As an engagement photographer in Paris, every couple who contacts me about an engagement session in Paris asks the same question: where should we shoot? And every time, I resist the urge to just send them a list. Because the honest answer isn’t about locations, it’s about light, timing, and how a place makes you feel when you’re standing in it together.
That said, after years of shooting couple sessions across this city, I do have favourites. Some are the iconic spots you’d expect. Others are places most photographers walk past. Here’s what I actually recommend, and why.
The best spots for your engagement session in Paris
Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower
Yes, I’m starting with the obvious one. But here’s what nobody tells you: Trocadéro at sunrise is an entirely different place than Trocadéro at 2pm. I’ve shot here at 6:30 in the morning in June, when the only people around are joggers and pigeons. The light is soft pink, the esplanade is empty, and you get the Tower all to yourself. That’s a completely different photograph than the one taken in the middle of a tourist crowd.
My advice: book a sunrise session if this spot matters to you. Yes, it means waking up at 5am. But the photos will be worth every lost minute of sleep.
Pont Alexandre III
This bridge is absurdly photogenic. The gilded sculptures, the Art Nouveau lampposts, the view down the Seine towards Les Invalides, it’s almost unfair to other locations. I shoot here regularly and it never gets old.
The trick is the angle. Most photographers stand in the middle of the bridge and shoot straight ahead. I prefer the edges, where you get the curve of the bridge railing leading the eye towards the couple. Late afternoon light hits the gold details perfectly from the west side.
The Louvre and Tuileries Garden
The glass pyramid is iconic, but honestly, I prefer the Tuileries Garden next door. The green metal chairs, the gravel paths, the fountains, it has that effortlessly Parisian quality that feels more natural than posed. Couples relax here. They sit down, they laugh, they forget I’m there. Those are the photos I live for.
If you do want the pyramid, we go at blue hour, that twenty-minute window after sunset when the sky turns deep blue and the pyramid glows. Magical, but the timing has to be precise.
The hidden gems, where the real magic happens
Palais Royal
This is probably my number one recommendation for couples who want something elegant but not touristy. The black-and-white Buren columns in the courtyard are a gift for composition, graphic, clean, modern against the classical architecture. And the garden behind is one of the most peaceful spots in central Paris.
Morning light works best here. The courtyard faces east, so you get this warm directional light that wraps beautifully around the columns and your silhouettes.
Rue de l’Université and the Left Bank
The 7th arrondissement is full of quiet streets with cream-coloured facades, blue shutters, and those wrought-iron balconies that scream Paris. Rue de l’Université is one of my go-to streets. It’s residential, which means almost no tourists, and the buildings have this timeless quality that photographs beautifully in any light.
I often start sessions on streets like this before walking to a bigger location. It warms people up, they get comfortable walking together, holding hands, laughing at my bad French jokes, before we arrive somewhere more « official. »
A Parisian café terrace
Nothing says Paris like two people sharing a croissant at a café. I love incorporating a café stop into sessions, it’s a natural break, it relaxes the couple, and the photos have this candid, lived-in quality that you can’t manufacture. The marble tables, the rattan chairs, the espresso cups, it’s Paris distilled into a single frame.
A Parisian rooftop
This requires some planning and access, but the results are extraordinary. I’ve shot on private rooftops where you can see the zinc rooftops stretching to the horizon, chimneys dotting the skyline, and the monuments rising in the haze. It’s Paris from a perspective that most people never see.
The exclusivity of a rooftop session adds something to the experience, too. It’s just you, your partner, the sky, and the city below. There’s a feeling of being above it all, both literally and emotionally.
What actually matters more than location
I want to be honest about something. I’ve shot beautiful sessions at every one of these locations. But I’ve also shot beautiful sessions in completely unremarkable places, a hotel lobby, a quiet park bench, a street I’d never been to before. The location sets the stage, but the connection between you and your partner is what makes the photograph.
What matters more than where we shoot:
Timing. Golden hour, the hour before sunset, transforms any location. I will always push for this time slot, even if it means adjusting dinner reservations.
Comfort. If you’ve never been photographed as a couple before, it takes about 15 minutes to stop feeling awkward. I build that into every session. We walk, we talk, I make you laugh. By the time we reach the main location, you’ve forgotten the camera exists.
Your story. Where did you have your first date in Paris? Where did the proposal happen? Where do you go when you want to feel like yourselves? Those personal spots often make better photos than any landmark, because the emotion is real.
Practical details
My engagement sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes and cover 2-3 locations, depending on walking distance. I deliver 80 to 120 edited images within two weeks.
For wardrobe, I always suggest two looks, one more formal (heels, suit), one more relaxed (sneakers, flowing dress). The contrast gives variety to your gallery and lets us match the outfit to the location.
Engagement sessions are available as standalone bookings or included in the Signature and Grand wedding collections. Many couples use the session as a way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day, and honestly, it makes a real difference.
Ready to explore Paris together?
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, or if you’re already here, I’d love to create something beautiful with you. Tell me your story and I’ll suggest the perfect locations for your session.
Let’s plan your Paris session. Planning a wedding too? Read about what makes Paris wedding photography special
Locations featured: Trocadéro · Pont Alexandre III · Louvre · Palais Royal · Left Bank · Parisian Cafés · Rooftops
Photography: Franklyn K Photography
Published in: Vogue · Brides · Wedding Sparrow · Carats & Cake
