Super-hot 2-hour sunset Paris engagement session

The Notre-Dame Cathedral, on Île de la Cité in Paris, is at once an exquisite example of French Gothic architecture and also an instantly recognizable (and an easy-to-find) Parisian landmark. In other words, it makes for a convenient and relatively central meeting point to kick-off our Paris engagement session. Notre-Dame offers our favorite Seine River access and is within walking distance from Pont Neuf, Pont des Arts, the Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens.

But here's what we really love about the Notre-Dame location: it offers two fabulous cafés—the playful Shakespeare & Company Café with the best organic cappuccino in town, and the oldest restaurant in Paris, Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole, which makes for typical Parisian café photos. Cafés are a splendid opportunity to break the ice quickly, capture ring and macaron details, and get to know each other in a relaxed setting.

The so-called "Blue Hour" (in French: l'heure bleue) is the period of evening civil twilight, after sunset and when the sun is below the horizon; indirect light typically produces a lovely, romantic, and deeply vivid blue sky. However, don't confuse the "Blue Hour" with the "Golden Hour," which are the periods immediately after official sunrise or before official sunset; both are beautiful but will result in substantially different photographs.

The exact starting time for the "Blue Hour" depends on the time of the year, but as a rule of thumb, it starts approximately 15 minutes after official sunset and becomes increasingly vibrant during evening civil twilight. The reason our "Blue Hour" photos just look bluer and feel more passionate is that we use continuous light (held by an associate) instead of flash, which in turn tends to result in a black sky and more harsh photographs.

When you're in France, do as the French, right? Hey, the way we see it, Champagne is the quintessential sparkling wine and simply the ultimate prop to celebrate your Paris engagement session. Champagne is almost always "within" character, helps distract from unwanted camera awareness, and will quickly ease you into your Paris engagement session. We're asked all the time for tips on how to pop a Champagne like a seasoned Pro ... and will typically coach you before you uncork the bottle. With that said, here are a few quick thoughts: do not use a Champagne for the act of popping unless you're independently wealthy (keep your real Champagne for the photos afterward).

Instead, bring two cheap sparkling wines, which will give you and your Paris photographer two chances at amazing photos. Do not shake the bottle before opening, take your time even after the cork is out, don't spray the fluid right in front of you (which might otherwise obstruct your faces) ... and when you're ready, celebrate out loud and shake the bottle in a circular motion until the spray stops! When you do it as described, there should be at least 1/3rd of a bottle left ... just enough to toast to an unforgettable Paris engagement session.