photoshoot in Paris Archives • Rachel Calvo Portraits

Visiting Paris by yourself? Solo travellers, this one’s for you

by Rachel Calvo | 20 May, 2019 | Paris Photoshoots

Paris, Paris, you are such a celebrity; you are pretty and you know it, and your reputation precedes you – which is a good and bad thing because admit it, you are a little bit intimidating too, right?

As an Aussie living in Paris, I know only too well what it’s like to become overwhelmed while weaving one’s way through a foreign city. A friendly face, amongst a sea of cranky Parisians, is a truly welcome sight especially when it belongs to someone with some local knowledge. I love hanging out with the locals when I travel!

Paris Photoshoots for Solo Travellers

So if you are looking for that friendly face and maybe want to capture some of your excellent adventure in beautiful timeless portraits – I’m your girl. I’ve accompanied many a solo traveller on my photo shoots in Paris. There is nothing more fun than dressing up and visiting some of the world’s mosts famous iconic sights. I’ll give you as much direction and posing prompts as needed, consequently, there will be a lot of laughing. We can also confuse the public at the same time… “is she some kind of celebrity?” or “who does she think she is, some kind of celebrity” hehe!

Sunrise shoots at the Eiffel Tower are a famous bucket list item for solo travellers in Paris. We can certainly shoot at sunrise for the most beautiful light, however anytime of the day is gorgeous on the Trocadero and surrounding areas. We will be competing with crowds but it is still possible to get that magic shot with a little patience.

My recent Eiffel Tower photoshoot with Jess

photoshoot in paris solo traveller photoshoot Eiffel tower

Solo traveller Photoshoot Paris

Sammy was in town for one night only, and we literally had 45 minutes on a rainy day for her solo traveller photoshoot in Paris. Evilyne was on a fly by visit to see family based in Paris

Paris dream photo shoot photo shoot pont alexandre 3 bridge paris

Photoshoot Montmartre

Babette and I had a lovely afternoon sauntering around Paris: St Michel, Notre Dame and la Butte Montmartre. We were devastated to see our beautiful Cathedral de Notre Dame up in flames only 2 days later.

If you are visiting or in Paris right now and want some extra special souvenirs, book your own private solo traveller photoshoot Paris with me. Priceless memories, yours forever. Contact me for a chat

For a VIP experience with professional hair and makeup and access to my studio wardrobe, I recommend you visit my page for Couture Paris Portrait Sessions

Eiffel Tower Photoshoot

by Rachel Calvo | 11 Apr, 2019 | Paris Photoshoots

Euphrasie was travelling through Paris by herself, at a time of the year that I consider the best time of the year in Paris – Spring! For her Eiffel Tower photoshoot we found ourselves on the Champs de Mars where the very famous giant Magnolia tree offered an interesting juxtaposition against the Iron Lady. What I particularly love about these photos is the contrast of Euphrasie’s femininity and the pinks of the magnolia against the heavy metal structure in the background.

Then we headed up towards the Trocadero for that very well known dramatic perspective of the Eiffel Tower. The walk up from the Champs de Mars is a nice little adventure too! Especially for family photography as the traditional carrousels are also very photogenic and fun for kids and family photos.

Your private photographer in Paris

I would love to capture your time in Paris. Would you like to experience your own magazine style photoshoot in Paris, such as this one for Euphrasie — A couture portrait session with me is produced in the same way as when I work for a fashion magazine editorial. It’s your very own private photoshoot with hair and makeup and beautiful designer gowns. Have you ever dreamed of your own celebrity style photoshoot? Otherwise, I have quick informal style shoots too click here for further information on my Paris photoshoots.

Couples Photoshoot in Paris with Eric and Sibo

by Rachel Calvo | 7 Apr, 2019 | Paris Photographer

The ever so lovely Eric and Sibo contacted me for a couples photoshoot in Paris, as part of their worldwide honeymoon tour. Brilliant idea! Eiffel Tower and le Louvre were our agreed locations, however, the weather was not at all on our side. While Sibo was having her makeup done in her hotel room, it was literally torrential rain outside. We decided to risk it and as our Uber approached the Trocadero, I gazed in amazement over to the Eiffel Tower as the clouds parted, and the sun came streaming through. Biblical moment, much??

