A Winter Proposal on the French Riviera

Autumn Colours and amazing views during the tourist off-season

One of my Favourite Proposal Locations on the Riviera

There are lots of advantages to proposing or having winter photoshoots during the tourist off-season in the South of France. The skies are still blue, the sunlight is golden, and there are generally fewer people around in popular locations than there are during summer. 

During the fall season, there are often spectacular colours in the countryside, and the cold crisp air and winter clothing can give a great cozy, winter-vibe to images.

This will come as a surprise to the many people who, when it's 40 degrees, ask me if winter exists on the French Riviera.  Well, yes it does exist and some of the best, most temperate weather can be enjoyed in October in particular.

From mid-November, depending what altitude you're at, it is cold - you'll need warm coats and jumpers, especially if you want to sit outside at bars or restaurants. Less than ten miles inland from the sea it's often cold enough to snow during cold snaps.

Another advantage of organising a photoshoot during winter is, if the weather isn't ideal, it's usually easier for photographers to accommodate a last-minute date-change as (speaking for myself!) their diaries aren't as full as, say, July or August.

Fort de la Rivere as a Proposal Location

This proposal took place in Fort de la Rivere, which is an astonishing 700 meters up (2,300 feet) above the sea below and overlooks Eze village  and what must be hundreds of miles of coast across France and Italy.

To get there you'll need a car or Uber, but it's not far at all from Nice, maybe about 20 or 25 minutes and the drive will be very scenic. Tourists rarely make it up there, making it a great location for the view and to avoid crowds. It's also part of a larger park area that's generally just a beautiful space that's great for photoshoots, rambling, and a bit of nature exploration.

Organising a Surprise Proposal on the French Riviera

Surprise proposals like this are relatively easy to arrange and set-up. After we speak about what the client (or more typically, their partner, might want) I simply advise them on their best location options depending on their itinerary.

I always give people very detailed and specific information on where to go and when while I pretend to be another random person on the riviera with a camera, hiding in plain sight. Everyone wants to do things slightly differently, but I always tell them the best place and time in my opinion depending on how many people might be there, where the sun will be, and what the light will be like.

The photoshoot afterwards is optional, and some locations that are great for the proposal aren't always the best for a photoshoot. Regarding pricing, proposal photography packages start at 430 euros. If you go to my contact page you can download a Proposal Location Guide with the advantages and disadvantages of the French Riviera's most popular proposal locations.

About Me

I’m a British wedding and family photographer based on the French Riviera who specialises in imagery that’s easy-going, authentic, and natural. Please click here to return home or here to see my latest work.