It’s just three months until the South of France is alive with blooming lavender fields and it’s one of my favourite and busiest times of the year! So, for those of you thinking of capturing some portraits in the lavender fields, I thought I’d share some information and inspiration from previous photo shoots. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best Provence lavender fields to visit and tips for planning a photo shoot.

Provence Lavender Field Locations

The Luberon

Around the village of Bonnieux and Villars are some of my most treasured lavender fields. It’s much quieter than Valensole, so you avoid the eyes of other tourists and get the fields all to yourselves! The added bonus is you can choose to add on an extra hour to the shoot to take some photos in one of the Provencal village such as Gordes. You can see a village family photo shoot I captured in Gordes below:

Erica, Peter & Malin in Gordes

Valensole

The most famous destination for lavender fields in the South of France is the Valensole Plateau. With its sprawling fields and breathtaking views, it’s a favourite among photographers and tourists.

Time of Year

The best time to visit is from mid-June to mid-July when the lavender is in full bloom. I find that the end of June is when the lavender is at it’s best. Try and plan your Provence Lavender photo shoot during the weekdays to avoid all the local visitors!

Time of Day

My favourite times of day for a lavender photo shoot is during the golden hours. Either shortly after sunrise or one hour before the sunset. My absolute favourite is the sunrise as we avoid the other tourists and the colours are less saturated. Plus I’m a morning person and the bees haven’t woken up yet! The soft, diffused light during the golden hours enhances the rich colours of the lavender and creates soft flattering portraits.

What to Wear

When planning your wardrobe, opt for colours that complement the lavender. Soft pastels, whites, and earthy tones work beautifully against the vibrant purple. Flowing fabrics can add movement to your photos and make sure to wear comfortable shoes as we’ll be walking!

An important point to make when it comes to Provence lavender photo shoots is to respect the plants and farmers! While it’s tempting to run through the fields and pick the lavender, we need to stick to the paths and avoid trampling or picking the flowers to preserve the beauty of these fields.

As summer approaches, my calender gets super busy with Weddings and Portrait photo shoots in the Provence and French Riviera. So, if you’d like to book your photo shoot in the enchanting lavender fields of Provence then make sure to contact me as soon as possible to book in your date.

I look forward to capturing some beautiful photos for you!

Abbi