Exist in photos for future generations

While we were shooting, Eric and Sibo talked about the importance of recording this special time of their life. We all agreed on the significance of investing in photography and they said it was something they would continue to do as they strongly believe in the value of photos as a legacy. What better way to offer their future generations a glimpse of who they were and their time on this earth.

Finally we headed over to Le Louvre where the light was magical. The Louvre is a great photoshoot location as there are so many possibilities within a short distance including: Jardins de Tuileries, Palais Royal and just on the other side of the Louvre is the main river that runs through Paris, la Seine which offers an entirely new perspective for your photos’ backdrop. There are so many photographic opportunities in Paris, where would you like your couples’ photoshoot in Paris to take place?

happy couples photoshoot louvre paris photographer

Couples photoshoots in Paris

I would love to capture your time in Paris! I offer short-n-sweet couples photoshoots in Paris, such as this one for Eric and Sibo or epic couture portrait sessions that play out the same way a photoshoot works for a fashion magazine editorial. It’s your very own private photoshoot with hair and makeup and beautiful designer gowns. Have you ever dreamed of your own celebrity style photoshoot? Further information on my Paris photoshoots.

Why I decided to have a photo shoot with Rachel Calvo. A testimonial by Yasmine Lesire.

by Rachel Calvo | 13 Jan, 2019 | Personal Branding Photography

Less than a year ago, I received a request for private French classes from a lady who didn’t live very far from my place, two train stations away only – a miracle in Paris. We met for an introduction meeting and she explained to me her professional project. She was developing a photography service for women. Her project took all my attention. With her best French, she told me why she wants to shoot women, not models, but real women with their beauty, complexity, diversity and authenticity. She offers a unique occasion to women to see their beauty as they are. She proves to them they are all beautiful the way they are.

Rachel took a few classes with me and I was really interested in her project and its evolution. At that time, I already had nice personal branding pictures. I was using them on my social medias and in the signature of my emails. As a business owner, I try to pay attention to the dos and donts in terms of visibility. In addition to visibility, and showing your customers who they are talking to, some advice I read often about social media is to keep your profile picture recent, especially if you are active and interact a lot with people.

During the summer, I was tired of my profile picture and I wanted to give it a new trend and also a new style. A style that was closer to my personal tastes and easily identified. In the same time, I was closely following Rachel’s work on Instagram. Her Instagram account made me dream. I love the style of her photos. At the beginning, I wrongly thought, her sessions were maybe too artistic and suddenly, one day, I saw that she was also offering personal branding pictures for professionals. They were gorgeous and authentic. It took me 2 sec to grab my phone and contact her to plan a photo shoot for my own personal branding. She is so professional that it didn’t take her long to set up everything. The only thing I had to do is to bring my clothes. Rachel knows me quite well now and she reminded me to take a leather jacket, I have a collection of leather jackets and I never go out without mon CUIR.

During half a day, I followed her through Paris. She knew exactly what she wanted to do and where. She guided me through the city. Rachel knows exactly how to encourage natural and relaxed expression as she knows what to say to make you feel comfortable. I was impressed by her facility to identify the moment and capture it. We started near the emblematic Eiffel Tour and we finished the shoot in Montmartre, in a behind the scene spot where only a few people go.

After a few weeks, I was very impatient to see the results. I was hopping up and down and finally, we met for a “reveal session”. Oh my god, I was so happy. The color, the light, the style, everything was perfect. Her pictures reflect my personality and how I am. I look very comfortable on the pictures and it is a miracle because I don’t like to be in front of a camera at all.

I will definitely keep a close eye on Rachel’s work and I will for sure redo a session as soon as I get tired of these pictures, which will take probably a very long time as she gave me enough pictures to be able to create a nice rotation for a couple of months.

Thank you Yasmine, it was fun, and interesting!, to read the experience of a photoshoot with me, from a client’s perspective. I am so glad you enjoyed our photo session and the results.

Want to see photos from my shoot with Yasmine? Well, I’ve already blogged them! You can read about the shoot from the photographer’s perspective and view the results Over Here >