This Paris couples photoshoot with incredible singer and all around lovely human, Soldana and her then fiancé, now husband, Thomas, is one we had been SO excited about—and somehow, a rainy Paris morning made it even more romantic.
We knew we wanted the photographs to feel sophisticated and romantic, but also playful and completely them. Nothing too stiff. Nothing that felt like they were trying to become different people for the camera.
And then Paris gave us rain which was the most stunning turn of events.
Between the nearly empty Pont Alexandre III, quiet Parisian streets, café moments tucked beneath an awning, those incredible golden details on the bridge, and some seriously gorgeous black-and-white portraits, this session became everything we love about couples and engagement photography in Paris.
It was the kind of rainy day that creates a dreamy atmosphere all on its own—and lets the beauty of Paris show up in a completely different way.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
- Before the Paris Couples Photoshoot: Soldana’s Vision
- Before the Shoot: How the KDP Photography Team Prepared
- The Day Of: Making Paris Engagement Photo Magic
- Color Vs Black and White Portraits
- Choosing Artwork at the Studio Viewing Session
- FAQ: Paris Couples Photoshoot
- Ready to Book Your Paris Couples Photoshoot?
Before the Paris Couples Photoshoot: Soldana’s Vision
Every KDP session starts before we ever pick up the camera.
We want to know what you’re imagining, what matters to you, and—maybe most importantly—how you want your photographs to feel. With Soldana, we also had the advantage of knowing her for years, so we already knew this was going to be a special one.
And Soldana came PREPARED.
She was so wonderfully organized that she sent our photographers a little PowerPoint of inspiration for the shoot. It included photos of the exact outfits she and her fiancé planned to wear, Pont Alexandre III as one of her dream locations, and even a loose shot list with ideas like a lift and spin, walking while holding hands, a hug from behind, and portraits looking into the camera.
She also included about a dozen black-and-white and color inspiration images, with couples photographed in city streets and grassy parks. There was a really clear visual thread running through everything she sent us: soft black-and-white and cream tones, elegant but relaxed styling, lots of movement, and photographs that felt romantic and editorial while still capturing authentic moments between the two of them.
Basically, she gave us a beautiful window into what she was drawn to—and then trusted us to take that inspiration and make it completely their own.
We asked her a few questions before her Paris engagement photo shoot:
What are the locations you’d like to photograph at?
“We sat in the grass at Invalides for our first date, so would love to do by there including Pont Alexandre III. And we would love some café/Parisian street shots.”
And THIS is exactly why we ask.
Pont Alexandre III would have been an obvious choice for a beautiful Paris couple photoshoot regardless—with its gilded details, gorgeous lampposts, ornate architecture, Seine river setting, and all of that unmistakable Paris grandeur. But knowing that the area around Invalides was where Soldana and her fiancé sat together in the grass on their first date gave the location an entirely different meaning.
Suddenly, we weren’t just choosing one of the best places in Paris for photographs. We were returning to a place that was already part of their love story.
She wanted photographs that felt romantic and elegant without becoming overly posed: movement, Paris streets, beautiful architecture, a little Parisian café moment, and images that captured the way they naturally are together. More than simply creating romantic photos, we wanted the session to hold onto all of those special moments and little interactions that make their relationship theirs.
That last part is always the most important.
When you look back in 20 years, what parts of yourself do you want to see reflected back at you?
“That we’re always happier together.”
We loved this answer because it says so much in so few words. More than a particular pose, outfit, or Paris backdrop, this is what we want these photographs to preserve: the ease and happiness they find in being together. Twenty years from now, the details of this particular morning might feel far away, but that feeling—the way they looked at each other, laughed together, and made even a rainy Paris morning feel like an adventure—is exactly what we hope comes rushing back.
What are three words you would use to describe yourselves?
“Opposites yet complementary.”
Where are the places in your home that you’d love to display your Photographs/Art that we’ll create during your session?
“Either living or dining room.”
We ask this before the session for a reason, too. At KDP, we’re not only thinking about what will look beautiful on the back of the camera that morning. We’re thinking ahead to what these photographs can become in your home.
