The Best Photography Locations in Paris

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-01

Hello fellow Francophiles, Paris lovers and admirers of all things romantic! In this article we are going to talk about the most Romantic City in the World. No, sorry, it's not Berlin, nice try though! One of the most common questions I get asked is for my recommendations on places in Paris to shoot. One day I'll take the time to actually GPS geotag my best photos and share them with you but for now this is going to have to do.

Okay with that being said we shall proceed! Where was I? Oh yes, Paris. Let's talk about great photo opportunities. I have been taking photos of Paris for almost two decades  now and wanted to share some unique views where you can see Paris from a Parisian’s viewpoint. Little known locations you might miss if you were on a quick tourist visit. This is far from a complete list but it is a good start to get your photographic juices flowing!

Having a photo of this iconic landmark is probably the only acceptable proof you have of ever having gone to Paris. If you don't have one, no one will believe that you went there. The most classic shots of the Eiffel tower are taken from the Champs de Mars, the Eiffel Tower itself and the Place Trocadéro, you will find thousands of tourists there taking similar shots! So let's do something different shall we?

The frame in the frame of the Eiffel Tower (Map link here)

On a small side street in the 16th arrondissement there is a beautiful and rarely seen view of the tower. The Eiffel Tower is framed by very nice Haussmannian buildings.

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-02

The Bir-Hakeim Bridge (map link here)

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, an architect who funnily enough has the same last name as the Eiffel tower built the Bir-Hakeim Bridge. Oh wait! That's because he built both of them. Snap! Anyways taking photographs near this bridge will give you some amazing compositional opportunities and some unique views. 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-03

The Eiffel Tower Itself (map link here)

In one of the funnest photo shoots I have ever done in Paris, I was with my good friend and mentor Scott Kelby and we were right at the bottom of it trying different angles and wondering how we could get an original photo that no one had shot. After a few misfires, I had a lightbulb go off over my head and decided to try and make a panorama of three photos to capture the beauty of the structure. I'm sure if you go there you will be inspired to find unique views of your own to capture it!

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-04

The view from the Alexandre III Bridge (map link here)

This is my favorite bridge in Paris what with its amazing lights, sculptures and elegant structure. Find unique views and compositions from here to get some great photos:

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-05

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-06

The three bridges in Paris you must shoot

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-07

The next is a similar composition but from the other side with with Les Invalides behind:

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-08

 

The Pont Neuf (map link here)

 

This one is quite near to the Pont des Arts and for me it is one of the greatest locations where you can find view after view of the beauty of Paris. 

 

Square du Vert-Galant of the Pont Neuf  (map link here)

 

This is another out of the way area and even people who have lived in Paris all their life might not be fully familiar with it. But if you go down close to the Seine as if you were going to get on one of the boat tours, but instead look around for some different views of both the Louvre and the Pont des arts. Here are two shots I got one night with an amazing sunset:

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-09

 

Same view close up:

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-10

 

Photographing the Le Pont Neuf from la Samaritaine, can give you a great compositional opportunity with the the bridge itself as an element leading to the Ile de la Cité and its old buildings.

 

See dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-11

 

Here is a similar view in black and white of the same area during gray weather. When the colors I am seeing and the natural lighting is not all that great, I will usually try and make my photos in black and white for an elegant beauty. 

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-12

 

Pont des Arts (map link here)

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-13

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-14

 

Le Louvre (map link here)

 

Yes you've seen it made even more famous by the Da Vinci code. But don't think it's an easy shoot. On most days it is packed with visitors and tourists. But if you go there during the week (except Wednesday), click your knees together three times and say "there's no place like Paris," you can get a shot like this.

 

See dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

 

Tip: go there right before the city lights go on (sunset) on a clear day and shoot 35 mm and make panoramas, you should get something like this:

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-15

 

Some high vantage points

There is nothing like seeing the City of Lights from a high vantage point, here are the 4 best places for me.

The roof of the Tour Montparnasse (map link here) 

It cost around 10 Euros to go to the top, but it’s worth it and it’s the only place where tripods are allowed, I recommend shooting from 35 to 150 mm, wider you will have trouble with the windows that have been installed:

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-16

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-17

 

The rooftop of the Arc de Triomphe (map link here)

 

Get ready for a serious butt workout as there are lots of stairs you need to hike up. So make sure you are in good shape!

