The best hotels for Paris photoshoots can give you something completely different from the classic Eiffel Tower, Seine, or cobblestone-street portraits. Think beautiful interiors, private terraces, gorgeous window light, and a little glimpse into where you actually stayed during your trip.
Lately, we’ve been doing more and more hotel photoshoots in Paris.
We totally understand why. If you’ve chosen a beautiful Paris hotel, you may already have an incredible backdrop without realizing it. Maybe your room has an Eiffel Tower balcony, a gorgeous garden, or interiors that made you immediately pull out your phone. In that case, it makes sense to include the hotel in your photos.
We especially LOVE when a hotel has some significance beyond simply being beautiful. We’ve photographed clients returning to a hotel where they got engaged. Other couples have incorporated a hotel that has become part of their Paris traditions. For families, the hotel can simply be another way to document the story of their trip.
That said, photographing inside a Paris hotel is very different from photographing on the streets. Every hotel has its own approach to professional photography. The rules can also change depending on the day, the staff, the spaces you want to use, and whether an event has privatized part of the property.
After doing more and more Paris hotel photoshoots recently, we thought it would be helpful to put everything we’ve learned in one place. From grand palace hotels to smaller boutique hotels, there are plenty of options depending on the look you want.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
- Map of the Best Paris Hotels for Photoshoots
- What to Know Before Planning a Photoshoot at a Paris Hotel
- Le Bristol Paris Photoshoot: Garden and Classic French Interiors
- Ritz Paris Photoshoot: Grand Staircase, Garden and French Details
- Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris Photoshoot
- Shangri-La Paris Photoshoot: One of Our Favorites for Eiffel Tower Terraces
- The Peninsula Paris Photoshoot: Spacious Rooms and Contemporary Parisian Style
- InterContinental Paris Le Grand Photoshoot: Beautiful, But Restrictive
- La Fantaisie Paris Photoshoot: Colorful, Modern Hotel Interiors
- Hôtel de Crillon Paris Photoshoot: Elegant Rooms and Place de la Concorde
- Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel Photoshoot: Modern Rooms with an Eiffel Tower View
- Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle Photoshoot
- How to Choose the Best Paris Hotel Room for Your Photoshoot
- Should Your Entire Paris Photoshoot Take Place at Your Hotel?
- What If Your Paris Hotel Doesn’t Allow Photoshoots?
- FAQ: Paris Hotel Photoshoots
- Ready to Book Your Paris Hotel Photoshoot?
One important thing before we start:
all of the hotels below require you to be a guest of the hotel in order to plan a portrait session there. Policies can also change. So, always contact the hotel directly before your session rather than assuming that past permission guarantees future access.
If you’re still deciding between a hotel session and an outdoor location, take a look at our guide to the 13 Best Paris Photoshoot Locations too.
It’s especially helpful for first-time visitors who want to get a sense of our favorite spots around the city.
Map of the Best Paris Hotels for Photoshoots
Trying to figure out where all of these hotels are in relation to the rest of your Paris itinerary?
View our Google Map of Paris Hotels for Photoshoots:
Location is definitely worth considering when you book.
We often recommend combining your hotel with a second Paris photoshoot location. So, choosing a hotel in central Paris near the neighborhood or landmark you’d like to photograph afterward can make the session flow much more easily. In some cases, your next location may even be just a 10-minute walk away.
What to Know Before Planning a Photoshoot at a Paris Hotel
Here is the biggest thing we’ve learned: ask ahead.
Most Paris hotels want to know in advance if a professional photographer will be coming onto the property. Some will simply approve photography in your room. Others may give you access to a garden, staircase, lobby, rooftop, or another public space at a specific time.
Occasionally, the concierge will tell us that someone from the hotel needs to accompany us. In reality, we’ve found that this doesn’t always happen once we’re actually there.
Interestingly, we’ve also found that hotel guests themselves tend to have the most success when asking for access.
When our clients ask the concierge about taking a few photographs in a beautiful salon or on a rooftop, the answer is surprisingly often yes. The same goes for other special areas of the property. On the other hand, we’ve found hotels can be a little more cautious when that request comes directly from the photographer.
For that reason, we recommend that you, as the hotel guest, contact the concierge before the photoshoot. This is especially important if there is a particular space you have your heart set on.
Also, keep in mind that permission can be very specific. Approval to photograph in your room does not necessarily mean we can photograph in the lobby, restaurant, garden, staircase, or other public areas. One of our top tips is to ask about each space you’re interested in rather than requesting general permission to photograph at the hotel.
Le Bristol Paris Photoshoot: Garden and Classic French Interiors
We’ve photographed at Le Bristol Paris before, both inside guest rooms and in the hotel garden. Our experiences there have been lovely, and it has become one of our favorite hotels for this type of session.
