Lake Geneva & Vaud · VD
Photoshoot in Lausanne
A photoshoot in Lausanne is a session with an independent professional photographer between the Gothic cathedral hill and the Ouchy lakefront of the Olympic Capital, arranged through Alpiora from CHF 390.
Pricing
From CHF 250
- Region
- Lake Geneva & Vaud
- Elevation
- 495 m
- Photo spots
- 7
Starting price. The exact price depends on photographer, place, date, time and add-ons, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Photoshoot in Lausanne starts from CHF 250. The final price depends on the place, duration, date, time of day, travel and any add-ons such as video, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
- When is the best time?
- The city faces south over the lake, so the midday sun sits high over the water and flattens the view.
- Which experiences are available here?
- Couple Photoshoot, Family Photoshoot, Proposal Photography, Engagement Photography, Personal Branding Photography, and Maternity Photography
- Getting there
- Direct trains from Geneva Airport reach Lausanne in about 45 minutes along the lake.
- Where does it take place?
- Popular places include Cathedral terrace (Esplanade de la Cathédrale); Escaliers du Marché and Place de la Palud; Ouchy quays and Château d’Ouchy; Olympic Park. Your photographer suggests the best spot for your date, the light and the crowds.
- How does booking work?
- Send a free request with your place, date and plans. Alpiora checks which photographers are available and replies with a proposal stating the photographer, the package and the exact price. Nothing is booked until you accept.
Lausanne is built on a slope. The Old Town and the cathedral sit on a hill above the centre; the lake and the Ouchy quays lie almost 150 metres lower. That drop is what makes the city photogenic: from nearly every terrace you look over roofs to Lake Geneva and the Alps of the French shore.
It also shapes your session. You can walk downhill from the cathedral to the lake, but not quickly back up, so a good plan uses the m2 metro, which climbs from Ouchy through the station to the upper town in a few minutes. A 60-minute couple session usually covers one upper-town spot and one on the lake.
Lausanne suits people who want a real city with a view rather than a postcard: couples, families, and personal branding sessions that need both historic stone and modern streets. The Lavaux vineyards begin just east of the city if you want to add landscape.
Photo spots — Lausanne
- 01
Cathedral terrace (Esplanade de la Cathédrale)
The terrace in front of Lausanne Cathedral, consecrated in 1275, looks south over the rooftops to the lake and the mountains. The Gothic facade gives a strong second backdrop a few steps away. The tower (a small fee, 153 steps) has a 360° view; at night a watchman still calls the hours from the belfry from 22.00 to 2.00.
- Best time
- Morning for soft light and an empty terrace; late afternoon for warm light on the facade
- Access
- Metro m2 to Bessières or Riponne, then 5 minutes on foot. Cobbles and slopes on every approach.
- 02
Escaliers du Marché and Place de la Palud
A covered wooden staircase from the 1710s climbs from Place de la Palud to the cathedral, with a row of old houses along one side. Inside, the light is soft and directional, good for close portraits. The Palud below, with its fountain and town hall, is lively on market mornings.
- Best time
- Weekday mornings; the stairs work in rain
- Access
- Place de la Palud is 5 minutes on foot from the Flon or Riponne metro stops.
- 03
Ouchy quays and Château d’Ouchy
A promenade of plane trees along the lake, with the neo-Gothic Château d’Ouchy, the harbour and the boat landing stage. Open water fills the frame, with the French shore and the Alps opposite. Busy on summer weekends, relaxed on weekday evenings.
- Best time
- Golden hour; summer evenings for sunset along the lake
- Access
- Metro m2 to Ouchy–Olympique, then 1 minute to the quays.
- 04
Olympic Park
The landscaped gardens around the Olympic Museum, with terraces, sculptures and lawns stepping down to the lake. Free to enter. Good for families, since children can move freely, and for couples who want greenery with a lake view.
- Best time
- Late afternoon; spring and autumn for colour
- Access
- 10 minutes on foot east along the quays from Ouchy–Olympique.
- 05
Esplanade de Montbenon
A tree-lined terrace above the Flon district that looks west over the lake. It is one of the best places in the city to watch the sun go down, and quieter than the lakefront.
- Best time
- Sunset
- Access
- 5 minutes on foot from the Flon metro hub.
- 06
Sauvabelin Tower
A 35-metre wooden tower in the forest above the city, with 302 steps to a platform that looks over Lausanne, the lake, the Alps and the Jura. Free to climb. The forest and small lake below are a calm setting for families and relaxed couple portraits.
- Best time
- Clear days; late afternoon. Closed in strong wind, snow or ice
- Access
- A local bus from the centre in about 15 minutes, then a short forest walk.
