On an October morning in Paris, Jackie and Jack met me at the top of Avenue de Camoens, just as the light was coming up over the Seine. The Eiffel Tower stood across the river, and around us, a handful of other couples in wedding gowns and suits were waiting for the same light. We left them to it and spent the rest of the morning walking, and riding the metro, through a quieter version of the city.
Jackie and Jack live in California, and they are getting married in France in June 2027, over a weekend that begins with a welcome evening in Paris. This session was part of that story: a first morning together before the wedding, a way to get to know each other through the camera, and a reason to take the long way across Paris. From the Trocadéro side of the river to Pont de Bir-Hakeim, then the Luxembourg Gardens with a coffee to go, and finally the arcades of Place des Vosges in the Marais.
What follows is our route, the light through the morning, and everything you will want to know if you are planning your own engagement session in Paris.
Paris engagement session FAQ
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Sunrise, for most couples. The light is soft and warm, the streets are quiet, and the main landmarks are far less crowded than later in the day. In autumn, the sun rises around eight, which makes a sunrise session easy to plan.
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Avenue de Camoens and Pont de Bir-Hakeim are two great alternatives to the Trocadéro. Both offer a clear view of the tower, with more room and more variety in the frame. Avenue de Camoens has become popular too, so arriving early still makes a difference.
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Plan on two to three hours for a session across several neighbourhoods, like this one. That leaves time to travel between locations by metro, to change outfits, and to finish with a coffee or breakfast.
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Simple, solid colours and real textures: black, cream, navy, camel, with one bold accent if you like. Bring layers for cool mornings and a second pair of comfortable shoes for the walking.
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The session goes ahead in light rain. I bring clear umbrellas, and the arcades of Place des Vosges and the café terraces give us cover when needed. In case of a real downpour, we can move the session to another morning, unless your date is set around a specific trip. In that case, we adapt the route and make the most of the weather.
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Yes. Jackie and Jack are getting married at Château de Bonaventure, an hour east of Paris, and many of my couples combine a Paris session with a wedding anywhere in France. It is often the first time we meet in person before the big day.
Your engagement photographer in Paris and across France
By the time we left Carette, the morning had given us everything Jackie had imagined: the Eiffel Tower in the first light, a city still half asleep, the gardens, the arcades, a terrace full of people and a table that was theirs. And for the three of us, it was the beginning of something. Next June, I will see them again in Paris for their welcome evening, and then at Château de Bonaventure, and this time I will already know who laughs first.
If you are planning a wedding in France and dreaming of a session in Paris before the big day, I would love to hear about it. I work in English throughout, I spent five months living in Los Angeles in 2019, and many of the couples I photograph fly in from the United States. A little more about me and how I work is here.
Tell me about your plans, your dates, and the Paris you have in mind. Get in touch here.