There are, and always will be, visitors in Paris, at all times of the year. Whether you’re a business traveller looking to book a post-conference headshot session in the height of summer or an independent vacationer taking advantage of the off-peak quiet of the capital, I receive requests for all kinds of outdoor photography services throughout the year. But with regards to the look of your images themselves, is there a best season for photography? Here I'll look at the different times of year and how they can affect the dynamic of a photo shoot.
THE SEASONS IN PARIS
Below are some often overlooked points of things to take into account depending on which time of year you’re planning your private lifestyle or portrait session. As you’ll read, they highlight the fact that every season has advantages and disadvantages when it comes to getting photographed outdoors.
Spring (March, April, May)
Highlights:
✔ Moderate temperatures mean you can be flexible with clothing and changes (you can comfortably wear 1-2 layers).
✔ Like Autumn, you’ll be in no risk of extremes, so temperature-wise this can be a comfortable choice.
Worth Noting:
✎ As you'll be changing between 1-2 layers, carrying clothing accessories is often a necessity.
Summer (June, July, August)
Highlights:
✔ The surest option (i.e. the chance of a shoot being rained off etc is extremely low)
✔ The least amount of clothing layers means greater freedom in movement (which is ideal for lifestyle shoots).
Worth Noting:
✎ With the longer days, early morning shoots become very early.
✎ Late morning and daytime shoots are even more unadvised as, due to the sun's position, the light is extremely hard during the day.
✎ Due to the heat your clothing will often be limited to 1 layer; you’d neither want to wear additional layers, nor would you wish to carry them around with you.
Autumn (September, October, November)
Highlights:
✔ Traditionally the best period for light, making later morning shoots much more feasible.
✔ Moderate temperatures mean you can be flexible with clothing and changes, par ex. you can comfortably wear 1-2 layers.
✔ Like Spring, you’ll be in no risk of extremes, so temperature-wise this can be a comfortable choice.
Worth Noting:
✎ As you'll be changing between 1-2 layers, carrying clothing accessories is often a necessity.
Winter (December, January, February)
Highlights:
✔ Fewer tourists means more intimacy in tourist locations.
✔ Cloudy, low contrast light is excellent for portraits.
✔ With shorter days, early morning shoots start later in the day (better if you’re not typically an early bird).
✔ The chance (though rare!) of a unique snowy Paris.
Worth Noting:
✎ You'll be photographed with your coat (and often gloves) in all photos unless, for portraits, you pose momentarily without it.
✎ More layers mean more limited movement, which isn’t ideal for lifestyle shoots.
SO, WHAT MONTH WOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR YOUR PHOTO SHOOT?
The important things to remember:
Any time of the year can be great for your outdoor photo session.
The above points are of course generalisations; the weather can always surprise, so never plan your Paris visit based on the photo shoot conditions offered by one particular season.
If you want to give yourself the best conditions to be photographed, rather than worrying about the season, it’s much more important and far simpler to concentrate on choosing the best time of day.