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A Romantic 5th Anniversary Photo Shoot in Paris

A couple holding hands and walking away from the Eiffel Tower during their romantic 5th anniversary photo session. They are looking back over their shoulders at the Olympic rings on the Tower for the 2024 Olympics. The man is dressed in an offwhite shirt and khaki pants, and the woman is wearing a flowing pink dress.

I recently photographed a sunrise 5th anniversary session for married couple Michael and Melissa—our second Paris photo shoot together! I was lucky enough to be their photographer for their 4th anniversary trip to Paris, and when they decided to come back to Paris for their 5th wedding anniversary, they reached out to me again. It was so wonderful to see them and get to work with them for a second time.

This couple already knew Paris well. While last year we focused pretty much entirely on Eiffel Tower views, this year we branched out a little more! We still did some Eiffel Tower (from different vantage points than last time), but for the second half of our photo shoot, we went for some stunning, opulent, gold-encrusted architecture in the form of Pont Alexandre III and the Petit Palais.

We had to work around some construction since Paris is getting ready for the Olympics, but there were still so many great location options available to us! I did a walkaround prior to our photo shoot to double check on what was doable, and we ended up having a great and easy time.

  • A couple stands hand in hand on the empty street of Pont d'Iena, in front of the Eiffel Tower, adorned with Olympic rings for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
  • A black-and-white photo of a couple seated on a stone ledge in Paris, smiling at each other and about to kiss, with the Eiffel Tower blurry in the background.
  • A couple stands at the top of a grand staircase in front of an ornate, large doorway made of gold metalwork and glass. The doorway is surrounded by detailed carvings and a large arched glass window above. This location at the Petit Palais in Paris exudes an elegant, historic ambiance, perfect for a romantic anniversary photo shoot.
A couple embraces on a quaint, cobblestone street with traditional Parisian buildings and balconies. The Eiffel Tower rises majestically in the background, framed by leafy trees. This serene and romantic setting is perfect for their 5th anniversary photo shoot in Paris.

Paris Photo Shoot Highlights

Time of Day:

Early Morning – Sunrise, in fact!

Type of Photography Session:

5th anniversary photo shoot in Paris!

Time of Year:

Summer!

Key Photo Shoot Locations

Avenue des Camoëns • Avenue de New York • Pont d’Iena • Pont Alexandre III • Le Petit Palais • Jardin du Petit Palais

A couple is sitting on a stone ledge, embracing and smiling at each other, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The scene, captured during their 5th anniversary photo shoot, is framed by lush green trees, creating a romantic and picturesque atmosphere.
  • A couple stands together in front of an ornate staircase and Haussmanian buildings, holding hands and looking off into the distance.
  • A couple walks holding hands on a paved path in a garden by the Petit Palais, during their 5th anniversary photo shoot. The path is surrounded by grass, trees, and classic Parisian lamp posts, and we can see the columns and roof of the Petit Palais behind them.
How the couple described their relationship to me:

(I love to use these descriptions to understand how my couples naturally interact with each other, and inform what kinds of things I might ask them to do during our shoot!)

romantic • goofy • nerdy

Paris Photo Shoot Route:

We met at Avenue des Camoëns at sunrise. From there, we walked down to Avenue de New York and the Pont d’Iena, and then took a car over to the beautiful Pont Alexandre III. To finish off, we went to the Petit Palais and walked through the surrounding park for some stunning greenery and architecture!

  • Black and white photo of a couple sitting close together on the railing of the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris, cuddling together and holding hands in a candid, romantic moment during their photo shoot. Behind them is a wrought iron statue, and the bridge overlooks the Seine river. It's morning and the sky is lightly cloudy.
  • The image shows the ornate main entrance of a grand historic building, the Petit Palais. The facade includes intricate carvings, statues, and a large golden arched door, which a couple stands in front of, at the top of a stone staircase.
  • A man wraps his arms around his wife and kisses her forehead on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris, while she has her eyes closed and smiles slightly. We can see the bridge in the background, with its row of wrought iron lamp posts and a golden statue at the top of a column.
  • A couple walks down an outdoor stone staircase surrounded by greenery and classic Parisian-style buildings. They are holding hands and looking at each other affectionately during their romantic 5th anniversary photo shoot.
  • A couple embraces beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris during an anniversary photo shoot. They're in the middle of an empty street, and Olympic rings are displayed prominently on the tower above them.
  • A black-and-white photo of a couple hugging each other and smizing on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris. The are both looking straight at the camera for a serious and slightly posed photo during their 5th anniversary photo shoot.
Photo Shoot Outfits:

Michael wore khaki pants with a cream-toned button-down, and Melissa wore a floor-length, peach colored, tiered tulle gown. They both wore the very same shoes that they wore on their wedding day, which is their yearly tradition for every anniversary (including for our prior photo shoot for their 4th anniversary!).

My Favorite Moments and Details from our Session:

I loved working with this couple for their anniversary photos in Paris last year, and it was so wonderful to see them again! It’s so fun when a couple comes back to Paris, and I got so excited when I saw their names pop up again in my inbox!

Working together for a second time also meant that we could explore some new spots. We started at a location with a different view of the Eiffel Tower than the locations we picked last year, and then ventured a little further afield. The Pont Alexandre III is one of my favorite bridges in Paris, and I was so excited to be able to suggest the Petit Palais as a walkable location from there. That golden doorway and staircase is pure Parisian opulence—I think it’s soooo stunning, and they loved it as soon as we arrived!

Oh, and also—the Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower were such a fun thing to capture as a backdrop, especially in our photos at the Pont d’Iena!

