PARIS PHOTO SHOOT AT JARDINS DES TUILERIES WITH MELANIE

It's one of those beautiful winter Saturdays when the sky is blue, the light soft and pretty and the temperature warm enough to go for a wander on a photo session. Melanie, the woman I’m meeting at Jardin des Tuileries, near Place de la Concorde, has been planning for it and she’s so lucky that it's very mild weather for December.

We are meeting at the front entrance early in the morning before the park gets crowded with locals and tourists exploring the many beauties and treasures it has to offer. As first impressions go, my client seems friendly and beautiful, yet a little reserved so challenge #1 will be to make her feel relaxed and comfortable during the photo session so we can get the best results she’ll be expecting, even though she's never done this before.

Melanie has been living near Paris for couple of years already and moved to the Paris for work a couple of years ago. But as is sometimes the case she never has much opportunity to visit Paris as she lives and works in the suburbs about an hour away from the city center. When we meet, she told me the reason she decided to do this solo portrait session: the photo session is a gift to herself, as a memory of her time in Paris to immortalize the present moment and one day be able to say that she's lived in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world :) 

We walk around the park and pick various great spots with little Parisian details as a background setting: a view of the Eiffel Tower, the Concorde wheel, the fountain, a tree, a statue, etc. The opportunities for a portrait photo shoot in Paris are infinite; this is what I truly love about this city!

As time passes by, the park gets busier with people enjoying the unusual winter sunshine and gorgeous light: Just what I need for my photography portrait session! As we head to les Jardins du Louvre to get a couple of nice shoots, Melanie has graciously learnt how to behave in front of the camera. Modeling does not have any more secrets for her: She knows how to move, smile, stand, sit and walk, and all very naturely! Who said that being a model was an easy job?

If you haven't tried the experience yet, book one of my photo shoot packages and you can find out what it’s like:)

EIFFEL TOWER PHOTO SESSION WITH AMANDA AND ANDREW

There are days when you feel lazy and do not want to leave the apartment. Yet I have to as I have a photo shoot at the Eiffel Tower today. Luckily it's not as early as usual; my appointment is only at 11AM. I finally leave the apartment and make my way slowly to the metro station, which takes me to the meeting point in less than 45 minutes. But I end up arriving late all the same which I didn’t want because it’s not professional, but I will say it was not entirely my fault: The train always gets delayed when it’s not the right time, but it still means I have to run to the appointment.

I apologize to Amanda and Andrew when I arrive of course. They’re a young and lovely couple and have traveled from the US. I feel so grateful at that moment: How many foreigners want to see the Eiffel Tower but once in their lifetime, and I actually live here, in Paris, right in the center and I can see it anytime I want. Amanda and Andrew seem not to be typical Americans and that’s the first thing they tell me when we meet: We don’t want to do the classic poses the Americans usually want to do! :) But any crazy ones, just for fun, to remember their crazy time in Paris. 

We start walking and I was really amazed how comfortable they are with the poses. Amanda jumps on Andrew's back, they hug, they kiss very sweetly, they look at each other tenderly and even though they've been together for over a decade, they look as much in love as if they’ve only just started dating... Lots of emotion wells up seeing that.

After having done all the crazy things they can do, we walk towards the river Seine for a quieter time to capture the final memories. A couple of shots more here and there hand in hand in beautiful light before I put all my equipment back in my bag to run to the next photo session at idyllic Bir-Hakeim Bridge.

PARIS PHOTO SESSION IN MONTMARTRE WITH ALICIA AND MICHAEL

Today, I feel lucky (and happy): It happens sometimes :) I'm not a particularly lazy person but today my photo session is scheduled in Montmartre, right next to my neighborhood. I love this location (not just because it's very nearby and I can walk up there) but it's a nice area which looks like a little village within Paris with its cobblestone streets, cute little boutiques and cozy cafes, typical Parisian bars and restaurants as well as countless bakeries full of delicious pastries that make every passerby’s mouth water just gazing through the window.

In the afternoon I finally meet Alicia and Michael. They’re a young couple I didn't know much about. Alicia's name sounded Spanish and I really thought she was until I had spoken with her and found out she and her partner come from the South of France. They look young, natural, good looking, friendly and above all caring and affectionate to each other: The perfect couple that would give me the perfect pictures!

The only one thing I didn't know before and that I found out when I met them is that the photo session would not include 2 people but... 2.5 or 2.75!  Alicia is very pregnant, almost at her 7th month, and that's the main reason they organized the photo session: to immortalize that special moment with 7 being a lucky number! As we walk around Montmartre, Alicia and Michael tell me they’re getting married the year after in the South of France, sometime during the summer. Alicia feels very comfortable during the photo shoot; she has a very natural and vibrant smile and appears very affectionate and emotional, while Michael seems a little nervous but caring and protective at the same time.

Despite the strong light, we manage to find little streets and alleys with shadows and more quiet locations to do our photo shoot. After a couple minutes’ walking, talking, doing poses and portraits, Michael became more relaxed and Alicia as radiant as ever. I wouldn't say this about every woman I meet, but it looks and feels like pregnancy suits her particularly well!

A BIRTHDAY PHOTO SHOOT IN MONTMARTRE WITH JESSY

Even though it's summertime, it feels like the weather outside isn’t good when I wake up. I look through the window and it seems it's raining: ad as today we haven't chosen a covered passage. I immediately text Judlyn, who's booked the photo session as a birthday gift for her sister Jessy. It's supposed to be a surprise photo shoot to celebrate Jessy's 25th birthday, so she doesn't know why she has to travel to Paris so early in the morning with her sisters. Little does she know the surprise that’s waiting for her.

It’s only when I get to Anvers metro station and meet them for the appointment that Jessy realizes what we’re planning to do for an hour in Montmartre. Suddenly you can see her excitement, as she’s always wanted to do a professional photo shoot. When you look at her, she looks like one of those self-confident women that have done it their whole life. Great! I thought to myself, as I needed someone who’s comfortable in front of the camera to get wonderful pictures in order to build my portfolio.

Jessy seems very relaxed walking all around Montmartre chatting with her sisters. She does everything I ask her to: posing, smiling, and playing! She is the perfect model every photographer would dream to have. We are extremely lucky, as the rain had stopped when we started the walk, and even though the sun is missing, the light is not too bad! Everyone's having a great time and Jessy looks so happy with her special gift; It's her unique moment, an experience she can truly enjoy and keep as a wonderful memory.

Not only did Jessy enjoy the photo walk but her sisters also realized how much they appreciated being able to discover Paris at the same time, as living in the suburbs doesn’t give them the opportunity to visit and enjoy the Paris that often. A photo shoot, a beautiful walk in one of the most beautiful areas of Paris, family time combined with good weather, and above all eternal memories: What else could you ask for to celebrate a 25th birthday?