Book a Family Photoshoot
in Bordeaux

This happens all the time, and our family photographers are prepared for it. The secret is that the best family photos don't come from asking kids to pose — they come from play. Your photographer will turn the session into a game: racing along the beach at Biarritz, feeding ducks in Annecy, hunting for gargoyles on Paris' old churches, storming the towers of Carcassonne. Tantrums and shy phases get waited out with a break and a pain au chocolat, and sessions are scheduled around naps and meals. Even a session that feels chaotic in the moment produces wonderful genuine images — often better than the ones where everyone behaved.

There's no wrong age — each stage photographs differently and beautifully. Babies bring quiet, tender close-ups; toddlers bring motion and hilarious candid moments; school-age kids love the adventure of exploring châteaux and beaches on camera; teens relax once they realise nobody is forcing stiff poses. Multi-generation shoots with grandparents are among the most treasured bookings we see, especially on family reunion trips to Provence or the Loire. The one practical tip: with children under five, book morning sessions when energy and light are both at their best. Your Photo France photographer adapts the pace and games to the ages in your group.

Aim for a coordinated palette rather than identical outfits: two or three soft colors that everyone wears in their own way. Creams, soft blues, sage and sand tones look wonderful against Paris' pale stone, Provence's ochre walls and the Atlantic's grey-green sea. Skip big logos, characters and neon shades. Dress kids in clothes they can move and play in — the session will involve running, climbing steps and sitting on beaches or lawns. Bring a change of clothes for little ones (French fountains and beaches are irresistible) and comfortable shoes for cobbled lanes. Your photographer will send simple styling tips for your specific location and season when you book.

Professional photoshoots in Bordeaux start from €310. Packages vary by duration and the number of edited photos — from a short session at the Place de la Bourse to a longer shoot along the quays and through the old Saint-Pierre quarter.

The Place de la Bourse doubled in the Miroir d'eau, the world's largest reflecting pool; the Pont de Pierre stretching its arches over the Garonne; the Porte Cailhau and the lanes of the Saint-Pierre quarter; the Grand Théâtre colonnade; and the long riverside quays. The whole 18th-century waterfront is a UNESCO-listed backdrop.

Golden hour into blue hour on the quays — the limestone facades face the river and catch the evening light, and once the Place de la Bourse lights up, its reflection in the Miroir d'eau is the city's signature shot. Early morning is the quiet alternative, with mist sometimes hanging over the Garonne. Note the Miroir d'eau alternates water, mirror and mist cycles, and typically rests in winter.