Updated October 13, 2026
If you are leaving Paris after living here, a farewell family photoshoot in a place you love is the best souvenir you can take with you. As a Paris family photographer, I met Kristen and her family in the gardens of the Palais Royal on a crisp spring day, a few weeks before they moved to Singapore.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
A Last Family Photoshoot Before Leaving Paris
On a crisp spring day I met Kristen and her lovely family in the gardens of Palais Royal to celebrate their last few weeks in Paris with a final family photo session. After a few years of living here it was time for them to move on.. to Singapore! How neat is that!!? Happy adventures guys!
Spring in the Gardens of the Palais Royal
The Palais Royal is one of our three favorite locations in Paris. In spring the garden fills with daffodils and blossom, the tree-lined alleys turn green, and the striped columns in the courtyard are a playground for a toddler.
Hot Chocolate Under the Arcades
We finished at a café under the arcades with hot chocolate, which is how every session with a toddler should end.
Moving on from Paris, or visiting for the first time?
Either way, go home with portraits. Family sessions with our English-speaking team start at €150, and you see your photos the same day in our Saint-Germain studio.
Or first see how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
Tips for a Family Photoshoot at the Palais Royal with a Toddler
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- Let them explore. Flowers, columns, gravel and fountains are all fascinating at that age.
- Follow, don’t direct. The best photos here are of him smelling daffodils and peeking round a column.
- Plan a treat for the end.
- Dress in layers for spring. See our what to wear guide and my favorite pieces on ShopMy.
Read more: a family photoshoot at the Palais Royal and the Louvre, 5 reasons to do a Paris photoshoot in spring, and why your two-year-old doesn’t smile for the camera. Or visit our Paris family photographer page.
Palais Royal Family Photoshoot Questions
Yes. The gardens are enclosed and calm, with flowers, tree-lined alleys, fountains and the striped columns in the courtyard to explore.
Spring is lovely, with daffodils and blossom in the gardens, but the columns and arcades work all year.
Yes. This family had lived in Paris for a few years and booked a final session before moving abroad.
Yes. This session ended with hot chocolate at a café under the arcades.
“Zoë put us at ease right away during our family photoshoot in the Jardin de Luxembourg and had some great ideas for different settings and poses.”
Clementine D., family photoshoot
5-star Google review
About the author
Katie Donnelly, Paris Photographer
Katie Donnelly is an American photographer who opened her Paris studio in 2013 and was voted Best Portrait Photographer in Paris in 2017. She and her English-speaking team photograph families, couples and solo travelers at sunrise, so visitors go home with relaxed, real portraits instead of rushed selfies. Meet Katie and the team.
Ready to Book Your Paris Photoshoot?
Happy adventures, wherever you go next. Take Paris with you.
- When: Mornings, just after sunrise, when the city is quiet
- Who: Families, couples, engagements and proposals, and solo travelers, with an English-speaking team
- Your photos: Viewed the same day at our studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Session fee: From €150. Inquire for our full price list.
Tell us your dates and we will help you plan the rest.
Or first see how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
