic in fancy footwear.
2. Schedule hair and makeup ahead of time so you are not waiting around for the artists. Let us know if you need recommendations.
3. Plan your desired ambiance based on the time of day. Some locations are better in the morning, some during dusk and sunset. Discuss ahead with your photographer.
4. The best time to visit Paris is in the spring or fall. This allows you to feel relaxed without worrying about sweating in hot weather, or shivering in cold weather. There are also less tourists to run into during the spring and fall.
5. Book your Paris hotel near the photo sessions so you can easily change outfits before and after the shoot.
6. Plan and discuss the type of outfits and the number of outfit changes with your photographer ahead of time.
7. Prepare any props and ensure they are easily transferable.

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