The workshop is a quiet, modest retreat. Set up in a small garden pavilion, it offers a peaceful space for focused encounters. The walls are bare, the light is soft, and silence invites stillness.
Behind the workshop, a small terrace opens onto the garden. It’s where tea is sometimes shared, conversations unfold, and light is awaited. Often, the portrait session begins right there, in that shared breath, between nature and trust.
Everything here is on a human scale. It’s a place for slowing down, for seeing oneself differently, away from distractions. The workshop hosts you without imposing. It steps back to let the encounter take centre stage.
All around, nature is present in every moment. Birds shape the day with their songs — tits, blackbirds, chaffinches… and sometimes, in the hush of night, the nightingale. Occasionally, a red squirrel—affectionately named Monsieur Roux—darts across the garden. And quite often, among the trees, a doe and her fawn, or a peaceful group of deer, move through the woods with a grace so quiet it seems to suspend time.
When the wind picks up, the foliage of firs, birches, lime trees and oaks begins to murmur, with a deep rustle almost like the sea. Nature is never far, and it plays an essential role in the experience.
La Chancelle is nestled in the heart of the Bresse countryside, in a calm, unspoilt environment. Coming here is not just about a portrait session — it’s also a chance to discover a generous and authentic region, off the beaten track.
The surrounding landscapes are dotted with ponds and quiet paths to stroll or cycle along. Light and skies shift throughout the day, and birdsong fills the air. A few homely, no-frills restaurants and country inns offer good food made with local ingredients. On Saturdays in Saint-Germain-du-Bois or Mondays in Pierre-de-Bresse, markets give you a taste of local life — fresh produce, characterful cheeses and friendly conversations.
A bit further away, Lons-le-Saunier, a small town in the Jura, offers a charming escape with its thermal heritage, architecture and gentle pace. And since this is Burgundy, the nearby landscapes also host some wonderful wine appellations: Rully, Mercurey, Givry or Montagny — discreet names from the Côte Chalonnaise, home to elegant, sincere wines. The vines shape the hillsides, and the cellars tell a story deeply rooted in the land.
La Chancelle is not quite on the main road… but that’s exactly what makes it special.
