The flying dress photoshoot, in Saint-Tropez

You have seen the picture: a woman on a white terrace, a dress several metres long caught mid-air behind her, the sea below. It is the flying dress photoshoot, born in Santorini and now booked in Bali, Dubai, Cappadocia and the Caribbean. Saint-Tropez has everything it needs, pale rocks, a fortress above the gulf, ochre lanes and a breeze off the sea, and almost nobody does it properly here. This is how the shoot works, where it works on the peninsula, what it costs compared with Santorini and Bali, and what to get right so the dress actually flies.

What is a flying dress photoshoot?

A portrait session built around a very long, light dress with a train of several metres, thrown into the air by someone just out of frame so that it floats behind you for a fraction of a second. The photographer shoots in bursts and keeps the frame where the fabric is fully open. According to Bloomberg Línea, the format started in Santorini in 2016 with SantoriniDress, founded by the photographer Evgenia Volokitina, and spread from there to Dubai, Tulum, Italy, Jamaica and Cappadocia. Operators in Santorini describe running around eight shoots a day in season.

Three things make or break it: the fabric, the wind and the throw. Too light a fabric scatters in a gust, too heavy a one falls straight down. A light, steady breeze does half the work. And the train has to leave the hands at the moment the subject turns, not a second later.

Where can you do a flying dress photoshoot in Saint-Tropez?

Anywhere with open sky behind you and a little wind off the sea. These are the settings we use on the peninsula:

Our guide to the best photo spots in Saint-Tropez details each place. The lanes of La Ponche are the one setting we do not use for the dress itself: too narrow for a train of several metres, perfect for the walking frames afterwards.

When is the best time for a flying dress shoot in Saint-Tropez?

Sunrise, or the hour before sunset. Bali operators start at 6:00 for the same reasons we do: soft light on skin and fabric, empty locations and calmer air. In Saint-Tropez the sun rises around 05:50 on 21 June and sets around 21:15; in mid-September it sets around 19:45. In July and August, the village is so busy that we work before 10:00 or after 18:00, never in between.

The wind needs watching. A light sea breeze is ideal. The mistral is a different matter: it blows mostly in winter and spring and can last from a day to more than a week. On a strong mistral day a train of several metres becomes uncontrollable, and we move the session rather than fight it, or switch to a sheltered side of the peninsula.

Late May to June and September to mid-October are the best windows: warm sea, softer light and a village that is open without the summer crowds.

How much does a flying dress photoshoot cost? Saint-Tropez vs Santorini and Bali

Less in Bali, about the same as Santorini once you add the extras, and more in Saint-Tropez if you want a private photographer rather than a production line. Here is what published listings show:

Two differences matter more than the headline price. In Santorini, a fully loaded booking with transport, hair and makeup, an assistant and a second dress reaches around €1,500 according to Bloomberg Línea. And most destination operators run several shoots a day on the same viewpoints, which is why so many flying dress photos look identical. A private session means a place chosen for you, at the right hour, with nobody queuing behind you.

Where do you get the dress?

Most clients buy or rent one before the trip. What to look for: a train of at least two to three metres, a light but not transparent fabric such as chiffon or tulle, a fitted top so the dress stays in place when the train is thrown, and a colour that stands out against the blue of the gulf, red, dusty pink, emerald or deep blue all work here. Bring a second, shorter outfit for the walking frames in La Ponche. Someone has to throw the train: a partner or a friend does it very well after two minutes of instruction, and we show them the gesture on the spot.

Do you need a permit to shoot in Saint-Tropez?

For a professional session on public land, yes. Saint-Tropez is stricter than the rest of the coast: it publishes a municipal permit regime for professional shoots on public land, with an application filed at least seven days ahead with insurance, bank details and a company registration extract, plus a daily public highway fee: €116.95 per day for photography on the latest published schedule, dated 2023. We handle the application. Private places, a villa terrace, a hotel or a boat, need their owner's agreement instead. Details in our Saint-Tropez photographer guide.

What does a session with Riva cost?

One hour covers one location and the dress; two hours let you add a second setting, for example Les Graniers at sunrise and La Ponche afterwards. More on our Instagram photoshoots in Saint-Tropez.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do a flying dress photoshoot in Saint-Tropez?

Yes. The coastal path at Les Graniers, the Môle Jean Réveille with the village behind you, the ramparts of the Citadelle, Pampelonne at sunrise and the hilltop village of Gassin all work, ideally at sunrise or in the hour before sunset when the light is soft and the sea breeze is light.

How much does a flying dress photoshoot cost?

Published listings start from about US$299 in Bali and range from US$200 to US$1,000 in Santorini. In Saint-Tropez, a private session with Riva costs 790 € all taxes included for one hour and 30 edited photos, or 1,290 € for two hours.

What is the best time of day for a flying dress shoot in Saint-Tropez?

Sunrise or the hour before sunset. In Saint-Tropez the sun rises around 05:50 on 21 June and sets around 19:45 in mid-September. In July and August, shoot before 10:00 or after 18:00 to avoid the crowds.

What kind of dress do you need for a flying dress photoshoot?

A dress with a train of at least two to three metres, in a light but not transparent fabric such as chiffon or tulle, with a fitted top so it stays in place. Bold colours stand out best against the blue of the sea.

Do you need a permit for a photoshoot in Saint-Tropez?

A professional session on public land needs a municipal permit filed at least seven days ahead, plus a daily fee of €116.95 for photography on the latest published schedule. We handle the application. Private venues need the owner's agreement.

More reading: Instagram photoshoots in Saint-Tropez, the best photo spots in Saint-Tropez, and what to wear for a photoshoot.