The staff has been sweet, welcoming, and accommodating. We don’t assume that photography is automatically permitted throughout the hotel’s other public spaces. Still, this is one of those properties where it can absolutely be worth asking the concierge ahead of time.
Visually, Le Bristol works beautifully if you want your Paris hotel photoshoot to feel classic rather than ultra-modern. The rooms and suites vary, but you’ll find traditional French furnishings, beautiful fabrics, and artwork. Some room categories also overlook the hotel garden or have balconies and terraces.
The garden is especially nice for photos. It gives us a completely different setting without having to leave the hotel. The greenery and elegant surroundings can also create a really romantic atmosphere.
Le Bristol is a great option if you want classic Parisian interiors with the possibility of adding greenery. Just ask in advance about any spaces outside your room.
Ritz Paris Photoshoot: Grand Staircase, Garden and French Details
If your vision involves ornate molding, gilded details, antique furniture, and a very traditional Parisian aesthetic, the Ritz Paris is an obvious one to consider. Its location in the heart of the city also makes it easy to combine with another location afterward.
The Ritz requires advance permission for professional photography. The hotel’s published terms also state that professional photoshoots require prior written authorization.
From our experience, photoshoots can be permitted inside a guest’s hotel room. However, there are fairly specific rules for photography elsewhere.
We have been given approximately 30 minutes of permitted shooting time. Hotel staff can also escort us to specific approved locations, such as the grand staircase. Depending on availability, the garden may be an option as well.
Additionally, we’ve been asked to make sure the Ritz logo isn’t visible in the final photographs. Access is generally limited to the hotel guest or guests being photographed and the photographer. So, don’t plan on bringing additional people along unless the hotel approves it.
Because the rules are quite structured, this is definitely one to arrange ahead of time.
For the right client, though, those details can make an incredible backdrop. If you want your Paris portraits to have a distinctly historic and formal French feeling, the interiors do a lot of the visual work for us.
Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris Photoshoot
The Four Seasons Hotel George V is another beautiful option for a luxury hotel photoshoot in Paris.
The hotel is an Art Deco landmark dating to 1928. Inside, you’ll find oversized rooms and suites, beautiful floral installations, and an elegant marble courtyard. Some rooms also have views of the Eiffel Tower.
Architecturally, the property offers plenty of the traditional French details our clients often have in mind. Think decorative molding, gilded accents, elegant furniture, and interiors that immediately feel Parisian.
We’ve also been able to photograph in certain public areas when access was organized with the concierge. As always, we would arrange that in advance rather than assuming a particular space will be available.
If you’re planning an engagement, anniversary, or couples session while you’re in Paris, you can also read more about our Couples & Engagement Photography in Paris.
As with the other hotels on this list, contact the concierge before your shoot. Most importantly, ask specifically which areas may be used for photography.
Shangri-La Paris Photoshoot: One of Our Favorites for Eiffel Tower Terraces
For clients dreaming about hotel balcony photos with the Eiffel Tower, Shangri-La Paris is one of the first hotels that comes to mind.
Some of its rooms have extraordinary private Eiffel Tower terraces. Certain room categories offer furnished terraces with unobstructed views of the tower. From a photography perspective, it’s hard to beat that. If photographing the iron lady from your own terrace is high on your list, this can be the perfect place.
Compared with some of the more ornate historic hotels on this list, we find the overall feel here cleaner and more modern. The clean lines can be perfect if heavy gilding and antique furniture aren’t really your style.
We’ve also found the Shangri-La team very welcoming and accommodating to work with. However, one important restriction from our experience is that photoshoots are not permitted in the restaurant.
Access to other public areas should be discussed directly with the hotel before your session.
If the Eiffel Tower is a priority, this hotel can also pair beautifully with a second outdoor location. Our guide to the Best Eiffel Tower Engagement Photo Session Locations has plenty of ideas, including Bir-Hakeim bridge and other classic viewpoints.
The Peninsula Paris Photoshoot: Spacious Rooms and Contemporary Parisian Style
The Peninsula Paris is worth looking at if you want a polished luxury hotel aesthetic without going completely traditional.
The hotel has 200 rooms, including 93 suites. Its interiors combine contemporary artwork with elegant furnishings. Some of the highest room categories also have seriously impressive terraces. The hotel even has a dedicated Rooftop Eiffel Suite.
We also love when the hotel itself means something to the people we’re photographing. We recently photographed a couple who had gotten engaged at The Peninsula and later returned to the hotel for a couples photoshoot. In that case, photographing there wasn’t simply about finding a beautiful backdrop. It gave them a chance to return to a place that was already part of their story together.
Those are some of our favorite hotel sessions because the location adds another layer to the photographs. The images aren’t just about what Paris looked like during the trip. They also connect back to an actual memory. That’s where the real magic of choosing a meaningful location comes in.
