Daylight, cold, Eiffel Tower closures and what to wear in January
January is a workable month for a Paris photoshoot. The day runs from about 8 hours 20 minutes of daylight on January 1 to 9 hours 24 minutes on January 31, highs sit below 8°C, and the Eiffel Tower's top floor closes for annual maintenance. Sessions work best at sunrise or in the last stretch of daylight, in a warm coat and walking shoes.
This guide covers daylight, temperatures, the Eiffel Tower closure, the locations I use on short winter days, what to wear, and which package suits the cold. It is for couples, families and solo travellers visiting between the New Year and the end of the month. Read what fits your plan. Skip the rest.
Paris has a little over 8 hours of daylight at the start of January and a little over 9 hours by the end of the month. The latest sunrise is on January 1, and the earliest comes 22 minutes sooner on January 31. Sunset moves from just after five in the afternoon on January 1 to about a quarter to six on January 31. A session in the last week of January therefore has noticeably more usable light than one in the first week.
Sunrise falls close to nine in the morning, which makes a dawn session far easier than in summer. You do not need to be on location before six. Trocadero at sunrise is nearly empty even in winter, and the lower terrace and side staircases stay quieter than the main plaza all day.
Expect soft, diffused light. The share of time that is overcast or mostly cloudy falls from 73% to 67% over the month. Météo-France normals for the Luxembourg station list only 59 hours of sunshine for the whole month, which is under two hours a day on average. Overcast light is flattering on skin and gives clean, even colour on stone facades. I plan the route around it.
"In January I choose the location by where the light will be, not by what is on the list," Finzi says. "If the sky is flat, I move you to sheltered streets and courtyards where the architecture does the work."
TipLate January gives you more daylight than early January. If your dates are flexible, aim for the final week.
| Package | Price | Duration | Photos | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | €300 | 1 hour | 30 photos | 1 location |
| Signature | €500 | 2 hours | 50 photos | 2 locations |
| Prestige | €800 | 3 hours | 60 photos | 3 locations |
January is the coldest month in Paris. Météo-France observation data gives a January average minimum of 3.2°C and a maximum of 7.6°C, with about 7 nights of frost. The same data counts around 10 days of rain and about 6 days with gusts of 58 km/h or more. Plan on a cold session, and plan for wind on open ground such as the Trocadero esplanade.
Light rain does not stop a session. It gives darker skies and a quieter mood, and the wet pavement reflects the light. I work in most weather. Heavy storms are a different case: your session moves to another date. Rescheduling is free, with no time limit, so you never have to choose between your comfort and your photos.
On windy days I favour covered or enclosed spots. The lower walkway at Pont de Bir-Hakeim is sheltered, and the steel columns create leading lines straight to the Eiffel Tower. Palais Royal courtyards cut the wind in a similar way.
TipCheck the forecast the evening before. If the wind is strong, tell me and I will shift the route to sheltered spots.
Yes, the Eiffel Tower is open in January, but its top floor closes to visitors for several weeks each year for maintenance. The operator explains on the Tour Eiffel official website that work is done on the top floor every year, and states a "temporary closure to the public from January 5th to February 6th, 2026". Those are the 2026 dates. Check the same page for the dates that apply to your trip.
The closure does not affect a photoshoot. I photograph the Tower from outside, from Trocadero, Pont de Bir-Hakeim, the Seine banks and the surrounding streets, so the summit being closed changes nothing in the frame. It matters only if going up the Tower is part of your day.
The same official site says queues are usually shorter in the mornings and in the evenings. If you want to go up the Tower on the same day as your session, book the session at sunrise or after sunset and keep the middle of the day for the queue.
TipConfirm the current closure dates on toureiffel.paris before you fix your day plan.
I shoot at over 30 locations across Paris. In January I narrow the choice to places that work in low, soft light and give shelter from wind. Trocadero is the first choice for the classic view. Go down one level from the main platform or use the side staircases, and the crowds thin sharply. Weekdays are quieter than weekends.
Pont de Bir-Hakeim suits a moodier session. At sunrise the bridge is nearly empty, and by mid-morning it fills with visitors, so timing matters here more than anywhere else. Palais Royal works well early, before the shops open, with clean architecture and soft morning light in the courtyards. The Louvre pyramid and its surroundings give a landmark backdrop in early morning with fewer people.
The Luxembourg Gardens open at sunrise and are nearly empty for the first hour. The Médicis Fountain area is shaded, and the long reflecting pool creates a natural aisle. Winter light is low and flat there, so I use the pool and the paths as the main structure of the frame. Montmartre's steep stairs are best early, before the crowds arrive.
"I start at the quiet end of the day, not the busy one," Finzi says. "In January that is easy, because sunrise is late and sunset is early. Two locations fit comfortably inside the daylight."
TipPick one landmark location and one sheltered location. If the weather changes, the second one is your fallback.
Wear a long coat in a classic colour over warm layers, with comfortable walking shoes. Navy, cream, black, earth tones and soft gold all photograph well against Paris stone. Avoid large logos, busy patterns and overly casual fabrics. With average highs below 8°C, the coat is the most visible item in most frames, so choose one you like.
You will walk with me through the city, covering 3-5 km depending on your package. Choose shoes you can walk in for the whole session, and add thermal layers under the outer clothes where they will not show. A scarf and hat in a plain tone work as accessories, and gloves can come off for the frames that need free hands.
For families, dress children in layers that can come off quickly and keep one warm outer layer ready between frames. Pace stays flexible, so we pause when anyone is cold.
TipPut your warmest layer on last, just before we start, and keep a spare pair of gloves in your bag.
Essential is €300 for 1 hour, 30 photos and 1 location. Signature is €500 for 2 hours, 50 photos and 2 locations, and it is the most popular package. Prestige is €800 for 3 hours, 60 photos and 3 locations. Every session includes full posing guidance, professional editing and delivery within 24 hours.
In cold weather, shorter sessions are often the comfortable choice. Essential at one landmark location is enough for a couple who want a clean set of portraits. Signature gives time for a landmark at sunrise and a sheltered location afterwards. Prestige suits families who want a slower pace across three locations.
The Night Session is €450. It takes place after sunset with the Eiffel Tower lit. Because January sunsets come in the late afternoon, you do not need a late evening to get the lights. The Tower sparkles every hour.
A €30 non-refundable deposit locks your date. Rescheduling is free and available anytime. I communicate in English throughout, and you receive your edited gallery within 24 hours.
TipPick a session. Choose a date. I handle the rest.
Quick answers to the questions visitors ask before they book.
“It was very special. Finzi is very caring and enjoyable. It was a dream photoshoot experience.”
Pick a session. Choose a date. I handle the rest.
BOOK NOW