It was about five o’clock in the morning and the alarm on my phone had just sounded. I turned it off and checked my email. Still blurry eyed, I opened my inbox, which quickly cleared my vision as on one particular email, the subject title read “YOU WON – Paris is calling!” I immediately sat up and in disbelief, shook my husband awake to share the good news. I had just won the giveaway I entered for a photoshoot in Paris, with one of the best photography teams, in the city of lights! I never win anything, let alone something of this caliber! We already had a trip in the books, hence allowing myself to enter the contest, but it seemed only a dream to do a family photoshoot there and one I never thought would come to fruition.

Fast forward a few months and we opted for breakfast in the hotel that morning as it seemed easiest given, we were photoshoot ready and had a schedule to arrive at Bir-Hakeim bridge on time. Our coordinated outfits, all various shades of French blue, were perfectly pressed matching our equally coiffed hair and my daughter’s and my make-up applied most meticulously. The hotel staff brought us a traditional breakfast spread of our favorite tartines and croissants. I held my breath as my son spread the bright red jam on his tartine. Like any mother would do at the heels of family photos, I encouraged him to drape himself in every napkin available in the hotel, although I would have preferred a sheet had that not been completely mortifying to him. I’m pretty sure by the end of breakfast, my acute attention to their eating mannerisms resulted in all of them wanting to throw me into the Seine.  But to my credit, not a drop of jam or even a crumb landed anywhere but in our mouths.

We opted for the metro that morning. I was so focused on my long dress not draping the subway floors, I neglected my footing as I ran up the metro steps and to my misfortune, my beautiful, gold French sandals caught in them as I was running upstairs. The entire bottom of the heel came off, so I hobbled on one foot as my husband pounded that stubborn block heel, over and over against the wall, until finally it went back in. We arrived on time at the proper station and as we walked outside, the Eiffel Tower stood prominently under a bright blue sky. The most glorious weather shined down on us that day. We met with our photographer, Zoe who happened to be from our hometown. Her ways in capturing our family were effortless and her ability to spark conversation so naturally, distracted the fact a camera was focusing on our every facial expression and movement. She made the whole shoot so pleasant, catching a variety of angles, locations within the area: from park bench, under the infamous Bir-Hakeim bridge, a magical street where the Eiffel Tower waved bonjour, and ultimately ending our time in a quintessential Parisian café.

Later that afternoon, we met in their studio where she presented a portfolio of the photo shoot. Behind a beautiful gate, we walked through a quaint courtyard into their studio. In a mood-lit room with one wall dedicated to displaying the camera roll from an overhead projector, we settled into the comfy couch. As the slide show started and the music played, it cued my tears. Her shots were stunning! Paris’ scenery, whether it’s the revered monuments, cozy cafés, majestic parks, or bridges sprawling the Seine, are all considered some of the most beautiful spots in the world. Having that backdrop professionally captured of our family vacation, was not only a pinch-me moment, but the best souvenir I’ve ever acquired. We decided on a family photo, highlighting Paris’ most iconic monument, presented on a luxurious canvas, which now sits prominently on our family room’s mantle. Along with a couple of images that we’ve framed throughout the house, we welcomed a photo album displaying an array of the various places she shot us. Its quality will last us forever and quickly whisks us back to that surreal moment in our lives.

If visiting Paris, we can’t recommend Katie Donnelly photography enough! A photo shoot in a dream destination is truly the ultimate souvenir to bring home.

I discovered Katie Donnelly photography from Everyday Parisian, whose print I had purchased through her website and is also framed on our mantle. It balances our family photo shoot seamlessly. Her Paris photography is classy and elegant and for the giveaway I won, she had partnered up with Katie Donnelly photography.