Is Queenstown like Paris?
Every year, we get requested by one or two couples to take photos in Queenstown with a “Paris” vibe.
We might receive “inspiration” photos that show something along the lines of:
- A downtown Paris engagement photoshoot, with the couple sitting outside a cafe sipping coffee, around a bunch of older fashionable Parisian gentlemen reading coffee, while a girl in a red trench coat and sun glasses walks past them on the sidewalk, and a motion-blurred man riding a Vespa scooter with a long scarf, with a baguette in his bag.
- That iconic Paris shot walking up the limestone staircase, overlooking Eiffel Tower in the background
- A photoshoot on a balcony, overlooking the streets of Paris during sunset, with the bride wearing a black gown
We’ve had to create this page, to convey a few points:
- That we cannot make Queenstown look like Paris – Queenstown is not Paris.
- The charm of Queenstown, and the differences between Queenstown and Paris
- Potential solutions
All of our marketing material and portfolios demonstrate the natural scenery of Queenstown, and we don’t show any photography on the streets of Paris.
Creative License Clause 2 in our booking contract also states:
The Client acknowledges and agrees that they have reviewed the Photographer’s portfolio and are hiring the Photographer based on their distinctive artistic style and expertise. The Client understands that the photographs delivered by the Photographer shall be consistent with this style, and may vary in terms of lighting, composition, and editing techniques.
The Charm of Queenstown
Queenstown is globally renowned for its pristine nature, adventurous sports, and breathtaking landscapes. The town sits on the shores of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by majestic mountains. The Remarkables mountain range, Cecil Peak, and the alpine vistas are truly the stuff of dreams. This distinctive backdrop creates a dramatic contrast to the Parisian architectural elegance and romantic streetscapes.
Queenstown vs. Paris: A Tale of Two Cities
It’s essential to understand that the two locations represent completely different facets of beauty. Paris is a city of artistic romance, historic grandeur, and architectural marvels. Its streets echo with centuries of cultural evolution and artistic progression. The Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the enchanting cobblestone streets create a classic European aesthetic that’s truly unique to Paris.
Queenstown, on the other hand, is a much younger town, founded during the Otago Gold Rush in the 1860s. As such, it does not have the historic grand architecture that characterises older European cities.
The closest thing we have to Paris in Queenstown, is the Ma Boulangerie French Bakery in Remarkables Park. Please don’t request us to take photos there either – we love the food and coffee from there, but it is not a beautiful place for wedding photos.
How to get photos with a “Paris vibe”
Our recommendation is to visit a different city with more historical architecture and a lot of cafes.
Going to Paris would be the obvious choice, but if you can’t visit Europe we’d recommend these cities in New Zealand or Australia:
- Melbourne
- Wellington (has more cafes per capita than New York)
- Dunedin (more gothic inspired architecture than Mediterranean though!)
- Waiheke Island (a lot of terracotta architecture, olive trees and wineries with a “South of France” vibe)
How about Arrowtown?
Arrowtown is the one place in Queenstown with a bit of history from the gold rush.
Famous for its autumn colours, Arrowtown is our top recommendation if you are able to make it to Queenstown in late April to early May (21st April ~ 7th May).
The winter storms start setting in around mid-May, and this will blow away all the colourful leaves, leaving Queenstown looking quite deserted, dead and brown.
Arrowtown in Winter especially is a tough place with no sunlight, and we don’t recommend visiting for photography.
While Arrowtown still isn’t quite like Paris, we can achieve a similar “vibe” in late April.
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