joslyn michelle
Paris: A Week in the City of Love
Spring 2023
A week in Paris was definitely not enough time, but my camera and I made the most of it—capturing everything from the obvious, like the Eiffel Tower, to hidden gems like the Clignancourt Flea Market. Every piece of the city felt spectacular: the food, the streets, the people. It was a whole new culture, a fresh perspective on life, and a treasure trove of memories I’ll carry with me forever.
Paris offered more than just sights—it gave me moments. Moments of awe, laughter, discovery, and quiet reflection. It was the kind of week that leaves a mark on your heart, the kind you replay in your mind long after it’s over.
Yes, it was only seven days, but it was the most perfect week I could have spent in the city of love.
Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Streets of Paris
Wandering the streets of Paris led us to two architectural marvels—Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. Sainte-Chapelle was breathtaking, with light pouring through its stained glass windows, each one telling a chapter of the Bible in radiant color. Even the adjacent prison cells held a haunting beauty, their quiet stillness contrasting the vibrant artistry above.
The architecture captivated me—every detail, from the windows to the frame boards, felt intentionally crafted, a testament to the care poured into its creation. My eyes and lens were equally enchanted.
Notre Dame, though under reconstruction after the fire, stood proud and majestic. Even in its damaged state, its exterior radiated grace and resilience. There was something deeply moving about witnessing its beauty through the lens of restoration.
The streets surrounding Île de la Cité, where these structures sit, were equally magical. From ornate light posts to charming local shops, every element felt thoughtfully placed. My camera couldn’t stop—every corner offered something worth capturing.
Versailles: Where Beauty Wanders
Versailles isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place you feel, photograph, and carry with you long after you’ve left.
Versailles: A Palace Beyond Time
Stepping beyond the city limits of Paris, I found myself at the gates of the Palace of Versailles—an experience so breathtaking, you had to take it all in and never blink. Capturing its beauty through my lens felt like chasing light through history.
Every inch of the palace was a masterpiece. From the intricate details carved into the walls to the delicate folds of the bed sheets in each room, nothing was overlooked. The private cathedral tucked inside was a revelation—its ceilings adorned with vibrant frescos that seemed to float above you like divine brushstrokes.
Outside, the gardens stretched endlessly, scattered with fountains and echoing with the cheerful chirping of parrots. It was a place where grandeur met serenity, and where every corner begged to be photographed.
Versailles wasn’t just a day trip—it was a portal into another world. One of elegance, artistry, and timeless beauty.
Versailles Beyond the Palace
Versailles isn’t just home to its iconic palace and sweeping gardens—it’s also a treasure trove of hidden gems that are equally breathtaking in their own unique ways. The Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon offer a more intimate glimpse into royal life, each room filled with artifacts steeped in history and elegance.
Marie Antoinette’s Grotto and the Temple of Love feel like scenes from a romantic painting. The Temple, with its graceful columns and a replica of Cupid at its center, is the perfect cue for love and serenity. Nearby, the Queen’s Hamlet invites you into a pastoral dream—charming huts nestled among gardens, with farm animals roaming freely and welcoming you into their quiet world. It’s a place where nature and nobility meet, and where every corner begs to be photographed.
These spaces are more than architectural marvels—they’re reflections of personality, intimacy, and escape. Versailles, in all its layers, is a storybook of beauty waiting to be explored.
Paris in Motion: Streets, Sights,
and Hidden Stories
A day spent wandering the streets of Paris—zipping through neighborhoods on electric scooters, savoring warm street crepes, and chasing beauty with my lens. We made our way to the Arc de Triomphe, crepes in hand, sitting nearby and admiring the grandeur of the monument while the traffic swirled around it like a living carousel.
After our delicious pause, we hit the streets again, gliding toward one of the city’s most iconic views. From the overlook, my camera captured the Eiffel Tower in all its glory—rising above the busy city, yet somehow suspended in timeless stillness. It was one of those rare moments where life slows down just enough to be felt, and the photograph becomes a forever echo of that feeling.
Later, we ventured off the beaten path to the Clignancourt Flea Market, a place that revealed the quieter, more intimate side of Paris. Here, among rows of handmade clothing, vintage vinyls stacked to the ceiling, and daguerreotype photographs that felt like windows into Parisian memory, we found stories tucked into every stall. It was a reminder that the soul of a city often lives in its corners—in the places not marked on tourist maps, but etched into the hearts of locals.
The Louvre: A Gallery of Time and Wonder
Stepping into the Louvre felt like entering a living archive of human creativity. The sheer scale of the museum was overwhelming—in the best way. Every corridor, every gallery, every staircase held centuries of stories, waiting to be discovered one brushstroke, one sculpture, one gaze at a time.
I wandered through halls lined with masterpieces, from ancient Egyptian relics to Renaissance icons. Seeing the Mona Lisa in person was surreal—not just for her fame, but for the quiet magnetism she holds in a room full of eyes. My lens captured not just the art, but the awe on the faces around me. It was a space where strangers stood still together, united by wonder.
The architecture itself was a masterpiece. Light poured through glass ceilings, dancing across marble floors and gilded frames. Even the shadows felt intentional. I found myself photographing not just the exhibits, but the way the museum breathed—how people moved through it, how silence and sound coexisted.
Outside, the Louvre’s iconic pyramid reflected the sky like a mirror, anchoring the past and present in one perfect frame. It was more than a museum—it was a moment in time, a place where art and emotion met, and where my camera became a bridge between the two.
Us in Paris: A Portrait of Love
A photoshoot of Kyle and me through the streets and parks of Paris was something I couldn’t let pass by. In a city so full of beauty, history, and romance, it felt only right to capture us within it—to hold this moment in time for years to come.
So there we were, tripod in hand, standing on the Pont de Bir-Hakeim with the Eiffel Tower behind us, wandering the grounds outside the Louvre, and strolling through the Champ de Mars. Each location offered a different kind of magic, and together we became part of the scenery—two souls in love, framed by the elegance of Paris.
Thinking about the future and knowing we’ll have these portraits to look back on fills me with quiet joy. They’re more than photographs—they’re memories made tangible, a reflection of a week filled with adventure, culture, history, and beauty.
Paris, the city of love, will forever hold a piece of my heart. And now, it holds a piece of our story too.
