A Romantic Winter Afternoon in Amsterdam: Kayla & Brent’s Couple’s Photo Shoot in the Jordaan

A couple kissing on a canal bridge in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, with tall, narrow canal houses blurred in the background.


I recently moved from Paris to Amsterdam (!!!), and after over 6 years of calling myself a Paris photographer, I was so excited for my very first professional photo shoot in Amsterdam! I had the pleasure of photographing Kayla and Brent, an American couple who also very recently made the Netherlands their new home! We chose the charming Jordaan neighborhood in the west of Amsterdam for our couple’s photo shoot, with its picturesque canals and cozy ambiance.

  • A man and woman kiss under an umbrella on a bridge in the Jordaan neighborhood, with bicycles, trees, and row houses in the background—a perfect setting for a romantic photo session in this iconic part of Amsterdam.
  • A black and white photo captures a couple sitting closely at a cafe table in the Jordaan neighborhood, gazing at each other affectionately. A glass of white wine, a candle, and a potted plant finish the scene, perfect for their romantic photo session.
  • A couple stands laughs together on a rainy street in the Jordaan neighborhood, surrounded by potted plants and brick buildings.

Quick Photo Shoot Highlights

Time of Day:

Afternoon to early evening! This was perfect for finishing off with a round of drinks 🙂

Type of Photography Session:

An “omg we just moved to the Netherlands” photo shoot—both for them, and for me!

Time of Year:

Winter!

Key Photo Shoot Locations

The Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam • A local bar

  • A couple kisses on a sidewalk in the Jordaan, surrounded by lush plants and charming buildings.
  • Black and white photo of a couple standing on a bridge over a canal in the Jordaan neighborhood. Around them are leafless wintery trees and canal buildings; bicycles are parked along the bridge.
  • A couple in stylish coats dances in the middle of a wet brick street in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, with rows of bicycles and traditional narrow canal houses behind them.
  • A couple cuddles together at an outdoor bar table, illuminated by string lights during their photoshoot in the Jordaan neighborhood.
  • A couple stands under an umbrella, on a canal bridge in the Jordaan neighborhood, surrounded by parked bicycles and the brick buildings of Amsterdam.
  • A man and woman hold hands and look in opposite directions on the corner of a wet cobblestone street, with traditional buildings and parked bicycles behind them.
  • A couple holds each other close on a bridge in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, with a canal and blurred cityscape in the background. We can see a hint of a bicycle leaning against the railing, setting a picturesque scene for their photoshoot.

Embracing the Wintery Dutch Weather



Despite the cold, grey December day and occasional drizzle, Kayla and Brent arrived ready to explore! We had a great time exploring locations that were new to both of us, walking (and dancing) along the streets and canals of the Jordaan. 

A Warming Round of Drinks and an Unexpected Guest:

To warm up a bit at the end of our photography session, we stopped into a nearby local bar for some cozy drinks—and then decided that drinking them outside was even better! The glass of wine and whiskey still helped warm this couple up after our photo session.

To our surprise, the Dutch Santa Claus (Sinterklaas) made an appearance shortly after we settled in! He was kind enough to pose for a photo with Kayla and Brent, too! It was such a fun twist to the evening and a great way to finish off our photo shoot.

  • A couple sits at an outdoor café table, holding hands, surrounded by lit string lights and potted plants. This intimate Jordaan photo session captures their romance in the neighborhood's charming ambiance.
  • Sinterklaas stands outside of De Nieuwe Lelie Bar in Amsterdam, holding a golden staff as 5 people at the bar look his way.
  • A woman in a leopard print coat and a man in a grey coat pose with Sinterklaas (the Dutch Santa Claus) in front of a bar in the Jordaan.

Winter Photo Shoot Outfits: Neutral Tones with a Pop


Brent wore a smart-casual take on a grey suit, with grey trousers, a black mock-neck shirt, black Chelsea boots and a grey peacoat. Kayla was in neutral tones as well, in a black top, cream mini skirt, and knee-high boots over black tights, all finished off with a pop thanks to her leopard-print peacoat!

My Favorite Moments and Details from our Session:


I so appreciated Kayla and Brent’s can-do attitude despite the cold, and I had such an amazing time exploring the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam with them for this couple’s photo shoot! So happy to have my first Amsterdam session in the books, and I can’t wait for many more to come!

