The best photography locations in Paris. Updated for 2025
Looking to return home from your Paris trip with the most beautiful set of photographs? Here’s my list of the best photo spots in Paris, along with some tips on working out an itinerary to maximise your photoshoot time.
A common mistake when planning a Paris photoshoot is trying to fit in too much within our allocated timeframe. Too many locations or outfit changes can create a rushed and stressful experience, the very thing we want to avoid.
Your Paris photoshoot should be fun, relaxed and stress-free. In fact, it should be one of the highlights of your trip. Feeling relaxed and at-ease translates perfectly into beautiful photographs.
Locations: I recommend working around one location per hour of shooting. Why? This allows us to take our time and thoroughly explore each area, taking time to find interesting little corners that can help make your photos unique and more personal. Also, more time for photos and less time traveling! Paris is a relatively small city, but it is a congested one! Getting stuck in traffic can eat into your photoshoot time.
However, we can of course plan to take photographs at several locations, we just need to adjust your overall photo session length to accommodate for potential traffic/travel times.
And now, without further ado…onto locations!
Ile Saint-Louis
Up first Ile Saint-Louis, the oldest part of the city, think shady narrow streets, a stroll on the cobbled quayside, bridges with views over Notre Dame, very classic Paris with beautiful, old architecture.
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Ile Saint-Louis Location style tips
Ile Saint-Louis along with its narrow streets and numerous café terraces can be a great location to show off a more smart, casual style. Ladies, those flowing dresses can look magnificent in the breeze down on the quayside.
Jardin Du Luxembourg
Secondly, the Jardin do Luxembourg is not only one of the prettiest parks in the city, there are also beautiful, narrow shady streets close by enabling us to mix the gardens with some traditional Parisian architecture. The Pantheon is also a short walk away and in certain areas it’s even possible to catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in the background. Basically, lots of options within a short distance make it an ideal option for families.
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Jardin Du Luxembourg style tips
Very season-dependent. Think light, flowy dresses, and linen shirts in the summer, come fall, clothing colors complementing the surrounding nature always work well.
In the winter neutral colored coats and scarfs look wonderful for a stroll through the gardens and, ‘bien sûr’ looks great on one of the nearby café terraces whilst you enjoy a hot drink.
The Louvre
The Louvre and the surrounding area, a stunning French Chateau right in the centre of the city. Mix things up with some images on the edge of the Tuileries gardens with time to take a stroll into the neighbouring Palais Royal, this is one of my favourite areas. Incredible architecture, covered passageways, open gardens, and extremely pretty light, ensure an amazingly varied set of images. Plus because of the covered arcades and grand entrances this is a great location in less than ideal weather!
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The Louvre Location style tips
Starting off with the neighbouring Palais Royal, a more casual outfit for strolling through the arcades and gardens works wonderfully. For the Louvre itself, which is a stunning Chateau in the center of the city, you can really pull out the stops with a dressier outfit, it’s pretty much impossible to look overdressed when being photographed in the magnificent surroundings this location has to offer. If the timing of your shoot allows, think of mixing two different styles at this location - one more casual around the Palais Royal and something dressy for the Louvre courtyards.
Pont Alexandre III
Extravagant, ornate with certain shots offering great views of the Eiffel Tower in the background, Pont Alexandre III has to be one of my favorite bridges in Paris. Different angles give us a lot of options for the photos, plus the nearby Petit-Palais and its stunning architecture give an equally opulent feel with an entirely different look.
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Pont Alexandre III style tips
Feel free to really glam things up at this location. As mentioned above, the bridge is one of the most extravagant in the city, mix that with the nearby Petit-Palais, and its grand, gold-gilded entrance, you have a location where you can pull off the most stunning designer gown/suit with ease.
The Eiffel Tower
Finally of course how can we forget - The Eiffel Tower! We have several locations to choose from all offering great views, however, please note the area of Trocadero (photos 1 & 3) is only available for sunrise shoots.
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Eiffel Tower Location style tips
The Eiffel Tower area is extremely versatile when it comes to wardrobe choice. The main Trocadero area really suits a more dressy outfit. You can easily pull off that designer gown and sharp suit here. The nearby bridge, Pont Bir-Hakeim is one of those locations where both dressy and casual work equally well. There’s often a breeze on the bridge so those flowing dresses can look amazing. The gardens behind the Eiffel Tower being more suited to a casual look.
As you can see in Paris we’re spoilt for choice. All options offer a beautiful set of photographs and as the images above show, for both morning and early evening shoots we can make each location appear that you pretty much have the city to yourselves.
If you’re looking for more tips on “What to wear for your Paris photoshoot” I have an entire post on that very subject that you can read here.