On a golden September morning, I met Rachael, the brilliant creative mind behind Rachael Ellen Events, and her wonderful husband and business partner, Cameron, on the serene Parisian island of Île Saint-Louis for a sunrise anniversary session. The couple was married two years earlier at the most beautiful château wedding and returned to the City of Light to celebrate their love and to style and produce a beautiful destination wedding in the countryside. We were fortunate enough to find a day where our schedules aligned, and decided to capture Rachael and Cameron in their natural element – exploring their favorite city, sitting at a café nibbling croissants and sipping chocolat chaud, and shopping for flowers. Scroll down for the full story!
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As the sun began to rise over the Seine, I met Rachael and Cameron on one of my favorite brides in the city – Pont Louis Phillipe – to begin their session. Rachael, dressed in Dior and Jill Stuart – looked like the epitome of Parisian chic and I love how Cameron’s Italian loafers perfectly complimented the pale blue dots on Rachael’s black tulle gown.
Quai de Bourbon is one of the most scenic streets in the city, lined with ancient trees and some of the most beautiful and historic homes in Paris. On this particular September morning, the leaves had just begin to turn gold and softly fluttered to the ground in the cool breeze. It was a dream!
From there, we crossed over the island and made our way down to the Seine along Quai d’Orléans, named after one of the French royal families. In the summer evenings, this street is lined with tourists and revelers, but on this cool September morning it felt like we were the only people in the entire city.
Could these two be more photogenic? Their chemistry and love for each other is obvious within moments of meeting them, and their warm sense of humor made them completely relaxed in front of the camera.
By this point we had worked up quite the appetite, so we headed to one of my favorite Paris cafés – St. Regis – for warm croissants and hot chocolate. Rachael and Cameron took the opportunity to change into a slightly more relaxed look and I love how their outfits perfectly reflected their cool Paris meets New York style.
Rachael is an incredibly talented florist, so it only made sense for us to swing by my favorite floral shop on Île Saint-Louis to pick up some blooms.
Months before their session, I walked by this particular door and immediately knew it would be the perfect backdrop for Rachael and Cameron’s chic style. The neutral backdrop and clean lines immediately reminded me of the Rachael Ellen Events brand, and I love how it felt both minimalist and modern while still maintaining the classic old-world elegance of Paris.
Finally, we walked to one of my favorite hidden locations on Île Saint-Louis where the golden morning light illuminated the 16th-century architecture in the most romantic way possible. Rachael and Cameron, I adore you both and feel so fortunate to have been able to capture your love story in Paris. We will be working with the Rachael Ellen Events team on several editorials and weddings over the coming year and I cannot wait to share more!
Paris anniversary session by Film Photographer Paris, Molly Carr Photography | Contax 645 | Fuji 400H film | Styling: Rachael Ellen Events
