Eugenie Smirnova — your corporate and event photographer in  France

The Foundation: Understanding Champagne’s Three Grapes

One of the most valuable parts of this trip was finally understanding Champagne not just as a beautiful drink, but as a craft based on three fundamental grape varieties:Chardonnay — elegance, purity, freshness
Pinot Noir — structure, depth, power
Meunier — softness, fruitiness, round charmEvery cuvée is a unique composition, shaped by how a maison balances these grapes.
And iconic terms like blanc de blancs or blanc de noirs suddenly gained deeper meaning.As a photographer, I found it fascinating how the sensory vocabulary of Champagne mirrors visual language: structure, clarity, brightness, softness — it is all interconnected.

Bottle Formats: A World Much Bigger Than Expected

Before this trip, I only knew three common formats: demi, bouteille and magnum.
In Champagne, however, bottle sizes form a whole world of tradition: • Jeroboam (3 L)
• Rehoboam (4.5 L)
• Mathusalem (6 L)
• Salmanazar (9 L)
• Balthazar (12 L)
• Nabuchodonosor (15 L)A winemaker at one of the houses told us something I’ve never heard before:
Champagne tastes best in larger formats.
Because the wine ages slower with less oxygen exposure, the result is deeper, more complex and more harmonious.
This alone made me look at Champagne with new respect.

Moët & Chandon: Monumental Luxury Rooted in Precision

Moët & Chandon, founded in 1743, is one of the most recognised Champagne houses in the world — and the largest in the region, with 28 km of underground cellars beneath Épernay.
It is the definition of grandeur, but not overwhelming grandeur: refined, orchestrated, almost architectural.As a photographer, I was struck by: • the symmetry of corridors

• the precision in lighting
• the elegance of tasting rooms
• the feeling of international prestige in every detailMoët is a maison built for ceremony.

Hosting a corporate event here feels like entering a world where excellence is the baseline.
It’s ideal for high-level executive meetings, brand launches or incentive trips focused on luxury and heritage.

Pommery: Where Art and Champagne Share the Same Cellars

Of the three houses, Pommery was the most surprising.

Madame Pommery invented Brut Champagne in the 1870s, shifting global tastes away from the sweeter styles of the time. This spirit of innovation is still alive.The cellars at Pommery are carved into ancient Gallo-Roman chalk quarries — but what makes them extraordinary is that they are transformed into underground contemporary art galleries.

Sculptures, installations, conceptual lighting — every corridor becomes a stage.Photographically, it is a dream environment: 

• textured chalk walls
• bright unexpected colours
• art pieces integrated into historical tunnelsPommery is perfect for brands seeking cultural, creative or design-driven corporate experiences
• dramatic contrasts

It is Champagne reinvented through artistic expression.

Mumm: Dynamic, Bold and Built on Momentum

Maison Mumm carries a completely different energy.
Founded in 1827 by a family of German winemakers, it grew into one of the most dynamic and internationally recognised Champagne houses.
Their motto “Only the Best” (originally “Nec Pluribus Impar”) still defines the brand.Mumm has long-standing connections with sports and adventure — from partnerships with Formula 1 to modern collaborations with athletes and explorers.
This spirit of momentum is reflected everywhere: 

• bold red branding
• architectural lines
• storytelling driven by innovation
• a more modern, energetic tasting styleAs a photographer, I saw motion, confidence and contemporary flair.

For corporate events, this maison works perfectly for companies that value ambition, energy and forward-thinking aesthetics.

Why This Trip Matters for My Work

From the outside, a trip to Champagne may look like a beautiful experience — but professionally it was much more.As a corporate photographer and event-industry collaborator, such journeys allow me to: • understand the relationship between brand culture and visual storytelling

• evaluate venues for premium corporate events
• study how heritage is translated into guest experience
• learn how major maisons communicate through space, light and atmosphere
• build relationships with key representatives
• gather insights that help future clients plan events with confidenceThis was field research, brand study and artistic inspiration — all in one.

What I Bring Back

✔ deeper knowledge of Champagne craftsmanship
✔ understanding of three very different brand identities
✔ inspiration for corporate event photography
✔ new professional relationships
✔ appreciation for how architecture, light and human presence shape a brand
✔ renewed creativity for future projects