Among his most recognizable work is Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville ("Kiss by the Hotel de Ville"), a photo of a couple kissing in the busy streets of Paris, which has come to represent the French manner of living, accurately or not, to many parts of the world. The original print of this iconic image was sold for 155,000 Euros by Françoise Bornet, the woman in the photograph, at an auction in April 2005. Bornet and her then boyfriend Jacques Carteaud posed for the seemingly spontaneous photo in 1950.

Doisneau's work gives unusual prominence and dignity to children's street culture; returning again and again to the theme of children at play in the city, unfettered by parents. His work treats their play with seriousness and respect.