A long time ago, I was a family photographer, but I decided to focus on couples and photograph weddings, engagements and surprise proposal. But when this beautiful family contacted me about a family photoshoot in Provence, France, I absolutely could not say no. A family photoshoot is an incredible way to capture family memories to cherish forever. Children grow quickly from year to year, it’s so important to capture their child hood before they’re grown and out the door!
First Contact
I was contacted by a lovely young mom from Austin, Texas. She told me that she and her family, which included her husband and two small children, ages 7 and 9, would be vacationing in Provence, and staying in the marvelous town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. She told me it had been a while since they had a professional family photoshoot, and thought that it could be a good idea during their vacation in Provence. I told her it was a fantastic idea, and suggested the nearby medieval town of Les Baux de Provence for her family. Given that she told me they liked historic things with a bit of nature, and that it’s only a few minutes drive from Saint-Remy, we decided to meet in Les Baux. I was so excited to meet this family!
Meeting the Family in Les Baux de Provence
The morning of the photoshoot, I was so excited. I love Les Baux, and Provence, so much. Summertime is pure bliss, and because it does get pretty hot and very sunny, photoshoot in Provence in summer are advised for early morning. Not many families want to get up super early on their vacation, I can understand that, but it’s really quite essential. For one, it will get really busy with tourists the later you go, and will not be as nice an experience. Second, it gets pretty hot fairly early, and the sun is so strong and bright, it cause squinting in most people, and that isn’t much fun either (although you can certainly bring sunglasses).
I was so glad Dana and her family agreed to meet me in the early morning. The sun had just come up in Les Baux when I arrived from the nearby town of Arles, and it was absolutely stunning. I met the lovely family at the entrance to Les Baux and we walked into the town together.
A Family Walk Around Les Baux
I noticed many things about this beautiful family when I met them. Mom, Dana, is a beautiful blond lady with a cheerful smile and wonderful energy. The children, Joshua and Lauren, we so lovely and friendly. I learned that Joshua is a baseball phenom at his young age, and Lauren likes gymnastics. It’s so important to me as a family photographer in Provence to connect with the children right away. Not all children appreciate being photographed, in fact some children rather despise it, but it’s my job to make it fun. I always treat the children with respect, and listen to their boundaries. When they get tired, we stop, we rest, maybe we get something to eat or drink, and I ask the children about themselves.
Of course, I also love to learn about mom and dad, and I learned that Dana and her husband had just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary. Bolton told me something very important, like many men, and dads, being photographed is not high on his wish list. He shared with me that most men really dislike being photographed. I told him I completely understood, and I do.
I try to make photoshoots as fun and interactive as possible. First, we move a lot, we don’t stay in any one place too long. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the area with my families, and learning more about them too, bonding over places we’ve been or things we’ve experienced.
For women who have husbands or boyfriends that aren’t keen on photographs, I understand their discomfort. Because it’s often not enjoyable for men, I can recommend planning something special for them after the photoshoot, like a nice lunch, or an activity they’ll really love–maybe something outdoors, like kayaking, golfing, or even just the rest of the day relaxing by the pool. Dads are so important, and I always want them to feel comfortable during our family photoshoots.
Les Baux is One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France
Les Baux is truly one of the most beautiful villages in France, in fact, it’s on such a list with other beautiful villages like Gordes. It’s a small village, with just one main cobblestone street, and no one really lives there anymore, it’s mostly tourism. Its crowning jewel are the remains of a chateau one can visit, but as its just ruins, some imagination is required. On the top of the rock are magnificent views of the entire valley–you’ll see vineyards and lots of olive trees. It’s truly spectacular.
In summer, Les Baux comes alive, and if you arrive around 9:30 am or later, you’ll have busloads of tourists to compete with on the narrow streets. There are plenty of restaurants and lots of things to do nearby. Not only can you enjoy a hike, with beautiful views of the Alpilles mountains, but there are some very interesting rock formations.
Culturally, the fantastic Carrières des Lumieres, an immersive art exhibit, where life-size art is projected onto gargantuan quarry walls, is a must-do. Inside, it’s about ten degrees cooler than outside, and you literally feel like you’re walking through a painting. It’s simply spectacular, plan to spend around an hour here and soak in the art.
How Do Family Photo Sessions Work in Provence?
We walk a lot during a family photoshoot, we’ll stop and have a look around, create some beautiful family memories, and have some fun. On this day, we walked the main cobblestone street, stopping off at an old church, then continuing to the main overlook, stopping for photos along the way. I always try to do a mix of photos–the entire family, mom and dad, the children together, the children separate, the children with mom, the children with dad. That way, everyone gets a turn, and if mom and dad individually would also love some photos they can cherish, we stop for those, too.
After the fun of walking around Les Baux, we took a little nature trail to a gorgeous olive tree grove, with a view of the rock of Les Baux behind. The nature here is just so stunning! Now, sadly, it was time to say goodbye. I loved this family so much, they have so much love between them and so much positive energy. It was a joy to photograph them, and I can’t wait to meet many more families just like them!
Family Photographer in Provence
If your family is visiting Provence or the French Riviera, and you’d love to capture some amazing family memories, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, I’d love to meet you!