Knowing that Soldana could picture their artwork in the living or dining room helps us photograph with those finished pieces in mind—the orientation, composition, negative space, tones, and which images might work beautifully together as a grouping. The main reason we talk about artwork this early in the process is that we want what we create to have a life beyond the photoshoot itself.
These little details genuinely help us plan. Our goal is never simply to put a couple in front of a beautiful Paris landmark. We want Paris to be part of the story while still making sure you are the reason the photograph matters. Those intimate moments between two people will always matter more than even the most photogenic spots in the city.
And in this case, we had the perfect combination: Soldana’s incredibly thoughtful vision, a location tied to their first date, a gorgeous neutral palette, and plenty of room for spontaneous moments once we started shooting.
We talk much more about that philosophy in our guide to adding personal meaning to your Paris photoshoot.
Before the Shoot: How the KDP Photography Team Prepared
And then we checked the forecast.
Rain. Rain. And…more rain.
Luckily, after photographing people in Paris for years, weather is something we know how to work with. A less-than-perfect forecast absolutely does not mean your photographs can’t be incredible. In fact, sometimes rainy weather gives us opportunities we never would have had on a sunny morning: softer natural light, reflective streets, fewer people, and a moodier, more cinematic version of the city of lights.
Of course, we keep a close eye on weather forecasts leading up to every session. For this rainy session, we packed our studio’s elegant, clear umbrellas, thought through covered areas near Soldana’s preferred locations, and planned a route that would let us move between Pont Alexandre III, Paris streets, and a café without the morning feeling stressful. A little rain wasn’t going to stop us.
We coordinated with our clients on a meeting point and time, so we were all on the same page.
And if you happen to have Parisian rain in the forecast for your own trip, we have you covered beyond the photoshoot, too. Our guide to Cozy Indoor Escapes for Rainy Days in Paris is full of lovely places to duck into—from historic libraries and Parisian tea salons to museums, covered passages, cafés, and a few more unexpected rainy-day adventures. Having a few indoor ideas in your back pocket is always a good idea.
This is a big part of how a KDP Paris photo session works: you bring us your vision, and we handle the photography logistics, location considerations, posing, weather pivots, and creative problem-solving. As your Paris photographer, our main reason for planning all of this ahead of time is simple: we want you to be able to enjoy the experience instead of worrying about the details.
Rain included.
The Day Of: Making Paris Engagement Photo Magic
The rain gave us the most beautiful version of Paris: quiet, reflective, and almost empty. An overcast sky softened everything around them, while the wet streets gave the city this beautiful sheen that you simply don’t get on a clear morning. We didn’t even end up using our clear umbrellas – but we had them just in case!
We photographed them twirling through the streets and running across the lawn just as birds took flight around them—which is exactly the kind of spontaneous Paris magic you cannot plan. Capturing that movement is the perfect way to keep a romantic session feeling alive rather than overly posed.
Then we tucked into a classic Parisian café moment. Under the protection of an awning, the two of them sat close together sipping café au lait while the rain continued outside. It felt intimate and cinematic and wonderfully French.
Paris is also wonderfully walkable for portraits, so even a short walk between locations can give us entirely new backgrounds and unexpected frames along the way.
If you’re still deciding where your own session should take place, our guide to the best Paris photoshoot locations is a great place to start.
Especially if you’re looking for the best places to combine architecture, streets, greenery, or even an Eiffel Tower view.
Can We Talk About These Outfits?
Both of them wore white, and against the grey-blue softness of a rainy Paris morning, it photographed BEAUTIFULLY.
Soldana wore a gorgeous Rime Arondaky white dress with delicate long lace sleeves, an open V-back, and simple short white heels. Romantic, feminine, and elegant without feeling fussy. Her fiancé, Thomas, coordinated with her in a textured white short-sleeve Henley, tailored navy trousers, and brown leather shoes.
Together, their outfits felt polished but still completely natural to them. The white, navy, and brown created beautiful neutral tones that complemented the architecture and rainy streets rather than competing with them.
