How to Plan Perfect Paris Pictures – 5 Top Tips

Ever see a friend’s Instagram feed or travel photos and envy them for their Instagram-able quality?  What sets the average travelgram apart and makes it go from basic to EXTRA?  Having spent too much time on Instagram for my own good, I’ve picked up on a few things or two.  And having just recently returned from a fabulous family vacation to Paris, I’ll share my top tips for planning out your very own picture-perfect Parisian pics!

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  1. Find your inspiration by following your favorite photographers /bloggers from that destination.   Here are the Instagram feeds that I followed for inspiration just to give you a start.  They showcase truly awe-inspiring photographs that both challenge and inspire you to up your own photography game while giving you great ideas in terms of locations, angles, styling and more!   @bisousparis   @unlimitedparis   @videoparis  @morgylh  @parisinfourmonths 
  2. Create a bucket list of what you consider the most photogenic spots.  After following your favorite Instagram-ers you’ll inevitably find new hot spots, and places to see.  Add them to your bucket list!  And start thinking about your shot list. Do you want to make sure you get a family shot in front of the Eiffel Tower?  Do you now want a close up of your dessert with the Parisian streets in the background just like you saw your favorite Instagram-er do?  Save your favorite inspirational photos on IG as part of your Paris photo bucket list by using that save to collection banner button!  In doing this research, you’ll start noticing that there are picturesque spots not typically in your travel guide that you’ll want to hunt down.

    I didn’t originally know for instance about this famous wall of love that showcases the phrase, “I love you” in 311 languages in the Jehan Rictus garden square in Montmartre.   And it was right by a toddler play ground and carousel which made it a fun stop for the gram AND for my child!  Another spot, I’m so glad I added to my photo bucket list was Rue Crémieux located between rue de Lyon and rue de Bercy.
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    It’s the dreamiest, rainbow row that will transport you out of Paris’s normal, neutral surroundings into a unicorn-like wonderland!  Although it’s ranked only 265 on TripAdvisor amongst 1386 Parisian attractions, I’d rate this #1 in terms of getting your gram-worthy street style shot
  3. Time it. This is a two-part tip.  Firstly, look into the best time of the year and day to get those coveted shots.  When we traveled to Japan for instance, we researched the prime period for cherry blossoms to bloom cuz I desperately wanted to capture that iconic Japanese cherry blossom scene.  If it’s Eiffel tower shots with flowering trees that you’re hoping for, plan seasonally.  Also think about the “golden hour,”  the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer, making for photographically perfect lighting.  Lastly, don’t just point and shoot.  Wait for the minute that the people seemingly disappear or shuffle back far enough and make way for a less crowded shot like we did below.  Your patience will be rewarded!
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    Finally, click only when your subject is ready and you’ll be thankful later when it comes to sorting through the hundreds of photos from the day!
  4. Coordinate it.  If you’ve read through our blog at all, you know we’re fans of coordinated looks!  palace royale, paris palace, instagramable paris, mommy and me, mommy and me outfits, paris with kids, palais de royal
    If you’re planning to create that frame-worthy shot, make sure to think ahead about not only coordinating each other’s outfits to avoid a clashing look but also to think about the background setting and about how you can best compliment that too.
  5. Pose and prop it.  For our Paris photo shoots, we used berets, baguettes, and even Juliet’s stuffed poodle as touristy props to emphasize the destination’s French icons. instagramable paris, paris most instagramable, paris picture
    But you could also use a beautiful bouquet of flowers, balloons or even your morning crepe as a photo prop.  Another pro tip is to study other people’s poses.  By doing so, you’ll get new ideas on flattering ways to stand or even play with your background (have you see people seemingly hold the Eiffel Tower behind them between two fingers or on top of their hand for instance?)  Memorizing some ready-to-go poses will have you feeling more confident and able to naturally find ways to mix it up.

What are YOUR favorite photography tips for capturing that gram-worthy shot?? Tell me in the comments or share this post with a friend who would appreciate this!

For more tips on how to get Instagram-able photos in general, click here!

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Chic Chanel Party Planning Ideas for your Favorite Fashionista

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When Juliet asked for a “fancy dress-up party” with just her closest girlfriends, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to host her party at Glitter and Glam, (a beautiful kids’ spa with runway) and to incorporate the CC no.5 idea I had been secretly already been planning for her 5th birthday!  Yes, a Chanel party for kids!  But without titling her birthday, a Chanel party, I incorporated all of the brand’s iconic elements, (all fashionable signatures that I adore) into the party’s design and produced a Cute and Classy CC no.5!  Read on to see how and collect your own party planning ideas for a super chic Chanel-inspired party that YOUR favorite fashionista will love!

