The secret to a successful outdoor family photography session is choosing the right location. The best family photographers won’t make you do the work of choosing the session location yourself. Instead, they will offer you a curated list of amazing places to choose from.
And here I have a suggestion for a refined, unforgettable outdoor family photography session: a castle photoshoot in a gorgeous French chateau.
A castle photoshoot does not only need to be for wedding photography. It can certainly be a great, unique experience for a family photo session too.
The Dordogne region has so many stunning locations for an outdoor family photography session. It can get even overwhelming to narrow down and choose just one location. However, the Marqueyssac Gardens offers a wide range of possibilities, making it my absolute number 1 choice near Sarlat.
The Marqueyssac Gardens near Sarlat in Dordogne
The Marqueyssac Gardens is a stone-tiled chateau from the early 19th century with a stunning panoramic view surrounded by picturesque gardens and woods.
The Marqueyssac Gardens is a great option for outdoor family photography for three main reasons.
First, it has a great variety of backgrounds at a relatively short distance from each other. This allows for an image gallery with a great variety. Second, there is so, so much to do and explore with your children that they will absolutely love the experience. And will almost forget they are in a family photoshoot.
Third, the Marqueyssac Gardens opens early (9am), which allows us to capture your images when the sun is still not so high, and the temperature is pleasant during the summer.
What to expect from an outdoor family photography session in the Marqueyssac Gardens
The session starts with naturally posed portraits in a lovely patch of land right next to the car park (to save you time) at around 8h45. Then, as soon as we are finished with your portraits and the garden opens, we can do a a new set of portraits near the entrance to enjoy the stunning views while still quiet and empty. Then, the rest of the session mostly follows a documentary approach of capturing authentic moments of your family discovering the garden’s beautiful grounds.
Some of the families I photograph prefer to keep their family photo session privately, instead of signing the optional model release. As such, I share some personal images of our family day at the Marqueyssac Gardens to give you a sense of what to expect. And to inspire you to consider your upcoming outdoor family photography session at a picturesque French chateau.
About your family and baby photographer
Hi, there! My name is Mariana. I am so thankful you are looking at my work on my website and blog.
As a fine art maternity, baby, and family photographer, I specialize in families with young children. I am currently ranked the number one photographer in Toulouse, France, by the Photojournalist Family Association.
If you love my work, and you are looking for an English-speaker photographer in France, I would love for us to start planning your session.
Together, we will create a collection of fine art love-filled images through a stress-free experience. My approach to photography includes a mix of very natural posing and photojournalistic moments. This allows for an experience where your whole family feels comfortable and relaxed. So all you really have to do is to enjoy being with each other.
If you live in Toulouse, you can opt to have your session in the comfort of your own home. Also, at a beautiful park, open field, or even at my studio. For destination family sessions, I offer in-home and outdoor sessions. Because of my passion for traveling, I serve families worldwide, with regular trips to Paris, London, Marseille, Basel, and Zurich. I also love photographing in Dordogne and Pays-Basque.
To see more of my family and baby photography work, I invite you to look through my portfolio. Or browse through curated gallery features from past sessions. I also invite you to learn more about what to expect from your session in the information page. Or contact me to have a chat. Simply click the links below.