A Short Morning Family Session in Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera¶
We had the pleasure of photographing S, J, and their daughter A for a short but sweet family session in Villefranche-sur-Mer. This session was designed to be quick, only 30 minutes, because little A, like most children, can only focus for a short time before getting distracted.
Timing and Light¶
We scheduled the shoot right after sunrise, around 6:45. This is one of our favourite times to photograph in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The light is soft and golden, giving a natural warmth to the images without being harsh. Because the town sits in a bay, we need to wait until the sun rises over the surrounding mountains. Arriving too early creates shadows across the town, so we usually aim for 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise. On 10 May, this timing was perfect. The light was soft and warm and the atmosphere was calm and quiet.
Outfits and Styling¶
A wore an adorable pink dress paired with a white cardigan, while Summer chose a white dress and J coordinated in a pink shirt with white shorts. The matching pastel tones brought a lovely cohesion to the photos. Coordinating outfits like this is something we always recommend for family sessions, as it gives the images a polished and harmonious feel without looking staged.
Walking Through Villefranche-sur-Mer¶
We started the shoot near the Villefranche-sur-Mer train station, which offers one of the best early-morning views of the bay.
From there, we walked down the main street that runs along the water, Quai Amiral Courbet, taking advantage of the quiet empty streets. A was free to explore and run around, and her natural curiosity and energy made for some adorable candid shots.
The session continued along the waterfront until we reached the larger area near the restaurants on Avenue Sadi Carnot.
The morning was calm and peaceful, and because it was so early, there were almost no people around. This gave A the freedom to play and be herself without distractions, which made the whole session run smoothly.
Perfect Conditions¶
The weather was perfect, warm but not too hot, with a gentle breeze from the bay. It was an ideal family shoot for a young child and the timing and quiet streets made Villefranche-sur-Mer feel like it was all theirs.
In just 30 minutes, we captured playful, natural and intimate moments that S, J, and A will cherish forever. Sometimes the shortest sessions are the sweetest.