Photographing Paris
Whether you are a professional with a nice camera or an amateur with a cellphone, here is some advice to help you get unforgettable pictures of Paris. As AJ says in our podcast episode, in Paris, “you could accidentally drop your camera and take a picture, and it’ll be good.” Listen to AJ’s tips on our podcast episode here.
View and purchase AJ’s Paris prints here.
AJ answers some questions about how to best photograph Paris, below.
What camera equipment did you use on your trip?
Canon 5D Mark IV with 50mm lens, no tripod or telephoto lens. I wanted to keep my setup simple and compact. I also wanted to avoid drawing too much attention to myself. For this trip, I wanted to focus on enjoying Paris and didn’t want to get distracted by a backpack full of gear. I also recommend getting a camera bag that looks like a normal backpack. I didn’t want to be the target of a pick pocketer.
Here is the gear I brought:
Canon 5D Mark IV
Canon nifty fifty lens
5 batteries
4 CF cards
Is there anything special you need to do to travel through airport security with camera equipment?
No issues with camera equipment going through the airport. Just make sure you have your camera in your carry-on with the batteries.
What is the best time of day to take pictures?
Sunrise, early morning along the Seine. There is a lot less people out in the morning and the lighting is perfect. We usually took pictures during the morning and then put the camera away and enjoyed the afternoon. There was too many people out during sunset, and by that time I just wanted to enjoy some food and drinks and not have my camera out.
What are your tips for capturing the iconic Eiffel Tower?
Treat it like a mountain in a landscape picture. Put it in the background of a picture and find a beautiful foreground to go with it. Take a shot with it between buildings, with the Seine in the foreground. The best Eiffel Tower picture I took was by the Pont Alexandre III in the morning or with trees in the foreground with just a leg/top of the Tower showing.
What is your favorite picture that you took?
My favorite picture did not have the Eiffel tower in it. It was in the morning along the Seine with all of the bridges glowing orange and it had the silhouette of the city. I actually took it quick and didn’t think anything of it until I got home and started editing. I think it perfectly captured the early morning on the Seine.
What is the most photographable place in Paris?
Montmartre. Around the art square.
Tips to help others get great shots?
Don’t just focus on the big landscape shot with the Eiffel Tower in it. Try to capture what makes Paris unique from other cities like the old stone streets, the markets/street vendors or the classic Parisian bistro chairs outside. Let your creativity run wild and don’t forget to just wander off the main drag and explore a bit. Take your time.
