Shooting photo d'une villa près dans le Luberon à quelques minutes d'Avignon

That morning, I still didn't know the property. An address in the GPS, a few pieces of information provided over the phone the day before, and the desire to arrive early to enjoy the morning light. It's one of my favorite stages in my work — that first discovery of the place, even before I've taken out the camera.

An arrival that immediately sets the scene

Good surprise from the very first meters. I pass through the gate and discover a façade of exposed stone, with huge clumps of lavender in full bloom in the foreground. I loved starting with these shots.

This combination of local stone and lavender is more than just a pretty detail. When I photograph a rental in Provence, it’s a true differentiating factor. Travelers looking for a vacation rental in the Luberon don’t just want a house in the countryside. They want Provence, with its strong visual signs. Lavender is one of the most recognizable.

I took the time to make several shots from different angles. These exterior photos of stone and lavender are the ones that will be used for the cover on the listings. They had to be good.

The ground floor — living room, kitchen, and living spaces

Second pleasant surprise upon entering. The decoration has been really well chosen. There is a strong coherence from one room to another — terracotta as the common thread, deep blue as an accent, and natural materials everywhere (rattan, linen, jute, travertine on the floor). Nothing clashes. You can tell that someone has thoughtfully designed the whole space and not just filled it in.

The living room was a true pleasure to capture in images. A beautiful high ceiling, a black steel fireplace, a gray sofa, and two light wood armchairs on a large round jute rug. The terracotta accent wall along the staircase adds character without overwhelming the space.

Right next to it, the kitchen and dining room open up to the pool through a floor-to-ceiling glass door. A solid teak table, rattan chairs, and a black cord pendant light above. From the table, the eye passes through the glass and directly reaches the pool and the trees behind.

It's the kind of visual opening that makes you want to book a reservation.

On the floor — one color per room

For me, this is one of the real strengths of the property.

Each room has its own identity, its own palette. The first plays with warm terracotta, highlighted by a deep blue accent in the rattan headboard. The second is softer, featuring a vermilion armchair facing the bay window and wallpaper depicting a forest in shades of gray. The third is designed in almond greens with bluish linen — a more enveloping, restful room.

Why do I find this interesting? Because on accommodation listing sites — Airbnb, Booking, Gîtes de France — travelers browse through the photos and think, "I want to sleep in that one." Some may prefer the terracotta, others the almond green. It doesn't matter. In both cases, there is a projection. And when there is projection, there is a much higher chance that a booking will follow.

This is also useful for groups or families coming together. No one ends up in the "plain" room. They all have character.

The Outdoor Shoot — with the Mistral as a Bonus

A little challenge that day: the Mistral started blowing in the afternoon.

When I shoot a pool, a pool house, and a terrace set for an aperitif, the wind quickly becomes a problem. The flowers droop in the vase, the tablecloth lifts, the beach towels unfurl, and the cushions on the loungers shift. It’s necessary to stabilize, reposition, redo the staging, and sometimes wait ten seconds for a lull to trigger at the right moment.

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Everything went well despite everything. The long, straight pool, surrounded by forest on all sides, photographs beautifully from several angles. The pool house and its summer kitchen (plancha, built work surface, table for eight under a raw wooden frame) provide a true second living space for the property. In summer, one can spend the entire day here without needing to enter the house.

I finished with the drone at the end of the day when the wind had calmed down a bit. From above, one can see how isolated the property is within the vegetation — green oaks, umbrella pines, and garrigue all around. This is a strong selling point to highlight in the listings. The feeling of being alone in the world just a few minutes away from Gordes.

A Beautiful Day of Work

A shoot that, for me, was a true success.

A property with character, owners who had prepared everything before my arrival (fresh flowers, set table, impeccable cleaning, well-adjusted cushions), and light that generally played along despite the wind. These are conditions that allow for capturing images that truly sell the place afterward.

Thank you to the owners for their trust. I really enjoyed photographing this Mas and hope the photos will serve them well for a long time.

See you soon

Best regards

Christophe