A Session Begins Long Before the Click of the Shutter
Some photo sessions are born from a simple message. And they become much more than just photos.
This one started a few weeks before I pressed the shutter. Erik contacted me with a project in mind — THE project. A ring. A surprise. And a question: where?
That’s where my work really began.
Finding the perfect location — before even turning on the camera
Erik wanted the moment to match what he felt for Léa. I know the region well — I’ve been photographing couples here for several years. Arles, the Alpilles, the Camargue, the Provençal farmhouses. Each place has its own light, its character, its emotion.
We exchanged at length. I suggested several locations based on the atmosphere he was looking for. And it was finally a rooftop in the heart of Arles that stood out — with the arenas as backdrop, the city spreading at their feet, though unfortunately under rain!
But that didn’t stop Léa from saying YES!
A few days later — among the olive trees
A successful marriage proposal, even in the rain, is a beautiful memory. And photos of that moment become a memory forever.
A few days later, before their return to Quebec, Erik and Léa wanted to take advantage of Provence for a proper couple photo session (without rain!) — their first as an engaged couple. No pressure, no wedding dress. Just the two of them, in a place that inspired them.
Erik had already told me about the Alpilles and olive groves from Quebec, and I had managed to find him the location that matched the image he had in mind. So here we are in an olive grove. With gnarled trunks a hundred years old, silvery leaves shimmering in the evening wind, light filtering between branches and falling gently on them.
It was exactly the kind of setting they dreamed of.
How does a photo session work?
The session always starts with a few minutes just being together. We walk, we talk, we settle into the location. The first moments are often the best — when people forget there’s a camera pointed at them.
Then I guide gently. No rigid directions. Rather suggestions: walk slowly between the trees, say something to her ear, take a second just for yourselves.
That’s where the real photos are born. A smile that comes naturally. A hand that squeezes. A knowing glance. The olive trees naturally frame the subjects, create depth, and give the images an immediately recognizable Provençal identity.
The best times for a photo session in the olive groves
Early morning (7am-9am) — A soft, glancing light, cool and poetic colors. Ideal for an intimate and different atmosphere.
Golden hour (1.5 hours before sunset) — My favorite time slot. In Provence in spring, between 7pm and 9pm. The light is warm, cinematic, almost unreal. That’s when you create images you’ll remember forever.
Spring and autumn — The best seasons for olive groves in Provence. In spring the leaves are fresh and luminous, in autumn the atmosphere becomes melancholic and romantic.
What this session reminded me
A photo session doesn’t start when I press the shutter. It starts much earlier — in the exchanges, in the search for the location, in understanding what the couple wants to experience and keep.
Erik wasn’t just looking for a photographer. He was looking for someone to trust with a moment that can’t be replayed.
It’s that trust that I try to earn every time.
If you have a project in mind — a couple session, a marriage proposal, something a bit special — get in touch with me. We’ll talk about it first, and we’ll build something that feels like you.