  1.  Pick your color theme.  Juliet’s favorite color is pink and given the venue was primarily white and pink and had gold chairs, chargers and candelabras, I knew to compliment the signature black and white Chanel combo with shots of pink and gold. kids spa, nj kids spa, nj birthday venues, paramus birthday venues, paramus nj spa, paramus nj kids spa Let your venue’s natural surrounding and offerings help determine your party’s colors and/or choose the venue with your color theme already in mind and save money.  Work with the venue’s set colors not against it.
  2. Incorporate the logo. These kids now all think that CC stands for Cute and Classy lol!  And that’s exactly what they were. Cute and oh so classy.  cute and classy no 5, chanel birthday, chanel party ideas, chanel shower, chanel no 5 partyFor her 5th birthday, we played off the famous perfume, titling the event CC no.5.  Thank you, Supermimi for all the super custom printables! They elevated the party giving it a professional, custom look!  (Don’t you love her shop’s name?  It’s like a superhero is coming to your party’s rescue lol)  I highly recommend her super powers.  She has a stylish eye, quick response time and uncanny ability to customize anything from chocolate wrappers to straw flags and banners!chanel themed birthday, chanel themed party, chanel themed kids party, cc no 5
  3. Find and Feature coordinating fabrics.  It’s all about the fashion after all.  So go beyond plastic table covers.  Think quilting, black and white stripes, or in our case, flowery 3-D pink fabric that elevated this kids’ party tablescape or nubby black and white tweed for the selfie station backdrop! chanel style, chanel shower, chanel inspired party, chanel 50th, chanel 40th, chanel birthday, chanel kids party, chanel girls party
  4. Get guests to dress upchanel inspired party, chanel inspired shower, chanel inspired birthday, chanel no 5, chanel party planningEncourage guests to dress in theme and I promise, your pictures will really pop!  If you have stylish friends like I do, it’ll be welcomed as a fun challenge.  I love my friends.  They’re always up for a fun fashion theme!It serves as a natural ice breaker too to see and discuss how people chose to style themselves.
  5. Produce a fashion show and provide props.  I provided Chanel-inspired kids’ outfits and accessories for the little girls to borrow.  Props could include everything from berets and pearls to sunglasses, gloves, poodles and Coco-like outfits. glitter and glam nj, glitter and glam party, glitter and glam kids spa, kids runway show See prior post on the 5 things to look for when hunting down Chanel-inspired fashions!chanel girls outfits, chanel kids accessories, chanel party, chanel party ideas, chanel inspired party, chanel style, chanel fashion
  6. Get glam and pampered.  Even littles enjoy luxe spa treatments!  glitter and glam, glitter n glam, nj kids spa, kids spaManis, pedis and a selection between makeup application and a facial was enjoyed by all! Read on here for more on Glitter and Glam’s spa offerings and services.  They are so sweet to kids and made getting beautified truly a Cute and Classy experience!glitter and glam kids spa, kids spa, glitter and glam nj, kids pedicure, kids spa party
  7. Parisian foods.  For our brunch we had French croissants and quiches offered alongside beloved breakfast and lunch offerings like salad, mac n. cheese, bagels, fruit kebobs and oatmeal.  Your menu could also consist of a crepe station, baguette and cheese station, and a macaron tower.  Is it cold out?  How about some hot COCO?
  8. Decorate with fashionista flair.  I copied pages out of my Chanel book and decorated our selfie station with gorgeous Chanel-inspired illustrations (as already shown above).  I also added Coco Chanel’s famous quotes around the walls of our dining room and by our rolling rack to continue the theme. “Everyday is a fashion show and the world is your runway.”  – Coco Chanel <door sign below>Even the hats were custom-made to match the decor with a giant crepe camellia.  Thanks to Roniesia from Lifestyle and Events for hand-making all of these for us and for helping to install, setup and breakdown this party with me!chanel themed party, chanel themed birthday, chanel kids, chanel kids party, chanel style, chanel party decorSupermimiDesign helped make every detail look so posh with the printables! Other fashionable details included pearl napkin holders that doubled as favors and quilted chain purses that doubled as favors and chair decor.coco chanel, chanel style, chanel themed partyAnd what about these amazing Chanel stickers that I nabbed at the Chanel NY pop -up experience?  I placed them on trays and on all the kids’ glasses!
  9. Offer fashion-forward desserts.  CC or Chanel glitter lollipops anyone? chanel themed birthday, chanel themed shower, chanel desserts, chanel lollipop, coco chanel party, chanel kids party
    Sweet Caroline Confections provided the most glamorous glittery lollipops we had ever seen. They were a huge hit with the kids AND moms!  And they tasted sooo good.  Contact her!  She’ll make any custom design look perfectly beautiful.chanel birthday, chanel desserts, chanel cupcakes, chanel invitation, chanel themed party, chanel inviteTo match the invite, party theme and colors, I also worked with A Dose Of Pink on Chanel and beauty themed cupcake toppers.  Surprisingly, these delicate creations shipped without any breakage and looked incredibly artistic in person. Notice the quilted CC detail?chanel party, chanel party planning, chanel cupcake, chanel dessertsThey’re toppers so you add them with a little frosting (glue) to whatever cupcakes you want.  Juliet and I had so much fun baking them the night before her party and then felt like professionals presenting them with these amazing toppers.  Prettiest cupcakes ever!chanel cupcake topper, chanel cupcake, chanel dessert, chanel party ideas, chanel themed party, chanel inspired party, spa partyAnd then there was the cake.  What sort of birthday would it be without cake?  It’s the star of the table and as elegantly made as this was, it surely did shine!  chanel themed desserts, chanel cake, chanel cupcake, chanel cupcake toppersKnowing that Juliet did not want any black on her cake, I opted for a black and white cake stand (a Sephora box turned upside down).  And I asked Jolirose Bake Shop to create a quilted white cake with  gold pearl accents and a gold sequin bottom.  It turned out more fabulous than we could have imagined!chanel birthday party ideas, chanel party ideas, chanel themed party ideas, chanel themed birthday, chanel cakeIs this not the prettiest cake?  Inside was white cake with baby pink frosting to match the decor.   Thank you to all the vendors who participated in exchange for promotion.  The party would not have been the same without you!

What was your favorite detail?

Share with a fashionista who would love this!

Juliet chose Paris for our family’s next travel destination – how perfect for a post – party present!  Make sure to follow along our daily adventures through our IG stories @fabgabblog

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