In short: I photographed this North American couple at midday on Pont Alexandre III and the Seine quays, softening the sun with a diffuser, a silver reflector and a Profoto flash. They were very happy with their gallery.
Midday is the hour every photographer would rather avoid. The sun is straight overhead, shadows fall into the eyes, and the stone of Paris throws the light back at full strength. This couple, visiting from North America, only had that slot, and they wanted the Seine and Pont Alexandre III.
Their photos stay private; the image above comes from another couple session in Paris.
At a glance
- Who: a couple from North America on holiday in Paris
- Where: the banks of the Seine and Pont Alexandre III
- When: around midday, in full sun
- The challenge: hard light coming from straight above
- The tools: a flash, a silver reflector and a diffuser
The problem with midday sun
When the sun is that high, it carves dark shadows under the eyes and the nose, and people squint. On the quays there is little shade, and the pale stone of the bridge bounces even more light into the frame. Waiting for softer light was not an option: their trip had its own schedule.
How I worked with it
I used three tools together. A diffuser between the sun and their faces softened the light where it matters. A silver reflector sent light back into the shadows under their eyes. And my Profoto flash filled what the reflector couldn’t reach, so the sky and the bridge kept their colour while their faces stayed clear. None of it got in their way: the couple simply walked, and the light was shaped around them.
The result
They were very happy with their gallery. People often assume a midday session in Paris is lost in advance; with the right equipment, it is just a different way of working.
My advice if you can choose the time
On Pont Alexandre III, the softest light comes in the late afternoon, about an hour before sunset, as I explain in my guide to the best photo spots in Paris. If your plans only leave you midday, don’t cancel: tell me when you book, and I’ll bring the flash, the reflector and the diffuser.
Quick answers
Can you do a couple photoshoot at midday in Paris?
Yes. I soften and fill the light with a diffuser, a silver reflector and a flash.
What is the best time on Pont Alexandre III?
Late afternoon, about an hour before sunset.
How much does a couple session cost?
From €250 for one hour with 15 retouched photos. Details in this article on couple photoshoot prices.
Planning a couple session in Paris? Everything is on the couple session page.