This day was hands down, one of my absolute favorite days in Paris. After starting out the morning with a beautiful sunrise engagement session at the Eiffel Tower, we ate a delicious breakfast at a small cafe near the Trocadero (which included the best old-fashioned hot chocolate and croissants), and then proceeded to head to the Musee Rodin. Musee Rodin is home to the life’s work of Auguste Rodin, the French scultor who created several famous masterpieces, including The Thinker. I didn’t realize quite how beautiful the museum grounds was going to be until we were inside the gate, waiting for permission to begin shooting.

I don’t think the security men were too keen on us being there in such force with our cameras, but they warmed up to us eventually! After taking a few minutes to walk around, admire The Thinker and the GORGEOUS rose gardens, we were ready to combat the harsh sun and photograph the beautiful Katie in the most incredible Leanne Marshall wedding gown. The whole time we were shooting, I just kept thinking, “Gosh, this dress was seriously made to be worn by Katie!”

Though it was extremely difficult to shoot in such bright sun for the majority of the session (and you have to be really careful not to overexpose when shooting film), I actually ended up loving the way my harsh light images turned out as much as the others! In all honesty though, it’s hard to take a bad picture of such an amazing location, and an even more beautiful bride!

There are so many wonderful things about Musee Rodin, and I highly recommend visiting the museum to anyone and everyone traveling to Paris. (I will be mentioning more about it in my Paris travel blog coming soon!) First of all, the gardens are out-of-this-world pretty, and seeing The Thinker in person is surreal. (I was replaying the scene from Midnight In Paris in my head!) Secondly, there are some pretty spectacular views of the surrounding neighborhood from inside the grounds, too. And I can’t not mention the roses–I have NEVER smelled anything more fragrant in my entire life than the roses that grow at Musee Rodin. I’m serious. I don’t know what they’re putting in the soil over there, but roses in Tennessee do not smell nearly as sweet!

And then, of course, there’s the museum itself. Since we had to purchase tickets to be able to enter the grounds, a few of us decided to put them to good use after our shoot was over.  And I’m so glad we did, although I wasn’t prepared for what I would see inside. Rodin spent his life crafting the most exquisite sculptures, and his museum is filled to the brim with them. So much emotion, so many stories are woven into those stones. It truly is incredible and inspiring. But on the second floor of the Musee Rodin, which I almost didn’t visit because I was getting tired, I came face to face with something I had been waiting all my life to see. Monet.

Well, not Monet himself, but a real life Monet painting! I was completely taken by surprise and all I could do was stare at it and take deep breaths, knowing how long I had waited to stand in front of one. I had chills for the better part of the next five minutes and my eyes teared up, I was so happy! And then, to top it off, I rounded a corner and came face to face with one of Van Gogh’s paintings! What a day. I couldn’t believe I almost missed the hidden treasures up the stairs!

The bridal shoot and museum aside, what took place for the remainder of the day is just as fond of a memory for me. I joined Kate and Tanya (two of the other photographers I was on the retreat with) for lunch at Les Deux Magots, a charming corner cafe in Saint Germain that Ernest Hemingway frequented many years ago. We talked and laughed and ate delicious desserts, and then laughed some more. (This cafe has since become one of my top two favorite places to eat in Paris!) After lunch, we wandered around a bit, visiting the oldest church in Paris, and making a few pit stops for some light shopping and tourist-y moments before heading back to our apartment.

So many wonderful memories are wrapped up in this day for me, and I see them when I look at these photos. I also see hard work paying off, dreams becoming reality and artistic struggle turning into triumph. I wanted to shoot film for so long, and seeing images like this- images that I took, makes my soul well up with joy. I hope you, too, will feel something when you look at my images.

Enjoy some of my very favorite frames from this incredible bridal editorial at Musee Rodin in Paris, France.

Every color I have every dreamed of, ever wanted to capture, ever experienced, is present in Katie’s face in this frame. This is why I shoot film!

Dress: Leanne Marshall

Hair and Make Up Artist: Emily Artistry

Jewelry: Olive Avenue, Janice Tan

Film Lab: The FIND Lab