That You Must Have on Your Parisian Portfolio

What do visualization, handsome French men, and luxury wedding venues have in common?  

Stay with me on this one…. 

It was a warm, slow evening in Paris as I wandered aimlessly through the streets. Not unlike so many other evenings, I found myself at the Seine, enjoying the refreshing breeze of the closing day.

As I sat, watching boats filled with tourists, families, and lovers float lazily down the rivers, the absolute enchantment of the moment caught up with me and one specific thought caught my notice: 

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to kiss right now?”

I clearly visualized a handsome (and French!) stranger walk towards me on the bridge. He is about to pass by when he realizes who he just saw (me, of course) and that he must meet me. And in this visualization we spent the rest of the lovely evening exploring the city, saying yes to any opportunity the universe presents to us. 

And what do you think happened?  

Ten minutes later, an attractive French man walks past me.  He looks my way. Smiles. Lingers a bit longer than common politeness dictates. And keeps walking.  

I channel my most intense “come back” energy. 

And guess who turned back around. 

We spent a gorgeous evening wandering Paris (just like I had imagined) and enjoying a delightful evening.  

And no, we can just stop the story there. There was no happily-ever-after, or love-at-first sight (well, maybe a little love at first sight) but it was a magical, enchanting evening.  

Forever soul-mates we might not be, but it was yet another lesson for me on the power of manifestation and visualization. 

Making Your Business Goals Come to Fruition

Hi!  I’m D’Arcy—world renowned photographer, educator, and world-class manifester. 

If you’re here, I am going to assume you are: 

1 – dreaming of building a destination wedding photography business (go, you! You are going to kill it!)

2 – planning a styled shoot in The City of Lights (and I can’t WAIT to see the images!)

3 – trying to figure out how you can take your photography business to the next level (we have ALL been there and you being here is a step in the right direction!)

Whatever brings you to my little corner of the world-wide web, welcome. I’m truly glad you are here. 

If you’ve been following me for a while then you know that I am all about the manifesting, positive-thinking, living-out-loud vibes. I’m also going to tell you that sometimes the biggest roadblock to achieving your dreams is not dreaming big enough. 

*If you are dreaming about creating a destination wedding business in France, then start building it.

*If you are dreaming about a styled shoot on the banks of Seine, then start planning.

*If you are dreaming about upleveling your portfolio to a place of luxury and refinement, then start educating yourself and learning from the masters (and probably take a trip to Paris because… why not?). 

But don’t play it small. Dream big, my friends. And start doing.

And one of my biggest pieces of advice about dreaming big and manifesting is to be specific. Tell the universe exactly what you want (and why). And be specific, specific places, specific venues, specific clients. The more specific you are, the greater chance the universe will respond. 

And I am here to help you manifest a portfolio full of the most luxury wedding venues in Paris venues.

5 Luxury Wedding Venues in Paris

1. The Ritz Paris

If it was good enough for Coco Chanel…

The Ritz is the very definition of luxury and is frequently considered the most luxurious hotel in the entirety of Europe. No experience will be disappointing with the exquisitely decorated guest rooms (many named after famous guests like Hemgingway and Fitzgerald) and its world renowned service. 

If modern and luxe is your vibe, a ballroom celebration here will make your photographer’s dreams come true. 

2. Shangri La Hotel

If you have ever dreamed of photographing a wedding in a palace, then the Shangri La Paris is your venue.  Formally the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte (the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte), this exquisite hotel is the perfect place for a sophisticated, black-tie wedding.  Ornate details cover every square inch of this elaborate venue and opulence is standard for this aristocratic beauty.

From a ceremony in the manicured gardens to a cocktail hour on a terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower, it really doesn’t get much better than this. 

3. Laperouse

Stepping away from hotel venues, consider adding Laperouse to your list of places you must shoot a wedding (or session) at. 

Steps away from the iconic Gothic Sainte Chapelle chapel, this three Michelin star restaurant is a vision of opulence and old world charm (but still chic). The menu is divine and distinguished, making it an excellent choice for a welcome dinner or intimate reception. Get the foie gras and prepare for an enchanting evening photographing in candlelight in a private dining salon.

4. Parc De Bagatelle

If you are looking for a venue that channels a bit of French aristocracy with some urban-nature vibes, then look no further than Parc De Bagatelle. 

Take a step back in time as you photograph beautiful couples surrounded by  an 18th-century landscaped park and chateau—which interestingly enough was built in just 64 days as a bet between Marie-Antoinette and her brother-in-law…I mean, this sounds normal to me…

With a Chinese-style pagoda, waterfalls, peacocks (yes, peacocks!), and limitless photography opportunities, this is a great place to shoot a session or an elopement to start building your portfolio.

5. France Ameriques

The France Ameriques (and The Marois Hotel) are photographer’s goals in Paris and rightly so.  Sparkling chandeliers, exquisite ceiling paintings, and crown molding adorned in gold, this iconic Paris wedding venue is as chic as it’s steeped in history. 

A short walk away from the Grand Palais, everything about this destination is dreamy. The space is often used for showings during Paris fashion week and important business people schmoozing overseas colleagues with the best that Paris has to offer. 

Manifestation and Putting in the Work

But remember, you can’t just add something to your vision board and sit back and wait for magic to happen. 

You must be constantly educating yourself and perfecting your art. A vision board is all great and well (and I truly do believe in the power of manifesting) but you also need to be working towards your goals. 

So you want to shoot at luxury wedding venues in Paris?  Great.  

Now is the time to get honest with yourself. Is your portfolio at a luxury level? Is your work where it needs to be?   

If you are looking to take your work and your business then I have what you are looking for. 

Enter the Profitable Portfolio. 

If you know your work is good but feel like there is just something missing…

If your work looks like everyone else’s….

If you keep getting budget wedding inquiries but really want to start booking luxury destination weddings… then this is the course you have been looking for. 

I put my heart and soul into this course and it has helped hundreds of photographers double, triple, and even quadruple their wedding bookings… and it can help you too.  

Here it is again, if you want to dive into the details a bit deeper. The Profitable Portfolio.

I hope to see you in there—or shooting at one of these luxury wedding venues in Paris!

Do you want to go deeper into Play it Brave? And BIG? And BOLD? Come listen to the Play it Brave podcast and binge your way to a better business and a better life.

Want to up level your portfolio so that it screams elegance and luxury? And brings in a luxury paycheck? Check out my most popular course, The Profitable Portfolio and be on your way to $10k wedding clients.