  • A couple stands on a stone railing with a lamppost, kissing with the Eiffel Tower visible in the background. They're sharing an intimate moment during their 5th-anniversary Photo Shoot. Lush greenery and Parisian architecture surround them.
  • A couple walks along a tree-lined pathway in a park with their arms around each other. The woman wears a flowing pink dress, and the man is dressed in khakis and a button-down. The path is flanked by lush greenery and flowering shrubs, creating a romantic scene bathed in soft, natural light.
  • The grand, ornate entrance to the Petit Palais with its large golden doorway in an intricately carved archway makes the perfect backdrop for a memorable photo shoot in Paris. Two people celebrating their 5th Anniversary, walk down the steps together while holding hands.
  • A couple shares a romantic moment in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris during their 5th anniversary photo shoot. The man is dipping the woman for a kiss, and green trees frame the scene. We can see a hint of the Seine River in the background as well.
  • Closeup of a couple's legs as they lean against a stone balustrade, with the focus on their clothing and shoes
  • Black and white romantic photo of couple kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, during their 5th anniversary photo shoot.
  • A husband kisses his wife's hand on a stone railing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a photo shoot.
  • A couple embraces near the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a romantic photo shoot. The man is smiling while holding the woman closely, and she is turned away from the camera.
  • A couple holds hands and leans in for a kiss in front of a staircase during their 5th anniversary Paris photo shoot.
  • A couple dances romantically on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris during their 5th anniversary photo shoot.
  • A couple holds each other close and leans on a street lamp, with green trees and the Eiffel Tower in the background.
  • A man and a woman lean on a stone railing of the Pont d'Iena bridge in Paris, with the Seine river and Parisian cityscape in the background.
Black and white photo of a couple sitting on a bench outside a large, ornate building with arched windows. Trees and planters are visible around the building. The couple faces away, looking towards the building's windows. The mood is calm and serene, perfect for a romantic 5th anniversary photo shoot.
  • Black and white photo of a couple kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a photo shoot for their 5th anniversary. The Eiffel Tower is adorned with Olympic rings, and the street around the couple is completely empty.
  • A couple sits on a green park bench with the Petit Palais behind them, an ornate building with large arched windows. The scene is calm, and the setting feels historical and very Parisian in an understated way. Green planters and trimmed grass line the path surrounding the bench.
  • A couple laughing together on the Pont Alexandre III bridge during their 5th anniversary photo shoot. Ornate black lamp posts and a golden statue are visible in the background, making for a romantic Parisian atmosphere.
  • A black-and-white photo of a couple hugging each other and smizing on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris. The are both looking straight at the camera for a serious and slightly posed photo during their 5th anniversary photo shoot.
  • A man and woman dance on a tree-lined sidewalk with the Eiffel Tower in the background. The woman, in a flowing pink dress, twirls while her partner gazes at her. They are surrounded by the green foliage of the Avenue de New York, savoring their romantic 5th anniversary photo shoot moment.
  • A couple sits closely together on a green bench in a lush park in Paris, sharing an intimate moment during their 5th anniversary photo shoot. They hold hands and gaze at each other affectionately.
  • A man and a woman walk hand-in-hand down an ornate set of stone steps in front of the beautiful Petit Palais in Paris. Behind them is the large, golden and intricate gate entrance. Both are smiling and looking at each other during their romantic anniversary photo shoot.
  • A couple walks hand in hand on a cobblestone street with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
  • A couple holds hands and smiles at each other while walking on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris. The woman is wearing a flowing pink dress, and the man is dressed in khakis and a light button-down shirt. Ornate wrought-iron lamp posts line the railing of the bridge, and the historic Invalides building with its gold dome is visible in the background—an ideal anniversary photo shoot setting in Paris!
  • A husband gets close and cozy with his wife as she smiles at the camera while sitting on a ledge in front of the Eiffel Tower. Sunlight filters through green leaves overhead, adding a romantic ambiance to their 5th anniversary photo shoot.
  • A woman in a long, flowing, peach-colored dress stands under the Eiffel Tower in front of her husband, whose arms are wrapped around her. They both look into the distance together. The street is empty, and the Tour de Montparnasse is also visible in the background—a perfect moment captured during their 5th anniversary photo shoot in Paris.
  • A romantic close-up photo captures a couple's feet as they sit on a stone ledge during their 5th anniversary photo shoot. The person on the left wears brown dress shoes with yellow socks, and the other is in delicate lace stiletto heels paired with a light pink dress.
  • Black and white closeup photo of a couple during a romantic photo shoot. The woman is seated in a flowing tiered lace dress, while her husband stands facing her. This is a faceless photo and the focus is on the couple holding hands—a beautiful moment captured for their 5th anniversary.
  • The image shows the grand entrance of the Petit Palais in Paris, France. The entrance is adorned with a lavishly detailed golden doorway, flanked by intricate stone carvings and classical columns. In one corner of the doorway, a couple embraces during their photo session.
  • A couple dressed in formal attire dances on a bridge adorned with ornate lampposts in Paris. This is the Pont Alexandre III, and we can see one of its tall columns topped with a golden statue of a winged figure behind the couple, as well as the Invalides with its golden dome distantly in the background.
  • A man and a woman lean against a stone railing on the Pont d'Iena bridge with the Seine river in the background. Both of them are gazing into the distance, looking cool and serene together—a vibey photo moment for their 5th anniversary.
  • A couple holds each other under a street lamp with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
  • A close-up black and white image captures a romantic moment with a woman’s hand around the back of her partner's neck, subtly showing off her wedding and engagement rings. The image is affectionate and intimate, with partial faces and a blurred background.

Photo Shoot Details

Photographer: Paige Gribb Photography (more info on my romantic photo shoots for couples here!)

Locations: Paris, France!
16th arrondissement and 8th arrondissement
Avenue des Camoëns • Avenue de New York • Pont d’Iena • Pont Alexandre III • Le Petit Palais • Jardin du Petit Palais

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