  • A couple, newly arrived in Amsterdam, hold hands and kiss on a wet street in romantic embrace. Rows of houses stretch into the background, setting the scene for their intimate Jordaan photo session.
  • A moment of romance on a bridge over a canal with bicycles parked along the railing, surrounded by traditional multi-story brick buildings in the Jordaan.
  • Black-and-white blurred image of a couple kissing on an Amsterdam bridge, set against the backdrop of towering canal house buildings and bare trees.
  • A couple, newly arrived in Amsterdam, stands under an umbrella on a bridge in the Jordaan neighborhood, surrounded by bicycles and with charming canal houses in the background—a perfect photoshoot setting.
  • A photo taken through the window of a cafe, focused on the backs of a couple sitting at an outdoor table in the Jordaan neighborhood. One person holds a glass of white wine, while her partner wraps his arm around her. You can see the cobblestone streets and some greenery blurred in front of them.
  • The outdoor seating area of a brick café bar with a rainbow flag and Heineken signage offers a warm welcome. Under the awning, two people sit at a table, having a cozy drink together during their photoshoot.
  • A couple stands on a bridge in Amsterdam with their backs to the camera, holding each other close as they gaze at the canal in the charming Jordaan neighborhood. Nearby, several bicycles are parked, adding to the picturesque scene.
  • A couple holding hands strolls down a narrow cobblestone street in the Jordaan neighborhood during a romantic photo session.
  • A couple walks across a distant bridge over a canal in Amsterdam, lined with leafless trees, parked cars, and boats.
  • A couple casually embraces on a street in the Jordaan, watching a woman riding by on her bicycle with a small dog in a basket.
  • A person hugs his partner from behind and kisses her on the forehead, surrounded by trees, buildings, and bicycles on a cloudy day in the Jordaan area of Amsterdam.
  • Two people in coats walk hand in hand down a narrow, wet street lined with brick buildings and potted plants, capturing a perfect moment for their romantic photo session in the Jordaan.
  • A person pushes his partner's hair out of her face, as they stand on a street, with plants in the foreground and a church visible in the background, during a romantic photo session in the Jordaan.
  • A couple, newly arrived in Amsterdam, sits at an outdoor café table, kissing while holding glasses of wine. With strings of lights adding charm to the background, this spot seemed perfect to finish off a chilly photoshoot in the Jordaan neighborhood.
  • A couple shares an umbrella on a bridge over a classic Amsterdam canal lined with parked bicycles, capturing the charm of traditional brick canal houses and leafless trees during a winter photoshoot in the Jordaan neighborhood.
  • Newly arrived in Amsterdam, a man in a gray suit embraces a woman in a leopard print coat by the canal. Parked bikes and bare trees frame their moment during this winter photoshoot in the picturesque Jordaan neighborhood.
  • A couple shares a kiss under an umbrella on a bridge in Amsterdam, surrounded by traditional brick buildings and parked bicycles, capturing their love in a charming Jordaan photo session.
  • A couple holds each other close while walking down a wet, cobblestone street in the Jordaan neighborhood, surrounded by tall brick buildings and parked bicycles. The scene is captured in black and white, evoking the charm of a romantic photo session in this enchanting part of the city.
  • A couple kisses on a rainy street in front of traditional multistory townhouses and parked bicycles, during an Amsterdam photoshoot in the Jordaan neighborhood.
  • A man embraces his wife from behind as she laughs during their photoshoot in the Jordaan neighborhood. They're outdoors, wrapped in winter coats, with trees and water softly blurred in the background.
  • A man in a coat and a woman in a leopard print jacket gaze in different directions, with the Jordaan neighborhood's buildings as their black-and-white backdrop.
  • A serene canal scene in the Jordaan neighborhood, perfect for a romantic photo session. The canal is lined with bare trees and parked boats, with classic Amsterdam canal houses all around. A couple kisses on a bridge in the distance. The overcast sky adds a misty atmosphere to this picturesque Amsterdam setting.
  • A couple stands holding hands and smiling at each other, on a sidewalk lined with buildings and greenery in the Jordaan.
  • A couple stands on a sidewalk in an affectionate embrace during their romantic photo session in the Jordaan. The woman flaunts a leopard print coat, while the man sports a gray peacoat.
  • A couple under an umbrella stands romantically on a bridge in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighborhood, surrounded by bicycles, with traditional canal-side buildings as the backdrop.
  • A man in a coat stands at a bar, facing shelves stocked with bottles. Beer taps and glasses are on the counter. The atmosphere appears casual and relaxed, and the photo is in black and white.

Photo Shoot Details

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

Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands! The Jordaan neighborhood
Cute Amsterdam streets, canals, and bridges, a local bar, and a rare Sinterklaas sighting

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