Waiting in Paris

The waiter and the chef. Waiting for patrons.

Toujours pressé

Parisian waiters. Always a blur.

Waiting in Paris

Once a Paris waiter, always a Paris waiter apparently. I love it when I see the same guys year after year. 

Notre serveur amical

Le Grand Café Capucines, near the Opéra, is an Art Deco delight. We enjoyed oysters and a delicious dinner there. Our very friendly waiter was a bonus!

Le Grand Café Capucines

4 Boulevard Capucines

75009 Paris

Le serveur

Paris waiters never stop. They are constantly in motion. I caught our very efficient and cordial waiter as we left this restaurant in Meudon.

Merci beaucoup mille fois to SPOTTED BY LOCALS for choosing PTML as one of their 8 Best Paris Blogs. Please click their site and have a look at the other Paris blogs!!!

Les Philosophes

Café life. I don't think I've ever passed a Parisian café and not found someone I'd love to photograph!

Les Philosophes

28 rue Vieille du Temple

75004 Paris

Mon serveur préféré

Ma Bourgogne, Place des Vosges

Old Favorite

These two were probably the first of a long line of my 100 French Strangers, taken in 2008. I swear I didn't pose them. I walked by and there they were. They were kind enough to allow a photo or two and were quite friendly.

Watching...

 the people watchers on Nemours' terrasse.

Madame et son chien

From the looks of it, this petit chien is being shown the door. Actually I stopped and watched for a bit and the waiter was having a really good time chatting with this pup.

Waiting in Paris

Late afternoon at Gare de Lyon's elegant Le Train Bleu, this waiter was very busy passing out apéros to thirsty patrons.

Waiting in Paris

I hope those Paris waiters never give up their vests and aprons. 

Le chien

This very special chien was served by a Paris waiter on Boulevard Saint-Germain!

Le sourire

French waiters get a bad rap.  They have a reputation for being snooty, unsmiling and just in general "FRENCH"!  I beg to disagree.  If you greet them with a cheerful , "Bonjour Monsieur"(and a smile), I have found that they are more than agreeable and efficient,  if I offer just a bit of my Alabama laced French!  One thing they won't do is hover and ask you continually throughout your meal how everything is, if you need more water etc. like we have come to tolerate in the U.S.  Parisian waiters are professional, efficient, but most certainly will allow you to linger over your meal, or even cup of café, or glass of wine as long as you like. They won't shoo you off to make way for more guests until you catch their eye and ask, "L'addition s'il vous plaît". This smiling waiter was shot through the glass at the pricey Café de la Paix. 

Attente

The waiters at Ma Bourgogne at Place des Vosges have caught my eye for  many photographs.  While enjoying a glass of wine, I shot this from afar. I love the pens in his pocket, the bow tie, the vest. C'est Paris!  I love finding cafes in Paris where I feel comfortable enough to sit and enjoy a glass of wine or a salad alone. 

La vie parisienne

 Shooting on the street often requires a quick decision and an equally quick shot.  I'm often pleased when I get a look at my downloaded images with what I captured.  This photograph is full of little details that I missed, while really trying to get the bulldog begging for a nibble. 

Un autre serveur

Smoke break

Dépêchez!

Café Nemours

The waiters in Paris never waste a minute. It seems they are in constant motion. 

I will be teaching my photography class, From Snapshots to Creative Photographs at Samford After Sundown again this fall. Please share this link with anyone who might be interested in the Birmingham area.

Also, for those of you planning a trip to Paris, or just dreaming of one, I"ll be teaching a one day workshop, Weekend In Paris at Samford on Sept. 28 from 9-3.  I will share travel tips, a bit of French culture and language as well my favorites things to see and do in Paris. In the afternoon we will talk photography and how to bring home fabulous photographs from your travels.  

L'addition s'il vous plait

 I truly believe that I could spend an entire visit to Paris and only photograph the waiters. They take their jobs so seriously, and do it so well.   When you think about how long their hours are, and how efficient they are, I'm willing to cut them some slack on friendliness.  That said, I've had some delightful waiters in my day!

NICE!

I don't know who was having more fun!