Behind the Scenes of a Marseille Portrait Photo Shoot
There’s something magical about portrait photography on location – the way natural light falls, how the backdrop becomes part of your story, and those genuine moments that happen between shots. Here’s a Behind the Scenes of a Marseille Portrait Photo Shoot creating portraits that feel authentically you.
After years of working with studio lighting, shooting portraits on location in Marseille reminded me why I love the unpredictability of outdoor locations. From managing crowds to working with available light, here’s what I learned about creating compelling portraits with a destination photoshoot.
In this post, I’m breaking down my approach to a recent portrait session in Marseille. Working in public places can be tough. That’s why I often try to book my photoshoots early in the morning. However, that’s not always possible. So, I learned to work around a crowd. If you’ve never been in front of a camera, it can be daunting. Standing on the street while strangers stare creates genuine anxiety.. The goal of my portrait photoshoots is simple: I want you to forget about the camera. Instead, I want you to enjoy the experience and be yourself.
What I love about this particular session is how we found our rhythm, after the first few shots, we shared about our favourite places in the city. We ended up having this great conversation about Marseille while shooting.
In this portrait session, I picked three locations: around the Cathédrale Major, the Mucem museum, and the Panier. When you photograph outdoors, the location tells part of the story. It sets the mood for your images. I choose backdrops with an elegant and classic vibe. But it depends on the look you want for your images.
Location one – Around the Cathedral Major.
I love the backdrop of these images. You might be surprised to discover Marseille has these beautiful Haussmann-style buildings that create such elegant backdrops. I discovered this location one evening while watching the sunset over boats heading to Corsica. The moment I saw it, I knew it would be perfect fot portraits.
This location, situated near the Cathédrale Major, was the first one I chose. Another major challenge when photographing on location is the varying light conditions. It is more difficult to control than in a studio, but there are ways to work around it. The light was perfect during the photoshoot. The sky was overcast, and it was close to sunset, ideal for soft lighting. We took natural breaks when people walked by, which actually helped create a relaxed, enjoyable experience
Location two –The Old Tower
We moved from the Cathedral towards the Mucem and the walls of the old tower. These soft pink walls created a perfect backdrop for close-up portraits and the dresses featured in them.
Location three – Le Panier.
Le Panier is one of the oldest areas in Marseille; it has undergone significant transformation in the last 20 years, becoming the place to visit in Marseille. There are many bars and restaurants, and the area gets very lively in the evening. Nothing beats dining al fresco on one of the streets of Le Panier.
I love the area. Most of the streets are decorated with plants and graffiti. For this shoot, I wasn’t after the most vibrant graffiti but something softer, and we found some great walls with peachy undertones. We managed to find streets with steps to create some perspective and create some cinematic portraits.
The narrow streets meant we had to get creative with angles, and honestly, some of the best shots came from those problem-solving moments.
Location photography isn’t just about finding beautiful backdrops – it’s about creating an experience that brings out the real you. Every session teaches me something new, whether it’s discovering how someone lights up when they talk about their memories, or finding the perfect angle when we have to work around a narrow street. These challenges, combined with Marseille’s incredible mix of architecture and atmosphere, create portraits that feel genuine and alive.
What I’ve learned is that the best portraits happen when you stop worrying about being perfect and start enjoying the journey. The location becomes part of your story, the natural light adds warmth, and those little conversations between shots? They’re often when the magic really happens.
Ready to create your own portrait story? I’m currently booking sessions here in the South of France, and I’ll also be shooting in London, Paris, and Berlin this September. Whether you want something classic and elegant or more urban and contemporary, let’s find the perfect locations to capture your unique style. Send me a message to discuss your vision and check availability!
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