French Riviera
Côte d'Azur
The coast, town by town
I'm based in Nice and work along the whole Côte d'Azur. Below is where I shoot most often, and what each place actually gives you
If the town you have in mind isn't listed, ask anyway — the coast is small and most of it is within an hour of Nice.
The city I live in and the one I know best. Proposals here usually happen on the hill above the old port, where the whole bay opens below you, or along the Promenade des Anglais just before sunset.
The old town, the rooftop terraces above Castle Hill and the pebble beaches all sit within a short walk of each other, so a proposal and the portrait session after it can happen without moving far.
Cannes is the glamorous side of the Riviera — La Croisette, the palace hotels, the long line of palms.
It suits couples who want the bright, cinematic version of the coast. Le Suquet, the old quarter above the port, gives the quieter counterpoint in the same session.
Monte-Carlo, the palace square and the terraces above Port Hercule make Monaco the most cinematic backdrop on this coast.
Some spots here need permission in advance, so proposals in Monaco are worth planning earlier than elsewhere.
Antibes is the most lived-in town on the coast: ramparts, a working market, narrow streets and the sea right behind them.
Cap d'Antibes and the path to the Garoupe lighthouse give the wilder, greener frames — a favourite for family sessions that should not look staged.
A softer, gentler bay ten minutes from Nice, with ochre houses stacked above the harbour.
The Citadel and the waterfront are calm even in season, which makes this the place I suggest when a couple wants the coast without the crowd.
A medieval village on a rock, five hundred metres above the sea.
The stone lanes and the exotic garden at the top give something no beach can — height, silence and the whole coastline underneath. Worth the climb, and it films beautifully.
The peninsula between Nice and Beaulieu, with the coastal path running the whole way round it.
Villa Ephrussi and the gardens above the water are the postcard, but the small harbour and the pine-lined path are where the natural frames are.
Belle Époque architecture, a quiet marina and Villa Kérylos on the point.
Beaulieu is small and unhurried, which is exactly why it works for families with young children — nothing here needs rushing.
The last town before Italy, and the most colourful on the coast.
Painted facades, lemon trees and terraced gardens give a warmer palette than anywhere west of it — a different look entirely if you already have Nice photos.
Further along the coast and worth the drive for the port, the pastel houses and Place des Lices.
Sessions here are planned as a half-day because of the distance, and are usually combined with something else you already have planned in the area.
Somewhere on this coast
Every location has its own best hour. Send me the town and the date, and we'll plan around it.