Photographer Raphael Metivet is a storyteller of Paris, capturing quiet moments amongst the city’s grand architecture. The artist behind the cover of our winter 2026 travel issue, Metivet brings to life everything from cinematic rooftops to luxury Parisian hotels, including iconic properties like the Ritz Paris, Peninsula Paris, Hôtel Plaza Athénée and more. With a large social media presence, Metivet’s work is adored by many. Here, we sit down with the photographer and ask him our burning questions about the cover shot and his life in the City of Light.
Photography by Raphael Metivet
What emotion do you hope readers feel when they first see this cover?
I hope they feel instantly drawn in, as if they are stepping into a typical Parisian scene. The lit windows invite curiosity. They suggest lives, routines and quiet moments are happening behind each frame. I like the idea that the image feels gentle and slightly nostalgic, as if you are observing the city from a distance while still feeling close to it.
Can you tell us the story behind this particular shot?
This photograph was taken in April 2025, from a rooftop in Paris’s 17th arrondissement. I often go there with my photographer friend Charles Cohen Boyer. The building in front of us is a very classic Parisian façade. With its rows of windows and balanced proportions, it almost looks like a dollhouse. What interests me are these simple fragments of everyday life, moments that feel ordinary yet are full of quiet poetry, especially at dusk when the lights begin to turn on and it is dark outside.
Is there a signature element you hope people recognize as “yours” when they see your photographs?
What people tend to recognize throughout my work is the mix between architecture and a quiet human presence: a figure behind a window, someone on a balcony, a singular light in an otherwise dark façade.
I also have a personal way of treating color, with cooler tones and a night-driven palette that comes naturally from spending so much time photographing at night. It mirrors how I actually see Paris, and over time I guess that it has become part of my visual identity.
Which corner or neighborhood of Paris do you never tire of shooting?
I often end up walking along the Seine at sunset. I like how the light falls on the water, the bridges, the buildings. It’s always the same walk, yet it never looks the same.
Where do you draw inspiration outside of photography?
I am deeply impressed by Gustave Doré, especially his engravings for Les Fables de La Fontaine and his vast landscape paintings of Scotland. There is something very striking in the way he builds dramatic, almost dreamlike scenes.
When it comes to music, I often listen to Nina Simone or Miles Davis. I regularly use their tracks when I share videos of Paris on Instagram. Their music naturally fits the mood in Paris.
How has your photography style evolved over the years?
Over the past handful of years, my way of photographing has evolved, but the intention has remained the same: to capture the beauty of Paris with a strong focus on architecture.
I began at street level, drawn to monuments and the most iconic landmarks of the city — mainly the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. Then I discovered Paris from the rooftops, which allowed me to rediscover the city from a new angle, focusing more on the people at their balconies than on monuments. Today, my work really revolves around luxury hotels, as an interior photographer and content creator for iconic hospitality hubs.
