ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

As a professional archaeologist, I have friends and access to the museum on the day the Louvre is closed and it is a pleasure to have the museum to yourself. Even in the old days of film, I was able to make publication quality pictures using my Nikon FE 2 and three primes: the 28mm, the 50mm, and the 135mm, without flash, with lenses wide open and adjusting shutter speed. It is much easier with modern cameras but still use your best primes, best meaning a combination of less weight and best glass. Most importantly, go early to avoid tourists and try to get to know someone who works there: behind the exhibitions, there are vast spaces full of works of art!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Interesting comments. The people I know who take the most photographs of paintings are...painters. The ones who take the most photographs of sculptures are...sculptors. Sometimes they take ordinary photographs, sometimes photographs of specific detaila, sometimes sculptures from "different" angles or oerspectives. When asked why, the answer is that the published photographs are all from the same "classic" angle, or that commercial photographs poorly render tonality and color (optimized for reproduction, not accuracy) or a fairly long list of other reasons.

The truth is that with care and a little knowledge, you can take a better photograph than you can buy. Most of the time, museum lighting prioritizes preservation over presentation. Observers are seeing a "crippled" view of the works. That can be overcome with a good, well-considered photograph.

One reason I prefer correctly compensated and exposed unedited JPEGs is that they can show paintings as they really are. Others mostly show the works as the photographer remembered seeing them displayed. There have been at least two programs on PBS in recent years that clearly demonstrate how different several of the 'old masters' appear on display from how they would appear in ordinary light.

nmw1004 Loc: Dresher PA

Was there a month ago. You can take photographs but no flash. Just be prepared to deal with the crowds. Have a great trip.

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

You need a ticket to enter the museum. They do allow photography there, but NO FLASH. I was there in 2025. At the time I had a Canon 50D. I think I had a Tamron 18-400. Don't quite remember. But did set a higher ISO. You'll love it. Good Luck.

Bill_de Loc: US

That is my favorite way to photograph ... two years before the actual date.

Gives us two years practice before publication.

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revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Rather than go in a whole day at a price, look into free access sometime after 3.

CKAlbion Loc: Mendocino, CA

These days, your phone will take fantastic shots of most artwork. It has the advantage of being small and lightweight.

If you really want to take your camera into the Louve, then have fun. There are the usual challenges, like all the amazing things inside the many, many, many glass cases. You might want to invest in a polarizing filter. My husband usually wears a hat, and I have a lot of shots with the shadow of the hat trying to get rid of the worst glare from the lights on the glass. My last trip through a museum, I took my Sony RX10 and set it to auto. The shots were fine.

Take at least one extra battery and maybe an extra card. Plan for a couple of days so you don't exhaust yourself. The Louve is overwhelming.

PS study the map before you get there. There are a few restaurants inside the museum, and you'll need to know where the few bathrooms are, too. I'll bet there's an app these days with all that information.

Now I want to go back to Paris.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Mine too . . .
🙀

druthven

I have many suggestions like the ones posted but I will stick to just one. If there is any way possible you can afford a personal guide by all means do it. Even if you might have to scrimp on something else. Maybe just for a couple of days, one for the Louvre and possibly the Orsay and another for Paris in general. My wife's guide for the Louvre got her past the lines and in the back door. The guide can be an asset in directing you to your areas of interest. The Louvre is way too large to see in just one day. Don't try to see all of it. I am including two fairly unusual views of the Eiffel Tower that without our guide's lead I seriously doubt I would have found on my own. The one including the Statue of Liberty was taken from a unique spot where one step forward or backward would have obliterated the view. The guide also took us to the artist's square near Sacre-Coeur Basilica where I had an artist cerate a small canvas for me.

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HappyChap Loc: W TN

Just one thought-visit a museum locally to find the best settings and composition. Enjoy the journey.

National Park

I was there this summer. Photos without flash are allowed everywhere in the museum. Be prepared for huge crowds, especially to see the Mona Lisa. I think they prohibit tripods, but in any event it is too crowded to use one.

BTW, in all likelihood I caught the Louvre was the source of my covid infection. Do yourself a favor and wear a good N95 mask, especially when you are in the more crowded areas of the museum. Getting covid while on vacation is a real bummer.

Rloren

To me it is all about " your own personal experience ," not someone elses.
If I can be photographed or family member next to a great statue or painting that would be more satisfying.
That is why you go anywhere or do anything, for the experience. And if you can document it with pictures or video, that is even better.