Paris is easily one of the most photographed cities in the world. Tourists, locals, professional photographers—everyone tries to capture the city’s picture-perfect views.
With so many pictures being taken, you’d think we’d run out of original shots. But that’s just not true. Every now and then, you’ll come across a photo that’s so special and individual that it forces you to see Paris in a new light.
How can you take a unique photo of landmarks and streets that are photographed thousands of times a day?
Read on to learn how experts take unique Paris photos.
5 Insights From Experts Who Take Unique Paris Photos
There’s no recipe for taking a unique photo. That’s something that requires skill, the right timing, and an eye for composition.
Let’s see how the pros do it.
1. Experimenting With Unexpected Angles
Credit: Chait Goli
The number one insight is to switch perspectives often.
Take the Eiffel Tower, for instance. Everyone and their mother will find a direct sightline, point their phones/cameras toward the tower, and shoot.
For a more unique composition, you’ll want to test unexpected angles. Get low to the ground, head to a rooftop (like the Printemps department store), or check the view from nearby streets.
(Check out our post on Paris’ best views for seven of the best Eiffel Tower vantage points.)
This tip doesn’t just work with famous landmarks. You can apply it practically anywhere and with any obscure detail.
Germaine Krull’s work, especially her photobook Métal, can provide much-needed inspiration. She took tightly composed photos of the Iron Lady, among other modernist structures all around Paris.
For inspiration about how unexpected angles work in relatively obscure locations, check out her 1929 photo, Au Bon Coin (At the Right Corner). It almost feels like an architectural study!
2. Ditching All the Touristy Spots
Credit: Pierre Blache
At some point, you’re going to have to walk away from the tourist hot spots and photograph the City of Light just as the locals experience it. You might as well start doing it now.
Taking a dip into the city’s café culture is a good place to start. Then, you could stroll down the charming, paved roads until you find a view that catches your eye. You’ll want to double-check that there aren’t any “no photography” signs, though.
Plus, you should keep in mind that the “energy” in these streets might change from one season to the next. It might be worthwhile to visit the same spot more than once until you feel the composition and mood are both unique enough for your liking.
You can also swap famous landmarks and historical buildings (the Arc de Triomphe, the Panthéon, the Notre Dame, etc.) for modernist architecture. Believe it or not, you can get a unique, eye-catching photo from an apartment block.
Andreas Gurksy did it with his iconic 1993 photo of one of the city’s largest residential buildings, Maine Montparnasse II (the Mouchotte).
Well, it technically wasn’t a single photo. Gurksy took multiple shots of the building and “grafted” them in post-production to create a vast panorama. But you get the idea.
3. Playing With Reflections
Credit: Peyman Shojaei
Whether you’re photographing the Louvre’s glass pyramid or the Place du Concorde, you could work with reflections to make the image more interesting.
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Some professional photographers make use of large ponds for this type of shot. However, you can always try other mediums and angles (yes, we’re back to unique perspectives!).
The American photographer and painter Saul Leiter shot his famous Parisian café photos through glass. The result was an image that carried a bit of reflection of the details outside the street and even a partial image of him holding his camera!
Aside from creating a reflection, the glass adds a moody, almost foggy touch to the photo.
Side Note: Lieter would buy cheap, expired film and embrace the “mistakes” that the chemicals would leave on his final prints. That made his images all the more unique. Today, you can try to mimic that style in your photos digitally using presets.
4. Knowing (And Respecting!) the Subjects
Credit: Getty Images, Unsplash+
Expert photographers understand their subjects well enough to frame them in a way no one else can.
Take Robert Doisneau and his iconic Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville, for instance. Doisneau went out that day knowing he’d find a young couple kissing in public—he knew the local culture that well.
When he finally found what he was looking for, his relaxed attitude helped him put two people (who were total strangers to him) at ease. The result was one of the most recognized Parisian shots ever.
That’s not to say you can intrude and take pictures of people without their consent just because you think they make great subjects. Doisneau asked the couple to pose, and you should get permission, too.
5. Nailing the Time
Credit: Pedro Lastra
It’s a good idea to always have your camera on you in case you see something worth photographing. But you still need to plan for important photoshoots. Paris is usually packed with tourists, after all.
Some pros will tell you to aim for the early morning for two reasons: golden hour and fewer crowds.
However, there’s another perk to look forward to here. Mary Quincy says she likes capturing Paris early in the morning when everybody is asleep because it makes her feel like she owns the city somehow.
That sort of feeling has to account for something. Think about it; when you feel better about your work, it’s easier to get creative with your shots.
Final Thoughts
A final word of advice? Don’t rush yourself.
You can try to learn from the best. You can go out every day at sunrise and sunset, looking for a shot that works. However, you can’t force a unique shot, especially if you want it to feel like it fits your style and vision.
It’ll take time to find your distinctive style and approach. Even tweaking your post-production process as you go will help you shape something that stands out from the crowd.
To begin with, go out and experiment with new angles, techniques, and locations!
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