English-speaking Paris photographer
An American expat and her team, photographing joyful families, couples and solo travelers in the City of Light.
Based in Paris since 2013, we photograph our clients in English and in French, so there is no language barrier at any point. Our style blends candid lifestyle and classic fine art photography. Named Best Portrait Photographer in Paris 2017 in the Expatriates Magazine Best of Paris awards.
Katie Donnelly Photography at a glance
- Founded: 2013, by Katie Donnelly, an American photographer from New York
- Team: An all-female team of four photographers and two client concierges
- Languages: English and French; two of our photographers also speak Polish
- Studio: 12 Rue de l’Éperon, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, central Paris
- Clients: More than 2,000 families, couples and solo travelers photographed
- Reviews: Rated 5.0 from over 320 Google reviews
- Award: Best Portrait Photographer in Paris 2017, Expatriates Magazine Best of Paris awards (archived article; the magazine has since closed)
- Known for: Viewing your portraits the same day, and custom artwork shipped to your home worldwide
how KDP started
Bonjour, I’m Katie Donnelly! In 2013, I left NYC behind for the cobblestone streets of Paris and a Frenchman. I arrived in Paris with a camera, two checked bags, and years of experience as a professional family photographer. The reason for my move? Love and adventure.
Within a year I learned French, fell in love with Paris, and started my Paris photography business. A few years after that, I married that same French guy who I came over for. Over a decade later in Paris, a happy marriage, three kids at home and a daughter in heaven, here we are: A busy creative life, full of good French wine and joy.
Known for our unique and emotive style, we specialize in family and portrait photography. Based in Paris, we offer clients a blend of lifestyle and fine art photography.
Surviving the Unthinkable
In 2020, we almost lost everything, including me. Simultaneously, the world shut down, I was told I had stage 4 cancer, and my dad was also diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The world came through, I lived, my dad died. It was everything you could imagine: mostly awful, guilt and gratitude for surviving, yet feeling the deep deep unfairness of it all. What got me through? Well, modern medicine and luck first off. But also, my family.
I know what is most important in life; time and memories with the ones you love.
Laying in bed, too weak to even walk to another room or push my 1-year-old’s stroller down the block, I kept begging the universe for more time. Please PLEASE just give me more time: time to heal, to live, time for my daughter to remember her mom if the chemo didn’t work. I remember from my bed hearing her little feet running around the house pointing to our family portraits with her tiny voice repeating “Mama, Papa, Siena.”
That was her home: us. The three of us together.
building a dream
In 2021, after chemo and months of recovery ended, I gave myself two options:
- Quit. Close down shop.
- Build a team. I couldn’t/can’t physically do it alone. Doesn’t a dream just get bigger when it’s shared?
So I started building. It’s been so, so much work. Building for yourself is easy (hey, I did it for years for our amazing Paris photography clients!), but building something for others to grow with is so much more complex. And always, always with the client centered in it all.
So here we are, the dream getting bigger together, giving YOU, my adventurous loving friend, the ultimate Paris portrait session experience created from over a decade of experience serving thousands of families and solo clients in Paris, and the deep knowing that celebrating your life is important.
It’s not just a profession; it’s a passion and a purpose. Whether you’re looking for a Paris photographer to document your engagement, your travels or your growing family, we’re here to help you capture the beauty in both the everyday and the extraordinary.
Our Paris Photographer Team:
- Does the work of planning a fun, natural Paris photo session (or mini session!) in the most iconic Paris locations to photograph.
- Will give you the family, couple, and solo portraits of your dreams. We are the only photographer in Paris who does a same day turnaround to show you your portraits in a breathtaking cinematic experience right in the heart of central Paris. (This is where you’ll then order your favorites for artwork, albums, and get the photos you ordered to share on social media)
- Creates art to celebrate your life: A life full. A life that risks joy amidst the challenges and reckonings we all face. A life that says “yes” more than “no” and that sees the deep beauty and importance of time and how we use it.
THE KDP
dream team
And Your New Paris Photographer BFFs
This website is a mix of all of our photography work! Each photographer is personally trained by me (Katie) and we all work at the tip top highest quality. Each week we meet to team brainstorm on every single session to be sure that every client gets their dream portraits, and our best work. You’ll absolutely LOVE whomever you work with!
Paris Photographer, Creative Director & Owner
Katie Donnelly
Born and raised in NYC and then Westchester, NY, I’ve lived in Paris since 2013 with my French husband, and now our three kiddos at home and a daughter in heaven. I come from one of those classic huge NY Italian families minus the mafia and plus way too much spaghetti and garlic bread.
Actually, I take that back, there's no such thing as too much spaghetti. Or garlic. Or family.
Paris Photographer
Magda S.
Former cabin crew with head still high somewhere in the sky. Now settled in Paris where together with my husband we raise our three little ones. I love capturing families in all their glory.
I speak English, French and Polish.
Paris Photographer
Zoë F.
I grew up in Portland, Oregon in a family that couldn’t sit still. They instilled a love of travel in me from an early age, inspiring me to eventually pick up and move to the other side of the world on a whim at 18! I’ve been living in Paris ever since, studying philosophy, taking photos, and continuing to travel and see the new parts of the world every chance I get.
I speak English and French.
Paris Photographer
Maria S.
Pragmatic dreamer who loves photography, cinema, and musical theatre. As a part of Katie's team I love capturing stories of joy and connection for our lovely clients.
I speak English, French and Polish.
Client Concierge
Mallory S.
I've been living in Europe for over a decade and the beauty of Paris still makes my heart flutter. I'm a Canadian PR professional who loves traveling with my family of six.
My heart grows a little bigger each time I read emails from our KDP clients. Their beautiful stories and vision for their session is so special. I love being a part of creating your family portrait!
Client Concierge
Sarah G.
I grew up in New England and studied Art History in Boston before moving to Paris to get my Master's Degree at Parsons. I have worked as a private guide in France since 2018.
I love using my knowledge of Paris to help clients design their dream photoshoots!
What clients say about our Paris photographers
Rated 5.0 from over 320 Google reviews.
- ★★★★★
“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, Luxembourg Gardens · Google review
- ★★★★★
“Magda was confident and comfortable behind the camera and knew exactly how to help us to look natural and be ourselves.”
Cynthia B.Family photoshoot · Google review
- ★★★★★
“I cannot recommend KDP highly enough! From the communication we received starting with booking to the actual photoshoot itself, the experience was top notch.”
Elizabeth L.Birthday and anniversary trip · Google review
What we photograph in Paris
Family photos
Toddlers, teenagers, grandparents: everyone is welcome, and nobody has to say cheese. Explore family photos
Engagement photos
Planning to propose in Paris, or celebrating that you just did. Explore engagement photos
Couple & anniversary photos
Honeymoons, anniversaries, or simply being in Paris together. Explore couple and anniversary photos
Solo traveler photos
Your trip, your milestone, your portraits. Ask about solo traveler photos
Boudoir photos
Private, in our studio, at your pace. Explore boudoir photos
Not sure which one fits? Start with how a Paris photoshoot with us works.
At KDP, we celebrate your everyday.
The happiness you feel on vacation and in the simplicity of Sunday morning pancakes, all the twirls your 3 year-old can muster, and all the hide-and-seek your twin boys can summon. We celebrate little things like blowing bubbles, big things like getting your PhD, little things like bath time, big things like first steps, little things like the joy of spinning in mom’s arms, and big things like the joy of being engaged.
You may recognize us from our work featured on Tidy Dad, Everyday Parisian, En Route to Rêverie, Wit + Whimsy, Amanda Kloots, Anna Kloots, HIP Paris, Image Magazine, and NBC.
