Updated October 13, 2026
The best things to do in Paris with teenagers give them some freedom: let them explore a small neighborhood on their own, go shopping in the Marais, let them plan a day, picnic in a garden, and have a family photoshoot while you are all together. As a Paris family photographer, here are my 5 ideas for Paris with teens, and why this trip is worth documenting.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
Why Family Photos Matter More in the Teenage Years
Whenever we get requests for family photo sessions with teenagers it’s always a nice surprise. Somewhere along the line (and I think this is just about the time where kids start talking back to their parents, ha!) families take fewer and fewer photos together. This one is at soccer practice, this one has piano, this one is sleeping over at her friend’s house and all of a sudden you realize you haven’t had the whole family around the dinner table since last Sunday.
Family vacations with teenagers, especially when you have multiple kids, are limited usually with the balancing act of schedules and who’s going off to college. Having a photo session during them can be an amazing way to document such a fleeting time in your lives.
I read a study once saying that children with family photographs hanging in their homes had a stronger sense of a family unit and felt more secure in their relationships. I truly believe this. Especially into the harder years of being a teenager and unsure of your place in the world, it’s important to know your place at home is with your family. It’s important to show that you’ve loved your kids from the time of being silly, cheeky, mischievous little shrimps to inquisitive, still silly, and intelligent adults. Even though they’ve changed and grown into their own beings, your love for them has only gotten more complex.
5 Things to Do in Paris with Teenagers
So that said, number one on the KDP list of things to do in Paris with Teenagers is, you guessed it, Have a family photo session!
1. Have a Family Vacation Photoshoot
A family photoshoot is an amazing way to document such a fleeting time in your lives. Our sessions feel more like hanging out with a friend than posing, which works well even with the grumpiest teenagers. Get in touch here to book yours, or see our Paris family photographer page.
2. Let Them Explore a Small Neighborhood on Their Own
Let them explore a smaller neighborhood, like the Marais or the Latin Quarter, on their own. Give a starting place (like a restaurant or central café like Shakespeare and Company Café) that you’ll find each other afterward. A half hour or hour can be the perfect time to explore on their own. If you’re nervous, stay and grab a coffee in the café so if they want to come back early, they’ll know where to find you. Our guide to Paris neighborhoods will help you choose.
3. Go Shopping
Perfect areas for boutique shopping are in the Marais on Rue des Rosiers or by Saint Germain des Pres on Rue de Rennes. For gifts to bring home, see our 8 unique French gift and souvenir shops.
4. Let Them Plan a Day
Let them plan a day out of their own where you guys follow them. It’s their vacation too! Hand them our list of the best apps to navigate Paris and the Paris metro guide.
5. Picnic in a Local Garden
Picnic in a local garden like the Tuileries, the Jardin du Luxembourg, or Versailles. This is the perfect time to bring yummy cheeses, charcuterie and chips. It’s a way that everyone can be happy, relax and enjoy the french culture through their amazing food. Here is how to shop at a Paris outdoor market for your picnic.
Bringing teenagers to Paris?
Our English-speaking team is very good at getting a real laugh out of a teenager. Family sessions 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 with Teens
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- Let them choose their own outfit within a color palette. They will feel like themselves, and it shows. Our what to wear guide helps, and so do my favorite pieces on ShopMy.
- Get individual portraits too. A portrait of each teen on their own is something you will treasure when they leave for college.
- Keep it short. A mini session of 30 to 45 minutes in one neighborhood is plenty.
- Go early, then go for breakfast. Our sessions are just after sunrise, and a croissant afterwards is a good bribe.
Traveling with younger kids as well? Read what to do in Paris with kids. Celebrating a milestone? See our guides to sweet sixteen photoshoots and high school senior photoshoots in Paris.
Enjoy Paris!
Paris with Teenagers Questions
Let them explore a small neighborhood like the Marais or the Latin Quarter on their own, go boutique shopping on Rue des Rosiers or Rue de Rennes, plan a day for the family, picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens, and take part in a family photoshoot.
Yes. Family vacations with teenagers are rare once schedules and college get in the way, and Paris gives teens the freedom to explore while you are still all together.
The Marais, on and around Rue des Rosiers, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, on Rue de Rennes, are perfect for boutique shopping.
Almost always. Our sessions feel like hanging out with a friend, and we are used to winning over reluctant teenagers. A mini session of 30 to 45 minutes keeps it easy.
The Tuileries, the Jardin du Luxembourg and the gardens of Versailles are all lovely for a picnic with cheese, charcuterie and a fresh baguette.
“She did a fantastic job wrangling our group of 8 (4 teenagers) in 26 degree weather! My mother was beyond delighted when she received the canvas and book from our trip.”
Melanie L., 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?
They will not be teenagers for long. Go home with portraits of exactly who they are right now.
- 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.