- 07
Le Flon
A former warehouse quarter in the valley below the centre, now shops, bars and clean modern lines, spanned by the Grand-Pont. The most urban setting in Lausanne and the natural choice for branding portraits.
- Best time
- Morning or early evening; any time on grey days
- Access
- Lausanne-Flon is the central metro hub; 10 minutes on foot from the train station.
Best time
Seasons
April to October is the easiest season, with long evenings on the quays and green in the parks. Late September and October add autumn colour in the Olympic Park and the Sauvabelin forest, and the grape harvest in nearby Lavaux. Winter is short on daylight but can be crisp and clear on bise days, with snow on the mountains across the lake.
Time of day
The city faces south over the lake, so the midday sun sits high over the water and flattens the view. Upper-town terraces look best in the morning; the lakefront and Montbenon in the last hour before sunset. Sunset is around 21.30 in late June and around 16.50 in December.
Weather
The bise, a cold north-easterly, sweeps down the lake on clear days and makes the Ouchy quays feel several degrees colder; the upper town is more sheltered. In late autumn and winter, low stratus cloud can sit over the lake for days, sometimes with sunshine above it on the hills. Summer thunderstorms tend to build in the afternoon, so an evening session may need a flexible start.
Getting there
Direct trains from Geneva Airport reach Lausanne in about 45 minutes along the lake. From the station, the m2 metro climbs up to the Flon and Old Town in a few minutes and down to Ouchy in a few more, which is how most sessions move between spots. CGN boats link Ouchy with Évian across the lake, and trains run east to Lavaux and Montreux in 10–25 minutes. See Lake Geneva for combining several stops.
Good to know
Entry to the cathedral, the Olympic Park and the Sauvabelin Tower is free; the cathedral tower charges a small fee. Drones: the City of Lausanne has its own authorisation procedure for flights over its territory, on top of the federal restriction map; check both before you request a drone add-on. If your shoot involves more than people and cameras — a set-up, props or a crew — ask the city about using public space. See pricing and our guide to what a photographer costs.
- Plan the route downhill and use the metro to go back up; it saves your legs and your time.
- Bring flat shoes for the Old Town and the Escaliers du Marché, and change on the quays if you want heels.
- On bise days, start in the sheltered Old Town and finish at Ouchy once the light softens.
- For a family session, the Olympic Park and Sauvabelin let children run without traffic.
- Add 30 minutes to your booking if you want Lavaux terraces as a second setting.
Experiences in Lausanne
From CHF 390
Couple Photoshoot
A guided session for two, in a Swiss old town, by a lake or in the mountains, with a photographer who knows the light there.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 450
Family Photoshoot
A child-paced family session in a Swiss city, by a lake or in the Alps, with a local photographer who knows where little legs can go.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 650
Proposal Photography
A photographer who hides, catches the moment you ask, and then takes relaxed portraits of the two of you. Planned with you in advance.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 390
Engagement Photography
A session for engaged couples, planned around what the photos are for: save-the-dates, invitations, a wedding website or your walls.
1 hourExplore
Photographer availability
We confirm availability for your date personally — send a request and we will check which reviewed photographers are free for this place and session.
Find a Photographer in LausanneFrequently asked questions
Where are the best photo spots in Lausanne?
The cathedral terrace for the view over the rooftops to the lake, the covered Escaliers du Marché for intimate portraits, and the Ouchy quays for open water and sunset. Montbenon and the Sauvabelin Tower add height and quiet. Most sessions combine one upper-town spot with one by the lake.
How long should a photoshoot in Lausanne be?
Sixty minutes covers the Old Town and Ouchy with a metro ride between them, from CHF 390. For a family session, an hour in the Olympic Park or at Sauvabelin is usually enough, from CHF 450. Add time if you want the Lavaux vineyards too.
Can we fly a drone for photos in Lausanne?
Only with the right authorisation. The City of Lausanne runs its own approval process for drone flights over its territory, and federal restriction zones also apply. Check both before you ask for a drone add-on.
Is Lausanne good for a proposal?
Yes, especially the cathedral terrace early in the morning, or Montbenon or the Ouchy quays at sunset. For more privacy and a landscape backdrop, the Lavaux terraces are 10 minutes away by train. Proposal sessions start from CHF 650.
What if it rains during our Lausanne session?
The covered Escaliers du Marché, the arcades around the Palud and the Flon district all work in rain, and soft grey light suits portraits. Lake views need clearer weather. Your photographer will suggest how to adapt or move the date; the terms are stated in your proposal.
Ready to capture your Swiss story?
Tell us where you're going, what you're planning and when. We'll help you find the right photographer.
Free request · No payment required · No obligation