There is no shortage of good photo locations in Paris. But each one has its hour, and turning up at the wrong moment can spoil even the finest spot.
Trocadéro: the Eiffel Tower head-on
This is where the classic frame is taken, with the whole tower in the background. The first hour after sunrise is ideal. In the afternoon the place is very busy.
Montmartre: above the city
Narrow streets, stairways, the view over Paris from the forecourt of the Sacré-Cœur. Early in the morning the streets are quiet.
Since the neighbourhood is walked rather than driven, bring comfortable shoes: there are a lot of steps.
Pont Alexandre III: late afternoon
The most ornate bridge in Paris. Gilded statues, wide railings. Late in the afternoon, about an hour before sunset, the light there is particularly soft.
The Louvre and the Palais-Royal
The glass pyramid and the inner courtyards. The striped columns of the Palais-Royal are heavily photographed, but the courtyard itself is often quieter.
The Jardin du Luxembourg: for families
Wide, green, the most comfortable of all for families with children. A pond, tree-lined paths, benches everywhere.
How to choose
For a one-hour session, two places are enough: the walk or the ride between them is part of the time. For three places, allow an hour and a half.
I know which spots sit close to each other. Just tell me the style you like, and we build the route together.
To see what these places give in practice, the portfolio has examples.