Wedding photographer at the Château de Castellaras
A strongly architectural château set on high ground at Mouans-Sartoux, with open views on one side over the Grasse hinterland and on the other over the Mediterranean.
That double aspect is what sets it apart, and it is also what makes the choice of hour decisive. Depending on the time, the same terrace moves from full sun to complete shade.
Press photography since 1992, applied to weddings. At Castellaras, the craft is mostly a matter of reading the two exposures, sea on one side and hinterland on the other, and being on the right terrace when the light changes sides.
The relief, and what it governs
Castellaras is built on a high point, which gives the views but also creates abrupt changes of exposure from one space to the next.
In practice that means a well-set running order is worth more here than elsewhere. The terrace facing the sea is fine in the morning and hard in the afternoon. The one facing the hinterland does the opposite. A cocktail hour placed on the wrong side at the wrong time, and your guests spend an hour facing the sun.
I scout that point systematically before the day, and set it with the venue or the wedding planner.
Architecture as a setting
The building is strongly drawn, with volumes, arcades and lines most Provençal estates do not have.
That serves a reportage in two ways. It supplies natural frames, openings and perspectives that organise the picture without anything being composed. And it offers enough variety to build a whole series without constantly moving the couple, which is rare and valuable on a full day.
Weddings over several days
This is the use the place lends itself to best, and what I recommend to couples travelling from abroad.
An estate offering this many distinct settings loses value when everything is compressed into eight hours. Spread over two or three days, it gives something else: a dinner the night before in one space, the main day in another, a brunch the following morning in a third. The images then tell the story of a stay rather than a day.
The late light
The sun sets behind the western hills, which means the last hour arrives earlier than at sea level, and drops quickly once it has passed the ridge.
I therefore set the couple session earlier than at Cannes or Antibes, and I always say so. It is the main adjustment to make when moving from the coast into the hinterland.
What happens if it rains?
The château has indoor spaces, and its architecture makes them photographable, which is not true of every reception room. For the couple session, I would rather reschedule it for another day, later that week or beyond.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the château? At Mouans-Sartoux, between Cannes and Grasse. A quarter of an hour from each, half an hour from Nice airport outside high season.
Can the whole day happen on site? The whole day runs on site, and that is the most common arrangement here. The place suits weddings spread over several days particularly well.
When is the best hour for the couple session? Earlier than at sea level. The sun disappears behind the western hills, and the light drops quickly afterwards. We set that together according to the season.
Does the relief make access difficult? Nothing insurmountable, but the road up is narrow and transfers need a margin in high season.
When is the date usually held? Enquiries reach me about fifteen months ahead. The château suits weddings spread over two or three days, and a booking of that shape lands earlier than a single evening would.
Tell me about your day, and we will work out together how it is photographed.