For photography, we would approach The Peninsula the same way we approach any luxury Paris hotel. First, book the hotel because you genuinely want to stay there. Then, choose your room carefully and contact the concierge before your session.
If there is a specific staircase, terrace, lobby, or public area you’ve seen online, send the hotel a photo of it when you ask. That removes a lot of ambiguity. It also makes it much easier to know exactly what has — and hasn’t — been approved.
InterContinental Paris Le Grand Photoshoot: Beautiful, But Restrictive
The InterContinental Paris Le Grand is gorgeous. It opened under Napoleon III, and its rooms and suites take inspiration from Second Empire style. The property also has some incredible historic spaces, including the Opéra Ballroom.
Unfortunately, from a photoshoot perspective, this one can be tricky.
Based on our experiences with the hotel, professional photography is not officially permitted in the public areas. Because of that, we generally would not recommend booking the InterContinental specifically because you want to photograph in its public interiors.
Yes, the ballroom is stunning. But we cannot count on being able to use it.
If you’re already staying here and love your room, reach out to the hotel directly to ask what is permitted. Unless you receive explicit approval, we would plan the session assuming that public-area access will not be available.
La Fantaisie Paris Photoshoot: Colorful, Modern Hotel Interiors
For something completely different from the grand-palace look, we love the visual possibilities at La Fantaisie.
This hotel in the 9th arrondissement has 63 rooms and 10 suites designed by Martin Brudnizki. The interiors incorporate soft colors, velvet, handcrafted mosaics, and natural materials. Depending on the room, you may also have views toward the city or the hotel’s garden.
For photography, we’d particularly look at the terrace categories. There are several options with private outdoor space, including rooms, suites, and an apartment with two terraces. If you’re comparing categories, a superior room can also be worth looking at depending on the layout and available light.
It’s a good reminder that your Paris hotel photos don’t need to look like Versailles. A colorful, contemporary room can feel much more personal if that’s closer to your actual taste.
Of course, hotel photography rules can change. So, ask La Fantaisie directly about professional portrait photography before booking if your photoshoot is a deciding factor.
Hôtel de Crillon Paris Photoshoot: Elegant Rooms and Place de la Concorde
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel is another option for clients looking for elevated French interiors with a strong sense of place.
The rooms have a residential Parisian feeling. Meanwhile, the suites incorporate bespoke furnishings, textiles, art, and carefully chosen objects.
Some of the signature suites become even more interesting photographically. Suite Jardin, for example, has its own enclosed terrace overlooking the Cour d’Honneur. Other accommodations have views toward Place de la Concorde and the Eiffel Tower.
If you’re considering the Crillon specifically for your portraits, we’d look carefully at the individual room categories. Don’t simply book the first available room. The interiors, natural light, and views can vary significantly.
And again: ask before the photoshoot. Staying at the hotel gives us the possibility of photographing there. However, it doesn’t automatically give us access to every public space on the property.
Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel Photoshoot: Modern Rooms with an Eiffel Tower View
We recently photographed at the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel for the first time, and it was a really nice option.
The design is more contemporary. Think closer to the Shangri-La end of the spectrum than the Ritz. The room interiors also photographed beautifully.
Most importantly for many Paris visitors, certain rooms have balconies with an excellent Eiffel Tower view. The hotel offers specific room categories with Eiffel Tower-view balconies.
If your priority is getting the Eiffel Tower into your hotel portraits, this is definitely one to investigate. For a modern room paired with a direct tower view, it could easily be a top pick. It may be a better fit than a hotel with more ornate interiors but fewer direct views.
Just pay close attention to the exact room category you reserve. “Eiffel Tower view” and “balcony with Eiffel Tower view” are not always the same thing. From a photography perspective, that distinction matters A LOT.
Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle Photoshoot
If your Paris trip includes a stay in Versailles, Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle is in a category of its own.
It is the only hotel located within the grounds of the Château de Versailles. The building was originally constructed in 1681 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Later, the hotel was restored using an 18th-century inventory as a reference.
As a result, the interiors include period furniture, gilding, chandeliers, and historically inspired textiles.
In other words, if you want full-on French historical interiors, you’re going to have a LOT to work with.
The guest rooms themselves can be beautiful for photographs. Parts of the hotel and restaurant may also be options, depending on the permissions we receive.
There is one important clarification, though. Hotel stays include special guest experiences and exclusive access opportunities at Versailles. However, we cannot plan a professional photoshoot inside the Château after hours.
Those hotel experiences and professional portrait-session permissions are two separate things.
If Versailles portraits are important to you, contact the hotel well in advance. That way, we can understand exactly where professional photography will be permitted during your stay.
How to Choose the Best Paris Hotel Room for Your Photoshoot
If having photographs inside your hotel is important to you, our number-one recommendation is to book a room with a balcony, terrace, or large/double windows whenever your budget allows.
Natural light makes a HUGE difference. Large windows can give us that soft light that photographs beautifully indoors.
