Most people visiting France have never heard of a small town in the south of France called Arles. But they should! A town of just 50,000 people, Arles is a historic Roman town with many Roman artifacts still intact, like the amazing arènes (Roman arena), also famous for being a stop on the Vincent Van Gogh tour of Provence, he spent a year here painting. In addition to that, there’s more fun festivals in spring, summer and fall than you can imagine, gorgeous nature nearby (including the famous Camargue), and restaurants serving up delicious food. I love photographing couples in Arles, so when I was contacted for this engagement photoshoot in Provence, I was thrilled!
Arles is a Wonderful Place for a Photoshoot
Arles is a fantastic place for a photoshoot! Arles is real, Arles is authentic, Arles is friendly, Arles is colorful, Arles is artsy, Arles is, well, just amazing! I should know, I bought a home built in 1763 during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic in the old town and have been renovating it ever since. I’ll never give up my home in Paris, Paris means too much to me, but being able to live the Provence lifestyle has also been incredible.
The most incredible thing about having a home in Arles is sharing the town with visitors, and I love to show my clients around this magnificent town and share what I’ve learned, including some of the Arles Provençal traditions.
A Fine September Day
On this fine September day, I had the opportunity to meet Zach and Carly, newly engaged, living in Washington, DC and visiting Provence for the first time. Their trip took them to towns like Gordes, in the Luberon, Avignon, and Isle de la Sorgue, where Zach proposed in the weekly market! Now spending a few days’ in Arles, it was time to capture some amazing engagement photos!
I love to start at the old arena, some call the colosseum. It’s small compared to Rome and the one in Nîmes, but I find it so charming. I photographed this in love couple on the steps, and then we wound our way around the town, stopping in cute, colorful doorways, under magnificent green foliage, and to some of my very favorite spots.
A Walk Across the Rhone River
We had a little extra time, so we walked across the Trinquetaille bridge, which was painted in 1888 by Van Gogh, and the other side offers a gorgeous view of Arles, along with the mighty Rhone River. I had so much fun photographing Zach and Carly, they were so friendly and asked so many great questions about Arles, and France, which I love to share.
Topping it All Off at a Café
We ended our morning at a charming Arles cafe, with a coffee. It was so fun, I didn’t want to say goodbye! My very best wishes to this lovely couple, I know they’re going to have a wonderful life together.
Karina Leigh Photography
So, how to find Arles, and when to come? Arles is a short 20 minute train ride from Avignon, and an hour train ride from Marseille. It’s a great location, with tons of cute places to stay. Learn more about Arles and plan your visit with the Office of Tourism. Plan your Provence photo session today!
