Photography enthusiasts will find plenty of things to do in Paris, from visiting top-notch exhibitions and going backstage at legendary photo studios to attending photography-focused special events and setting off on a photo walk armed with professional camera equipment.
© Studio Harcourt
Photography fans are spoilt for choice in Paris, which has any number of galleries to visit – starting with the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. This venue hosts many exhibitions all year round: solo shows devoted to big-name photographers as well as retrospectives covering key movements in international photography. The Jeu de Paume in the heart of the Jardin des Tuileries, which displays works by famous 20th- and 21st-century photographers from around the world, is another must-see for any photography enthusiast.
The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, located in the Marais district, houses the collections of Henri Cartier-Bresson, a major 20th century photographer, and his wife Martine Franck. Cartier-Bresson's prolific work is visible in temporary exhibitions, on site or outside the walls. Other important figures of French and international photography are scheduled.
Le BAL, a former dance hall transformed into a venue devoted to contemporary photography, displays images by a cross-section of photographers. Talks and debates on photography-related themes are also organized in this exhibition space. At the Maison de la Photographie Robert Doisneau, visitors can admire temporary exhibitions of work by both professional and amateur photographers, with a focus on humanist photography. Located in Bièvres in Essonne, the French Museum of Photography has an impressive collection of photographic objects and prints and presents them through major annual exhibitions.
Several places also host open-air exhibitions, such as the Hôtel de Ville and the Jardin du Luxembourg. There are free photo exhibitions on the iron railings, and the display is changed twice a year. The initiative was launched in 2000 with ‘La Terre vue du ciel’, a series of superb aerial photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, and the temporary exhibitions have since become a regular feature, turning the gardens into a veritable open-air museum.
The legendary photo studio Studio Harcourt also welcomes visitors. Internationally renowned for its black and white portraits of stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Salvador Dali and Jean-Paul Gaultier, the studio is popular with photography fans, who are free to wander the corridors of this famous venue and browse the archives to admire the originals of the best-known portraits.
Without forgetting that the capital also has a large number of art galleries, some of which are very famous for their photographic exhibitions : Quai de la Photo located on the Seine. Free exhibitions are on offer over an area of 1000m².
© OTCP
November is photography month in Paris, with a wide range of special events held in various parts of the city. The Salon de la Photo takes place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in the early part of the month. This must-see photography show brings together the medium’s key players: galleries, artists, masterclass organizers and photographic equipment manufacturers. During the Paris Photo event, the Grand Palais turns into a vast photography gallery. The programme includes conversation cycles, giving keen photographers an opportunity to present their visions and practices. A simultaneous event, Fotofever at the Carrousel du Louvre, displays images by 250 emerging artists from 20 different countries, and is an excellent opportunity for beginners to start a photography collection.
The Photo Saint-Germain festival with a trail of events in various cultural venues on the Left Bank. And, every two years, the Biennal of contemporary Arab world photography, held simultaneously in different Parisian venues, places the spotlight on contemporary photography in this part of the world.
However, there is a year-round focus on photography in Paris, not just in November. The Circulation(s) festival, held in the spring, highlights the work of 50 young European artists, while Paris art galleries host a number of photography exhibitions throughout the year.
© Photo Days
The Photo Days trail celebrates photography in all its forms with a 100 % Parisian trail with many surprises along the way. For this fifth edition, Photo Days is reinventing itself by occupying new emblematic venues.
The Carrousel du Louvre will host an exclusive series specially designed by Juliette Agnel.
The Arlequin cinema will be offering a work by Ariane Michel.
Letizia Le Fur, winner of the Grand Prix Paris je t'aime x Photo Days 2024 on the theme “Paris Games” (‘Paris Games’), will show her project "Les petits jeux" (‘The Little Games’) at 32 rue Montmorency 75003 Paris.
And for the first time, Photo Days will publish a retrospective catalogue retracing the five years of the festival, with the support of the Fondation Antoine de Galbert.
You can also follow the event on Instagram @photodays.paris and on Facebook.
Immortalize your stay in Paris by treating yourself to a photo session in emblematic places of the capital (Le Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris, the pont Alexandre III...) with professional photographers.