Family Photography on the French Riviera

This family photoshoot took place in the heart of Nice in old town which during the summer allows for beautiful, soft light and some relief from the scorching day-time temperatures.

They say "never work with children", but this photoshoot is an example of why I love it - especially with siblings who enjoy each other's company and making each other laugh. I know from my home life that that's not always the case, but the relationship between these sisters shines through in this photoshoot - which is one of my favourite that I've done.

Many of the streets in old town are packed with tourists, but if you know where to go, there are some streets that are often deserted, save for the odd tourists who are nervously meandering around, perhaps worried that they've become lost in the labyrinth of the streets. The streets themselves were likely laid out in the 16th century or before, with air circulation in mind. Old town is a wonderful, reliable location for a photoshoot as it's shaded, the light is soft, it's easy to get to, the streets provide beautiful background to images, and lots of variety. The only thing to be mindful is matching your clothes with the colours around you - colours that are 'modern', too strong, or that clash with the dull orange of many of the buildings (and the shutters are something like mint-green) ...will look out of place.

Thinking of visiting Old Town?

In old town you'll find beautiful architecture, much of it dated (above the doors), and painted with a rich array of ochres (or 'ochers' in American spelling), along with plenty of charming character and reminders - such as potted plants and clothes lines - that many locals still live in the buildings, just as they have for many centuries. Despite it's charm and life, it's not been gentrified like you might expect, and despite buzzing with tourists during the season, retains its established Italian/French identity. Nice was ceded to France in 1860, relatively recently, which is why many road signs are in French and Italian.

Other Photoshoot Locations on the Riviera

If you're willing to travel, or are staying in Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, or any of the surrounding towns, they all have old town's too that make for wonderful photoshoot locations. There are other locations in Nice that work for family photoshoots, including the Jardin de Cimiez, which can be seen on my family photography page. If you're willing to travel out of the city to get away from the crowds, there are also some wonderful places in nature nearby that offer shaded woodland and forests such as the Parc de Vaugrenier - which is a nature reserve with a play area, which is a short 10 or 15 journey by train along the coast.

Thanks for dropping by and if you'd like to organise your own family photoshoot, don't hesitate to contact me.

About Me

I'm a bilingual British wedding and family photographer based in Nice on the French Riviera. A father of two, I specialise in family and couple photoshoots in Nice and the beautiful surrounding Riviera area.