A Princess in Paris | Springtime Paris Photo Shoot Amongst the Cherry Blossoms with Hair & Makeup Artist Onorina Jomir
No matter the time of year, Paris always has a way of luring us in! The chatter of locals and tourists in the summer, the fashionable scarves appearing on elegantly dressed women in the fall, and the romantic couples cozying up with a bottle of wine at the cute corner cafes in wintertime... Each season has its own style and mood, but springtime in Paris may just be one of the most beautiful and colorful, and a little bit of a personal favorite too!
As the spring season begins, the sun peeks through the clouds, and Paris is once again bustling with energetic, lively people from all over the world. This is when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, their soft fragrance filling the air and their beauty covering the city in pastel pink hues! This was the inspiration behind my personal photo shoot, where I got to be on the other side of the camera and experience the cherry blossoms at the peak of the season.
Photography by Kristine Grinvalde
Styling by Onorina Jomir, Professional Hair & Makeup Artist in Paris
Finding the inspiration for my “Springtime in Paris” Photo Shoot
It all began with a styled bridal fashion shoot where I met Latvian photographer Kristine Grinvalde. We really enjoyed working together, and she told me about her love of stylized photo shoots. Her photography work blew me away and that photoshoot still remains one of my favorites to this day!
The modeled gown is by Agnese Eiduka and was brought all the way from Latvia by Kristine for our photo shoot!
Through my makeup, I wanted to capture and showcase the elegance of Paris and its signature springtime color!
For her next trip to Paris, Kristine asked me if I would like to model an Agnese Eiduka gown that she was bringing from Latvia. Her goal was to capture me wearing it during cherry blossom season, and we can see why! The dress is the perfect shade of pink and matched the delicate cherry blossoms so well! At that point, I was so excited about being a part of this artistic photo shoot piece, though I wasn’t super confident in my ability to pose and look relaxed at the same time.
She referred to me as her “Parisian Muse” and, while the prospect was exciting, it was also a little scary at first to think of turning the tables. I'd never done the modeling side of my work really, and I didn’t know how to pose and look relaxed at the same time! Because of this, I was very hesitant to commit.
Discovering the Perfect Parisian Location
We decided to begin our day on the Alexandre III Bridge. For those who haven’t made their way to Paris (yet!), this is perhaps the most famous bridge in the city. It was built for the 1900 World Fair and was meant to introduce the Art Nouveau style to the world. The large walkway crosses the river just right to create panoramic views of the city and its incredible architecture. If you go to just the right spot, the Eiffel Tower is in the backdrop! The ends of the bridge have four large pillars with intricately carved golden-winged statues, and the massive stone arches are covered in romantic sculptures decorated with more gold ornament. This is a classic Parisian spot and a MUST for anyone snapping photos in Paris.
We started there but quickly realized it was going to be a very warm day - lucky me! With the sun shining brightly within the first minutes of our shoot, we decided to walk to a less crowded and more shaded area and start taking photos. Kristine had done her research the day before and found a small park with a couple of beautiful cherry blossom trees. It wasn’t crowded, surprisingly, and the backdrop was just pristine. It almost seemed like it was there just for our magical photo shoot!
The Alexandre III Bridge is one of the most iconic in Paris and is a MUST visit during your next photoshoot!
Subtle pinks and nude shades of makeup matched perfectly with my outfit and Paris surroundings. I tied it all together with a black eyeliner to match the elegant ribbon around my waist!
Creating the Makeup and Hair Look Inspired by Paris in the Springtime
I wanted to really highlight the "springtime" feel of Paris and had themed my makeup to match the blushing pink color of the dress and be in harmony with my surroundings. I started with nude to pink shades and brought some subtle chic elegance to the look by adding a sharp black eyeliner to match the ribbon around the waist of my dress and tie the entire outfit together.
My nervousness about modeling quickly faded as Kristine began guiding me through the poses. Makeup and hair is my specialty, and while I can help women feel more confident and beautiful, it takes a great photographer with amazing energy to achieve an effortless and relaxed look in front of the camera.
With Kristine’s guidance, I almost immediately forgot about the idea of “posing” and fell into a more natural and casual experience. She made it fun, relaxing, and even more so made me feel beautiful. I really felt like a princess wearing that gown, being surrounded by so much beauty, and having the whole park to myself! With Kristine’s help, I felt the same confidence that I am able to gift to my clients, and it was an amazing experience.
A Springtime Paris Photo Shoot was a Dream Come True!
I was even more stunned with Kristine’s work after seeing the final photos. I knew I’d made the right choice in saying yes to being her ‘Parisian Muse’ (as she likes to call me) that day! She managed to make me look and feel ethereally beautiful and I am so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity!
I don’t think that most people realize that Paris is just as beautiful (if not more) than some of the most famous cherry blossom destinations around the world. There isn’t a set area specifically designed for viewing. Instead, the trees are quietly scattered throughout the city bringing a blush of beauty to each already stunning location.
I styled my hair and makeup to match the chic elegance of my princess gown and to harmonize with the Paris springtime cherry blossoms!
One of the most unique experiences you can gift to yourself is that of a personal photo shoot with a professional hair and makeup artist in Paris. To be able to see yourself in front of the camera lens, and take away precious memories that you will cherish for years to come, compares to very little.
I love being able to contribute to this feeling in all of my clients. Making them feel extra beautiful and empowered is truly what I am passionate about, and now that I have had a full-on styled personal Paris photo shoot experience, I can say I’ve been in their shoes and know what it feels like!
Are you having a Paris photo shoot coming up? Send me a message to schedule your makeup and hair styling session in Paris so you can feel like the best version of yourself in front of the camera!
Photography by Kristine Grinvalde
Beauty by Paris Hair & Makeup Artist Onorina Jomir
Gown by Agnese Eiduka