Paris hotel rooms can be beautiful but surprisingly dark. This is especially true in older buildings with small windows or rooms facing an interior courtyard.
A room that looks wonderfully cozy in person may give us very little natural light to work with. So, before booking, look at photographs of your specific room category, not simply the hotel homepage.
We’d prioritize:
- Large windows or French doors
- A balcony or terrace
- Plenty of natural light
- Enough open space to move around
- A view you actually want in your portraits
- Interiors that work with the clothes you’re planning to wear
Speaking of clothes, if you’re starting to plan those now, our What to Wear for a Paris Photo Shoot Guide is a good place to start.
Should Your Entire Paris Photoshoot Take Place at Your Hotel?
Usually, we don’t recommend it.
We LOVE incorporating hotels into Paris portrait sessions. However, in most cases, we prefer using the hotel as one part of the session and then heading to a second location.
There are a few reasons.
First, it gives your final gallery much more variety. We can start with quiet portraits in your room and use the balcony or another approved hotel space. Afterward, we can head outside for an entirely different look.
Second, hotel access is never quite as predictable as an outdoor Paris location. A beautiful room may be occupied. The garden could be privatized. A rooftop may suddenly become unavailable. Or, the concierge might give us a shorter shooting window than anticipated.
For that reason, we never want your entire session to depend on one hotel space that we don’t control.
Finally, you’re in Paris! The city of lights has so much to photograph, and we want your portraits to tell that story too.
Combining a hotel with the Seine river, Palais Royal, Pont Neuf, the Eiffel Tower, Luxembourg Gardens, or another favorite location gives us so much more variety. You get interiors AND exteriors. We can also create intimate photographs alongside portraits that feel unmistakably Parisian.
Depending on where you’re staying, other Paris photo shoot locations might include the Louvre museum, the Palais Royal gardens, or nearby quiet streets. We also love working around cobblestone streets when they fit naturally into the route.
You can browse our Paris Photography Portfolio to get a better sense of the different locations and styles we photograph. You might even find a favorite photo that helps shape the direction of your own session.
What If Your Paris Hotel Doesn’t Allow Photoshoots?
Don’t panic.
If you are really attached to the idea of a hotel photoshoot, we recommend contacting the hotel before you book. Tell them you will be a hotel guest. Then, explain that you’re planning a private portrait session with a professional photographer.
From there, ask exactly where photography would be permitted.
It is also worth researching the hotel’s public spaces before booking. That way, you know what you’re actually asking about.
But what if you’ve already booked your hotel and then discover that it doesn’t permit professional photography? It genuinely isn’t the end of your photoshoot plans.
Paris gives us SO many options.
There are classic outdoor locations, quieter neighborhood streets, gardens, covered passages, cafés, and architectural interiors. We have endless ways to build a session that still feels completely personal to you.
Ultimately, our job isn’t to force every session into the same handful of locations. It’s to figure out what works for you, your family or partner, your trip, and the photographs you want to live with afterward.
FAQ: Paris Hotel Photoshoots
For the hotels discussed in this guide, yes. You should plan on being a registered hotel guest if you want to arrange a private portrait session on the property.
Even as a guest, though, you should contact the concierge in advance. Photography rules vary by hotel and by location within the hotel.
Yes. We recommend being completely clear that you are arranging a private portrait session with a professional photographer.
Start by asking whether photography is allowed in your room. Then, find out if there are any additional spaces where we may photograph. If you have screenshots of a particular staircase, garden, terrace, or salon you love, send those too.
If possible, choose a room with large windows, a balcony, or a terrace. Natural light is one of our biggest considerations as photographers.
If you specifically want Eiffel Tower hotel photos, check the exact room category carefully. Make sure it guarantees the view or balcony you want rather than assuming every room at the property has it.
Often, yes — and we actually prefer building sessions with more than one look whenever timing and location allow.
Starting at your hotel and then moving outdoors can give you a much more varied collection of Paris photos. We’ll help you figure out what makes sense based on your hotel, session length, transportation time, light, and the other locations you love.
The best time will depend on the season and the locations we’re using. Early mornings can be especially helpful when we want softer light and fewer crowds at popular outdoor locations.
For more information about how our sessions work, you can also read our Paris Photography FAQ.
Ready to Book Your Paris Hotel Photoshoot?
Contact Katie Donnelly Photography to book your Paris photoshoot
Maybe you’re planning an anniversary at the hotel where you got engaged. Perhaps you have your heart set on an Eiffel Tower balcony. Or, you simply found a hotel room that feels so perfectly you that you want it documented.
Whatever the reason, we’d love to help you figure out the best way to incorporate your hotel into your Paris session.
We’ll help you think through timing, light, hotel permissions, and a second location. That way, your photographs can feel varied, personal, and like an actual memory of your time in Paris.
