Family photo at Parc de Sceaux: a place full of memories and inspiration
Some places speak to us more than others. It’s not always rational. It’s often personal.
As a documentary photographer, I could say that I’m inspired by light, lines, and settings. That’s true. But it wouldn’t be the whole story. Some places inspire me more because they resonate with my personal history. Because they hold memories, sensations, and fragments of life that have never really left me.
Sceaux Park is one of those places.
Places that inspire… for very different reasons
First, there are the places I’m discovering. The ones I know little about, or not at all. The novelty always excites me. It forces me to look at things differently, to search, to explore. These places become photographic playgrounds, where I have to deal with the unknown, with what I didn’t anticipate. They awaken a very stimulating sense of curiosity. And then there are the places steeped in history. Not just collective history, but personal history.
Those places inspire me in a different way. They are already filled with memories, physical sensations, and mental images. They put me in a special state of mind—one that is gentler and more attentive. My perspective shifts. It becomes slower and more sensitive.
Montmartre is part of it. That’s where I live today. That’s where I watch my daughters grow up. Every street, every staircase, every café has become a familiar backdrop to our daily lives. Photographing families in Montmartre is almost like photographing a little bit of my own life.
And then there's Sceaux Park.
Sceaux Park: a place that holds a special place in my heart
I grew up in Antony. Parc de Sceaux was a constant presence throughout my childhood and teenage years.
That’s where I went on my first jogs with my friends. That’s where I ran the middle school cross-country race, with that mix of excitement and anxiety you feel at that age. That’s also where the pool was, where I’d spend whole days in the summer, without ever noticing the time passing.
Sceaux Park isn’t just a beautiful place. It’s a place of remembrance.
A place where different versions of myself overlap. When I go back there today, something always stirs within me.
So, naturally, when Nicolas contacted me to take hisfamily photos at Parc de Sceaux, I was immediately thrilled. Not just because the location is beautiful, but because I was going there with all that invisible baggage.
Photographing a family in a place that touches my heart
When I take a family photo at Parc de Sceaux, I never treat it as just any ordinary location. I know the paths, the angles, the clearings. I know where the light falls best at the end of the day. I also know where it’s quieter, with more space for the kids to run around freely.
But above all, I take these photos with a special sense of emotion. Because, in a way, this park shaped who I am.
I firmly believe that places influence the way we see things. When I feel connected to a place, I pay even closer attention to the details. I take my time. I let myself be carried along. I don’t need to force inspiration—it’s already there.
One to three family photo sessions a year—never the same
I do an average of two to three family photo shootsat Parc de Sceaux each year. And yet, I never feel like I’m repeating myself.
The park is huge. But it’s not just a matter of size.
What makes each session unique is, of course, the energy of the families. The way they move, laugh, and talk to one another. But it’s also the way the park transforms with the changing seasons, the light, and the atmosphere.
Sceaux Park: A Setting with a Thousand Faces
What I truly love about taking family photos at Parc de Sceaux is the sheer diversity of the settings. In just a few minutes, the atmosphere changes completely. There are the wide-open vistas, very striking, almost solemn. There are the tree-lined paths, which are more intimate. There are the lawns, the woodlands, and the wilder areas.
And then there’s the lake.
For a family photo shoot at Parc de Sceaux, it’s an incredible setting. You can start in a wide-open space, letting the kids run, play, and wander off. Then move closer, settle down, sit on the grass, and chat. The session has a natural, relaxed feel to it.
I never impose a set itinerary. I observe the family, their pace, and their preferences. The tour adapts to them, not the other way around.
The Magic of the Seasons
Sceaux Park is a vibrant place. It is constantly changing.
In the spring, everything comes back to life. The colors are soft and fresh. Children pick flowers and chase after insects. The scenes are light and bright.
In the summer, the light becomes brighter. The photo sessions take on a vacation-like feel. We sit in the grass, take off our shoes, and enjoy ourselves. Family photos taken at Parc de Sceaux in the summer exude a sense of freedom.
In the fall, the park takes on an almost theatrical quality. The leaves fall, and the colors grow warmer. The children love jumping in the piles of leaves. It’s a season I particularly enjoy photographing, for its gentle beauty and poetic charm.
And then there’s winter.
The dream of a photo shoot in front of the frozen lake
Right now, it’s snowing. Sceaux Park is changing once again. The lines become more graphic. Silence settles in. The lake freezes over. And I find myself daydreaming.
I dream of a family asking me to take a family photo at Parc de Sceaux, in the middle of winter.
Facing the frozen lake. Hands in pockets. Red cheeks. Children bundled up. It would be a different kind of photo shoot. Calmer. More contemplative. Another way of telling a family story.
A documentary approach, rooted in the location
When I photograph a family at Parc de Sceaux, I stay true to my documentary approach. I don’t have them pose. I don’t constantly direct them. I might suggest a direction or a movement, but mostly I just let things happen.
The park offers plenty of space for life to unfold naturally. The kids always find something to do. The parents relax. And as for me, I just blend into the background.
The family photo at Parc de Sceaux then becomes a true snapshot of the moment. A heartfelt record of a shared moment, in a place that holds special meaning.
Why choose Sceaux Park for a family photo?
Because it is a place that is both majestic and accessible.
Because it lets you move around, breathe, and not feel cooped up.
Because it offers a wide variety of atmospheres in a single session.
Because it changes with the seasons, just as families change over time.
Because your kids can run and go far without any stress
And also because, for some of us, it’s steeped in stories. Of childhood. Of memories. Of life.
A family photo as a lasting keepsake
A family photo at Parc de Sceaux is more than just a pretty picture. It’s a vivid memory. A shared moment. A stroll. A laugh. A frozen moment, yet full of life.
And when, in a few years, you look at these photos, you won’t just see a backdrop. You’ll feel the air, the season, the atmosphere. You’ll remember that day.
That’s exactly why I love photographing families in this park so much. Because it lets me tell real stories. Simple stories. Stories that stay with you.