 

See dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

Tip: Tripods are not allowed up there, but if you take a half emptied bag of rice you can use it as a ‘tripod’ by positioning the bag of rice on the edge of the monument (after the barrier) to take a beautiful night shot which is great as the Arc de Triomphe is open late!

View of the Eiffel Tower:

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-18

View of La Defense:

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-19

The Terrace of l’Institue du Monde Arabe (map link here)

This is probably the most hidden and tough to get to of all four, but the view of Notre Dame is certainly worth the extra effort.

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-20

  

Tip: Credits go to Scott Kelby. At the opposite side of this view you will see there are very tiny round windows, there you have the sun that sets and if you go down on your knees you can get this one:

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-21

 

Montmartre (map link here)

 

Montmartre is one of the oldest parts of Paris and has countless photographic opportunities. While it is usually jam packed with tourists and Parisians frequenting the many amazing restaurants and cafes, here are some spots that can give you some beautiful photos away from all the hubbub. 

 

See dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

 

The Dalida Plaza (map link here)

 

A usually empty street with an amazing view and path up towards the Sacré Coeur.

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-22

 

Le Lapin Agile (map link here)

 

Here is a little corner of this part of Montmartre that looks like it was in Disney's Beauty and the Beast! The good news is that not many tourists are here so it's easy to shoot.

Tip: Shoot it as a pano on a tripod with a 35mm lens. You should be able to get it in 4 photos and as cars are not permitted on this street, you should have a clean view.

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-23

Behind the Sacré Coeur (map link here)

See dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

Getting good shots of this icon of Paris is usually a problem because the front is almost always full of people. But if you go behind the Sacré Coeur it is usually empty and has some great photo opportunities after sunset.

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-24

The Montmartre stairs (map link here)

There are lots of stairs in different parts of Montmartre, but these ones in particular have a great view because they are oriented West which can give you a great photo with a nice sunset.

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-25

 

Some More “Top-Secret” Locations

The old Odéon buildings (map link here)

 

See dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

 

This spot is hidden near the Place de l’Odéon with an amazing building, hundreds of years old and ready for you to start shooting your own musketeers movie! 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-26

The Saint Martin Canal (map link here)

My office used to be quite close to hear and I always loved the composition of these stairs. It felt a bit like the countryside in the middle of the city:

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-27

The Sénat at the Luxembourg Gardens (map link here) 

In the middle of the most beautiful Paris garden you will find the Senate, a great building, most of the time the sun sets right behind it, but you have to be fast as they close at sunset, tripods are allowed.

 

🖼️ Want this as a print, for your website, or for a campaign? License it here — ref. PAR-28

 

It was really hard for me to not cover so many other places, but these are definitely some of my most favorites that I wanted to share with you. You can also see dozens of others in my new book on Paris which is available from Amazon and directly from the publisher: Teneus Publishing http://www.teneues.com/

 

You can also see the dates, locations and itineraries for the latest workshops here: https://www.photoserge.com/photography-workshops

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I take a tripod for photos in Paris?

The roof of Tour Montparnasse is the only high vantage point in this list where tripods are allowed — book a ticket, go right before sunset, and shoot with a 35 to 150mm lens, since wider angles run into the safety windows. At the Arc de Triomphe tripods are banned, but a half-emptied bag of rice on the ledge works as a stand-in for night shots.

Where can I photograph the Eiffel Tower without the crowds?

Skip the Champs de Mars and Trocadéro. Head instead to the small side street in the 16th arrondissement near Avenue de Camoëns for the tower framed by Haussmannian buildings, or to the Bir-Hakeim Bridge for a quieter angle.

Where is the best spot for a Montmartre photo walk away from the crowds?

Place Dalida and the street just behind the Sacré-Cœur are both usually empty even when the square in front of the basilica is packed with tourists — go at sunset for the best light.

Explore More Photography Locations

Planning your next photo trip? Here are more of my location guides:

• The Best Photography Locations in New York City
• The Best Photography Locations in Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley
• The Best Photography Locations in Las Vegas
• The Best Photography Locations in Yosemite
• The Best Photography Locations in Iceland
• The Best Photography Locations in San Francisco
• The Best Photography Locations in London
• The Best Photography Locations in Florence & Tuscany
• The Best Photography Locations in Venice