Family Ski Photoshoot in Courchevel: Ages, Timing and Formats (2026-2027)

How do you plan a family ski photoshoot in Courchevel?

Start from the youngest child's day, not from the scenery. Fix the session around ski school, pick a place everyone can reach comfortably, choose a length that matches the family's stamina, and agree on two or three outfit colours before you leave home.

1. Check lesson times for each child and block the session before or after them.
2. Choose a format: one hour for a portrait session, two hours or more if you want action on the pistes as well.
3. Pick a meeting point on a snow front or a gentle slope, so the least confident skier is never the problem.
4. Avoid the busiest weeks if your dates are flexible, or book early if they are not.
5. Plan the outfits and pack snacks and spare gloves.

If you want to see how a ski photoshoot in Courchevel works on the slopes with a photographer who skis, that page explains the format in detail.

How should you approach a family ski photoshoot at each age?

Toddlers belong on the snow front, school-age children on a gentle run after their lesson, and teenagers on the terrain they actually enjoy. Each age gives you different pictures, and each needs a different plan.

Toddlers and under-5s

Keep it short and on foot. A snow front, a sledge or a parent's shoulders give better pictures than skis that keep crossing. Children under 5 ski free on the Courchevel valley pass, according to the Courchevel lift operator, so you do not need to buy a pass just for a short session in skis. Twenty minutes of play in good light is usually enough.

Children in ski school

This is the most rewarding age to photograph. Children aged 3 to 5 at ESF Courchevel Moriond's Club Piou Piou receive a medal at the end of the week, and the school describes Friday as the big day for evaluations. A photographer at the end of that lesson can catch the medal, the pride and the hug that follows. Older children who have reached a few green and blue runs can lead the family down a gentle slope, which gives you natural action pictures without anyone pushing beyond their level.

Teenagers

Teenagers cooperate best when the session looks like their day rather than a family portrait. Let them choose a run, a jump line or a fast section and photograph them doing it well. The group portrait can follow at a viewpoint or on a terrace, briefly, once they have their own pictures.

What time of day works best around ski school?

For most families, the best slot is straight after the morning lesson or late in the afternoon after the afternoon lesson. Children are already dressed, warm and on the snow, and parents can meet them at the end of the class.

Timings vary by programme and week, so confirm them with the school before you book a photographer. A late-morning session ends with lunch. A late-afternoon session gives softer, warmer light, which our guide to ski photoshoot ideas covers shot by shot.

When in the 2026-2027 season are the slopes busiest?

The slopes and ski schools are under most pressure when French and British school holidays overlap: at Christmas and during the second half of February. Courchevel's 2026-2027 season runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027, according to Courchevel Tourism.

English term dates are set by each local authority or school, and independent schools often differ, so check your own school's calendar. Outside these periods, mid-January and the week of 8 March 2027, once all French zones are back at school, are good candidates for quieter pistes. During the holidays, book ski lessons and your photographer as soon as your dates are fixed, and favour an early-morning or late-afternoon slot.

Which session length suits which family?

One hour suits families with toddlers, two hours suit most families with school-age children, and a half or full day suits multi-generation groups or families who want the whole day on the slopes. All prices below include VAT for the 2026-2027 season.

For sessions on the slopes, the photographer's lift pass is added to the quote at the public price; the Courchevel lift operator lists the adult Courchevel valley day pass at 77 € in high season. See all formats on the pricing page.

Where can you shoot if not everyone is a strong skier?

Choose a village snow front or a beginner area, then add one easy lift if the group can manage it. Courchevel Tourism states that its Easy Rider beginner areas are wide, gently sloping and secure, and accessible from all villages, and that the Pralong, Ariondaz and Bellecôte sectors offer wide green and blue runs.

A practical pattern: start on the snow front for the group portrait with skis in hand, then let the confident skiers take one easy run while the youngest stay with a parent. The photographer can cover both groups.

How should a family coordinate outfits for ski photos?

Agree on a shared palette of two or three colours rather than identical jackets, and give the children the brightest pieces. Bright, solid colours stand out against snow, while busy patterns and large logos distract. Our guide to what to wear skiing and for ski photos covers layering and colours in detail.

What practical tips keep children happy during the shoot?

Work in short bursts, keep hands warm and keep a snack in your pocket.

• Short bursts: ten minutes of photos, then a break, a race or a snowball, then ten minutes more.
• Warm hands: pack spare gloves or mittens and a pair of hand warmers; cold fingers end a session faster than anything else.
• Snacks and a drink: a hot chocolate stop is a reward and a good picture at the same time.
• Goggles up for faces: push goggles onto the helmet for portraits, then back down to ski.
• One parent in charge of logistics: the other is free to be in the photos.
• Weather flexibility: with Riva Photography Courchevel, a session can be moved free of charge if you ask more than 72 hours ahead; below that, 10 % is due.

For more on the family side of a stay, read our guide to Courchevel with kids.

How do you book a family ski photoshoot with Riva Photography Courchevel?

Write to us on WhatsApp with your dates, your village and the ages of your children. Riva Photography Courchevel connects families with private photographers who ski; the photographer invoices you directly. We suggest a format and a time slot that fits around ski school, and you receive your first photos within 48 hours and the full gallery within 7 days.

Message us on WhatsApp at +33 6 30 85 92 05 or use the contact section. During the Christmas and February holidays, an early message gives you the widest choice of slots.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a family ski photoshoot last?

One hour (30 photos, 590 € including VAT) suits toddlers; two hours (60 photos, 790 €) suits most families with children in ski school; larger groups often choose a half or full day.

What is the best time for a family ski photoshoot in Courchevel?

Just after a morning ski lesson or late in the afternoon. ESF Courchevel Moriond's Club Piou Piou morning lesson ends at 11:45 am and Oxyski's children's morning lesson at 12 pm.

Do we all need to be good skiers for a family ski photoshoot?

No. The session can take place on a village snow front, such as La Croisette in Courchevel 1850, or near the Easy Rider beginner areas, which are accessible from all villages.

When are the slopes busiest in Courchevel in 2026-2027?

During the Christmas holidays (French schools are off from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) and in February, when the French winter holidays run from 6 February to 7 March 2027 across the three zones and many English schools have half term from 15 to 19 February.

Does the photographer's lift pass cost extra?

Yes, for sessions on the slopes it is added at the public price; the adult Courchevel valley day pass is listed at 77 € in high season.