Paris pre-wedding photo session: a practical guide

Every couple wants something different, so think about your own style, your budget and the look you want before you choose locations. Each season gives Paris a different look: blossom in spring, autumn leaves, and lights in the streets in winter.

Paris is made for walking together: through the streets, over the bridges, to a coffee and a croissant in a small café. Wherever you go there is an elegant backdrop, and the photos work as save-the-date cards or prints for your walls. Gardens, cafés and grand squares suit a classic, vintage or modern style.

A couple from Japan started their session with me at a café, then moved on to the Bir-Hakeim bridge, the Seine and the Trocadéro: see their pre-wedding session.

Once you have booked your photographer and your date, a few more things need deciding. The more time you put into preparing, the more you will enjoy the session itself.

First decide where you want to be photographed: Paris has views, cafés, streets, terraces and monuments everywhere. About three quarters of engagement and pre-wedding sessions start near the Eiffel Tower, but don't stop there. Plan the practical side too: where you stay, how you get around, and enough time to travel between locations.

Couples often ask me what time to start. It depends on the locations you choose:

• For the best light, go at sunrise or sunset. Photographers call it flattering light. In the middle of the day, even in good weather, the sun casts hard shadows.
• For the famous spots, start early. The best view of the Eiffel Tower is from the Trocadéro, and during the day thousands of people walk there, which makes a daytime session almost impossible. Alex and Mari had it almost to themselves at sunrise.

The longer the session, the more locations we can visit. Tell your photographer what you expect and check they know the places you have in mind. Paris is big, and some locations are a metro, train or taxi ride apart. I suggest choosing locations close to each other, so we can walk between them and I can photograph you on the way.

If you want more locations, split the day into a morning and an evening session. It makes the logistics easier.

Choose outfits that suit the locations and your own style. If we visit several locations, you can bring more than one outfit for different looks. For a pre-wedding session it should be your wedding dress. You can buy it at home: in many countries in Asia it costs less, and you have more time to find the right style and size. The only drawback is carrying the dress to Paris.

The other option is to buy or rent a dress in Paris. Leave time for it, and expect it to cost more than bringing one from home. For more ideas, read what to wear for a Paris photo session.

Professional make-up and hair are not essential, but I recommend them, especially if we visit several locations and you want your hair to last from morning to evening. If you do your own make-up, look for styles that match your outfit and the feel you want for your photos.

There are no rules: enjoy the moment and feel comfortable. Tell me in advance about the style and the kind of photos you like, so I can plan the session around you and suggest ideas.

Paris is a romantic city. Close embraces, soft kisses, hands held and glances between you.

The two of you as you are, unposed, so your real connection shows.

My favourite. A twirl, a jump or a run tells the story of your day in Paris, like Stephanie and Herman running across the Trocadéro.

The cost depends on how long the session lasts and what it includes. These are the parts to budget for:

1. Photographer: fees vary with experience and demand. My engagement session is €1,200; ask me what a pre-wedding session in Paris includes.
2. Location fees and permits: some well-known places in Paris charge for professional photography or need a permit. I usually leave those out, but we can include them if you ask. The Palace of Versailles and its gardens, for example, have their own entry fees and rules for professional photography.
3. Make-up and hair: a professional artist is an extra cost, depending on the look and the artist.
4. Travel and accommodation: if you come to Paris for the session, add flights or trains and your stay. If Paris is already part of your holiday, budget a little for taxis between locations.
5. Outfits and accessories: the dress, suit and accessories, bought or rented. Rental prices in Paris vary widely.

If you are planning a pre-wedding in Paris, tell me your date and I will be happy to be your pre-wedding photographer in Paris.