If you’re planning your own session and currently have 47 browser tabs open trying to decide what to pack (we see you), start with our Ultimate Guide to What to Wear for a Paris Photoshoot and our Ultimate Summer Packing Guide for Paris.
Color Vs Black and White Portraits
Some photographs just ask to be black and white.
For Soldana’s session, we loved giving many of the final images an editorial black-and-white treatment. The rain softened the city, the pavement reflected the light, and without color competing for attention, your eye goes immediately to their expressions and connection.
They feel timeless.
But then there were the color photographs at Pont Alexandre III.
The ornate golden accents, those gorgeous lampposts, the stonework, French architecture, and soft colors of the overcast morning were too beautiful not to celebrate. Pont Alexandre III is already one of Paris’s most elaborate bridges, but with the streets unusually quiet from the rain, it felt like they had this enormous piece of Paris to themselves.
The result is this really lovely mix: editorial black-and-white portraits alongside romantic color photographs full of unmistakable Parisian detail.
You can view more couples and engagement photographs in our KDP portfolio and see how different locations, weather, outfits, and personalities can completely transform a session.
And if you’re dreaming up your own Paris couple photoshoot, it’s a lovely way to see just how different each couple’s experience can feel.
Choosing Artwork at the Studio Viewing Session
One of our favorite parts of the entire KDP experience happens after the cameras go away.
A few hours after the session, we welcome our clients into our central Paris studio for their cinematic viewing and ordering appointment. This is the moment when you actually get to see everything we created together—and yes, watching clients see their photographs for the first time will probably always be one of our favorite things.
We especially loved seeing Soldana and Thomas react to the black-and-white portraits alongside those gorgeous Pont Alexandre III color images.
And we are absolutely OBSESSED with how this entire gallery came together.
Artwork We Offer at KDP:
At KDP, we don’t want photographs this meaningful to disappear into a camera roll.
We specialize in museum-quality Paris artwork, including premium acrylic wall portraits, framed fine art canvases, hardwood-framed archival photographs, smaller archival prints, and hand-designed fine art albums printed on archival papers. Our wall artwork is created with archival materials and layers of protection designed to last for generations, and artwork can be shipped directly to clients worldwide.
Because the real goal isn’t simply to make a beautiful photograph.
It’s to make something you still want to look at when that “20 years from now” Soldana talked about actually arrives.
Soldana, thank you for trusting us with this chapter. Photographing the two of you was an absolute JOY, rain and all.
FAQ: Paris Couples Photoshoot
We watch the weather closely and plan accordingly. Depending on the forecast, that can mean bringing our transparent umbrellas, incorporating covered locations, adjusting the route, or simply embracing the rain! Paris can be incredibly romantic in wet weather, and Soldana’s engagement session is proof.
Absolutely. Once you book, we’ll guide you through location options based on the feeling you want, your session length, and what matters most to you.
You can also explore our Paris photoshoot location guide for inspiration.
We recommend coordinating rather than trying to match perfectly and, above all, wearing something that feels like you. Once you book, our team also provides detailed wardrobe guidance. Semi-formal, polished outfits tend to photograph beautifully in Paris, but comfort and confidence always matter.
Perfect. You don’t need to.
We’ll direct you throughout your session and give you things to do rather than expecting you to somehow know how to stand in front of a professional camera. Walking, running, twirling, talking, leaning into each other, laughing—movement helps create photographs that feel natural while still looking beautifully composed.
KDP specializes in museum-quality wall art, fine art albums, and archival prints. Artwork orders include their associated digital files for sharing and personal archiving. During your viewing appointment, we’ll help you choose what you genuinely love and what makes sense for your home.
Ready to Book Your Paris Couples Photoshoot?
If you’re dreaming about your own romantic Paris couples photoshoot, get in touch with Katie Donnelly Photography and tell us what you’re imagining.
There’s something really special about engagement photographs because they preserve this tiny in-between moment: you’ve chosen each other, the next chapter is coming, and for right now you get to simply be ridiculously happy together.
And if Paris decides to rain on you while you’re doing it?
We’ll bring the umbrellas.
