Destination
Pre-wedding photography
Paris & the Loire Valley
Nathanaël Charpentier photographs pre-wedding sessions, also known as hunshazhao (婚纱照), in Paris and in the châteaux of the Loire Valley, an hour and a half from the capital. A portrait photographer first (Portraitiste de France 2021), he brings to these sessions what he brings to every portrait: time, quiet guidance, and images made to last.
A pre-wedding session is a portrait of the two of you. Some moments are gently guided: a hand, a shoulder, where to rest your gaze. Others are simply kept as they happen, between two poses, when you forget the camera. Both belong in the final gallery; the second kind is usually the one you will frame.
Paris gives its light and its stone: the colonnades of the Palais-Royal, the bridges over the Seine at dawn, the gardens of the Louvre. The Loire Valley gives what no city can: châteaux with grand staircases and centuries-old parks, morning mist on the river, golden evening light, and the calm to enjoy it. Several outfits, several places, one coherent story.
A preview gallery is delivered within 48 hours, ready to share before you fly home.
See also wedding photography and Loire Valley châteaux.
Common questions
Do you photograph pre-wedding sessions in the Loire Valley châteaux?
Yes. Nathanaël Charpentier is based in Gien, in the heart of the Loire Valley, and photographs pre-wedding sessions in the châteaux and parks between Sully-sur-Loire and Tours, as well as in Paris. He knows the estates, their owners and their best light: mornings are reserved before visitors arrive.
How much does a pre-wedding photoshoot in Paris or the Loire Valley cost?
A pre-wedding session with Nathanaël Charpentier starts at €1,200 for a half-day in one location, and €2,200 for a full day across Paris and the Loire Valley, with several outfits. All sessions include fine-art retouching and a preview gallery within 48 hours.
Can you work with Mandarin-speaking couples?
Yes. Sessions are conducted in English or French, and Mandarin-speaking assistance can be arranged for the day. Contracts are available in English, and the preview gallery is delivered in time to share on your favourite platforms before the end of your trip.
Is this a wedding? Do we need any paperwork?
No: a pre-wedding session is a photography session, not a civil ceremony, so no paperwork or residency is required. You simply bring the outfits you love; a symbolic vow ceremony can be arranged separately on request.