Pete Horton
Engagement Photography on Coco Beach in Nice
A dreamy sunset couple photography session in Nice, France
My favorite place to photograph couples for golden hour photography sessions right now is Coco Beach in Nice. It's perfectly positioned to take advantage of golden-hour light, isn't over-crowded with tourists, and is easy to get to on foot, or via the 98 bus (at the Théodore de Banville / Lorrain bus stop).
The walk around this particular part of the coast on the French Riviera is breath-taking, and so visitors are in for a wonderful experience, as well as amazing images. One of the best things about my job is not only creating work that I love, but also getting the opportunity to work here, especially in the evening with its beautiful light, the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, and the sea breeze helping to take the edge off the summer heat.
I'm a photographer who loves a retro, faded, camera-film look; and this location lends itself well to that style, having strong, dramatic light, and a clearly-defined color palette. I'm not sure how old this path is, but I'm sure it's at least many, many decades so it feels like a natural environment that's a little disconnected from the modern world.
Couple Photoshoots in and around Nice
My other favorite location in the area is the lighthouse at Cap Ferrat, which is a little harder to get to, but equally, if not more, beautiful. You can also have a photoshoot in the old towns of Nice or Villefranche Sur Mer, which are both beautiful, but you'll miss out on golden light, and personally I find narrow streets and small spaces can be a bit restrictive when it comes to photography. Generally it's easier for couples, too, being in bigger spaces, as it usually means I can be further away and give them more space to be with each other and in the moment.
What about a couple shoot in Eze village?
Personally I'm not too keen on photographing couples in Eze. Eze looks amazing and beautiful in real life (and it is!), but when it's squashed on a 2D camera sensor with a couple in the frame, it's never as beautiful as I think it should be.
The narrow streets and small spaces don't help, neither does the light, which tends to be flat (as the direct sunlight is blocked and diffused by the buildings), or the crowds of tourists, which are on almost every street. Then there's the steep, sloping streets, meaning the photographer is often shooting from up high, or from down below - complicating couple portraits further. Of course, there's some beautiful examples of photoshoots of Eze online, but I find the light and space somewhere like Coco Beach much easier to work with.
How to prepare for a photoshoot
A photoshoot like this one usually takes 30 to 45 minutes and the only thing clients need to do is book a date and agree a starting-time that correlates with the optimum light (about an hour before sundown). There's no deposit and payment happens either at the photoshoot or afterwards, but before image delivery.
The only other decisions you need to make are the location (and if you're in Nice I'll probably try to persuade you either to go to Coco Beach or Cap Ferrat), and what to wear. For the latter I'd keep to white and/or light, simple colours. For coastal paths on the French Riviera, you'll want to avoid high heels as wearing these on the stone paths will not be comfortable or particularly safe.
Finally, feel free to bring ideas or other inspiration on your phone - most of the time recreating them ad-lib is lots of fun and creates some amazing results.
Book a Photoshoot on the French Riviera
Booking is as simple as contacting me with your preferred dates. I usually always get back to people within 24 hours and am happy to discuss special requests, unusual locations, or offer advice on anything from transport to accommodation here.
About Me
I'm a wedding, family, and engagement photographer based in Nice on the French Riviera. I'm originally from the UK and have lived in the South of France for three years with my wife and two daughters. In previous lives I've spent seven years as a newspaper journalist before three each as a graphic designer, and public relations officer, but that was before my family moved to Africa, which is a whole other story...
