What makes this such a great Paris photography tour?
Paris doesn’t just sit there looking pretty (though it does that rather well). It moves, breathes, catches the light in ways that make your heart skip. This isn’t your typical tour where someone points at the Eiffel Tower and says ‘there it is’. We’ll show you the Paris that hides in plain sight: the way morning mist softens Montmartre’s cobblestones, how golden hour turns the Seine into liquid gold, the secret alleyways and courtyards where time seems to have nodded off. We’ll cover composition, lighting, and that indefinable thing called ‘the moment’. By the end, you won’t just have photographs. You’ll have captured a bit of Paris’s soul.
Explore beyond the iconic Paris images
Let’s be honest: Paris has been photographed approximately eight billion times. Yet somehow, it never gets old. Perhaps it’s the light (painters have been banging on about it for centuries). Perhaps it’s the architecture that makes even a rubbish bin look elegant. This tour takes you beyond the iconic postcard shots – we’ll chase the perfect light through narrow streets, find reflections in rain-soaked pavements, and catch locals going about their impossibly chic daily lives.
We’ll improve your exposure and composition but more importantly, you’ll discover your own photographic voice. Come with curiosity. Leave with images that make people ask ‘wait, is that really Paris?’
We’ll also explore widely off the beaten track to discover little know architectural gems.
Shoot Paris from sunrise to sunset
Paris at dawn is a different creature entirely. The day visitors haven’t arrived, the café owners are still rubbing sleep from their eyes, and the city belongs to dreamers and photographers. That’s when we begin. This tour isn’t about ticking off landmarks (though we’ll certainly capture them). It’s about finding poetry in the everyday: a bicycle leaning against peeling paint, steam rising from a boulangerie, the way shadows play across Haussmann facades. We’ll wander through different neighbourhoods as the day unfolds, each with its own character and light.
You’ll get hands-on guidance without the stuffiness, plenty of time to experiment and get creative, and certainly a few laughs along the way. Suitable for all levels, from ‘which button do I press’ to professional.
Paris street photography workshop
Street photography in Paris is like jazz: it’s all about improvisation, timing, and knowing when to press the shutter. The city practically invented the art form – Cartier-Bresson would approve! With street photography we throw away the tripod and the careful compositions. Instead, we’ll move through Paris like locals with curiosity disorders, hunting for those fleeting moments that make street stories sing. A woman’s reflection in a café window, pigeons scattering in unison, the geometry of umbrellas on a rainy afternoon.
We’ll work on anticipation, discretion, and capturing life as it unfolds. You’ll learn to see stories in strangers’ faces and find humour in the everyday. This isn’t about posed shots or tourist landmarks. It’s about the beautiful chaos of urban life, frozen in time. Bring fast reflexes, comfortable shoes, and a respect for your subjects. Leave with images that breathe.
Doug Stratton – Your street photography guide
A long side Steve Gosling, your tutor for Paris street photography is Doug Stratton who has made a name for himself in street photo circles. Doug is a London-based photographer who captures the capital’s architectural drama and street life with an eye for geometry and light. His work finds poetry in the everyday urban landscape, whether it’s the interplay of shadows on brutalist concrete or fleeting human moments against the backdrop of the city’s ever-changing skyline.
Doug’s photographs balance technical precision with an intuitive sense of timing, revealing his subjects as both a grand stage and an intimate collection of small stories. His street photography catches people in their natural habitat, unguarded and real. There’s a quietness to his images, even when they depict the chaos of city life. He shoots with patience and respect, waiting for the right convergence of elements rather than forcing the moment. The result is photography that feels both documentary and artistic, capturing Paris not just as it looks, but as it feels.
Finding amazing gems in Paris
They say Paris is always a good idea. For photographers, it’s an absolute feast. This city practically begs to be photographed, from its grand boulevards to its hidden passages that smell of coffee and history. Our tour guides are photographers first, tour guides second, which means they actually understand why you’ve just stopped dead to photograph that particular door hinge.
We’ll explore classic locations and secret spots, working with natural light and urban geometry. You’ll learn to anticipate moments, compose on the fly, and maybe stop worrying quite so much about getting everything ‘perfect’. The best photographs often happen in the spaces between plans. Bring comfortable shoes, an open mind, and whatever camera makes you happy.
Finding amazing photo gems in Paris whilst learning new photo skills
Photography tours can be a bit serious, can’t they? All that talk of thirds and exposure triangles. We promise to make it fun. Yes, you’ll learn proper technique (because blurry photos of your feet aren’t terribly interesting). But you’ll also learn to trust your instincts, take risks, and see Paris as a living canvas rather than a museum.
We’ll photograph markets bursting with colour, bridges spanning centuries, streets that curve like secrets. The light here does extraordinary things, especially during the magic hours, and we’ll be there to catch it. Our small groups mean personal attention from two experienced photo guides and the freedom to adapt based on what catches our collective eye.
Whether you’re a beginner finding your feet or an experienced shooter wanting fresh perspectives, there’s room for you here.
Paris Photo Tour Schedule
We will travel from London to Paris via Eurostar on Thursday 22nd October 2026, returning on Monday 26th October 2026. Rather than following a fixed daily itinerary, we plan to decide on activities each day based on the weather and availability – keeping things flexible and spontaneous.
Our accommodation is situated close to both Sacré-Cœur and Gare du Nord, and is housed in a newly refurbished, well reviewed 3-star hostel. All rooms are private doubles with ensuite bathrooms – no shared facilities. Breakfast is not included, as we need the freedom to shoot at sunrise and can stop for breakfast as needed.
Photography Learnings
- Working with available light
- Composition techniques
- Appropriate camera settings
- Exposure and use of the histogram
- Depth of field and focusing
- Shooting at sunrise and sunset
- Street photography techniques
- ICM and multiple exposures
- Use of filters
- Use of tripod
- Long exposure
- Architectural techniques
Workshop highlights…
- Photograph many of the highlights of Paris
- Vast local knowledge gives you access to little known locations
- Daily tuition from professional photographers
- Photo reviews and critique
- Social time with other like minded photographers
- Experienced landscape and travel photographer, knows the best spots to shoot
Our workshop is for you if…
- You’re an amateur photographer of any ability who wants to improve your technical and creative skills
- You’re an advanced or Pro photographer looking to expand your portfolio with new and different images
- You’re a competitive camera club member and looking to create amazing winning images
- You want to spend a week with like minded photographers
Paris Photo Tour Schedule
Here’s some examples of photos taken on recent Paris trips. As this is partly a street photography tour, our route may vary and images may show locations not visited and we may visit locations not shown.
