New Orleans Engagement Session Guide

October 26, 2022

Have some questions about planning your New Orleans engagement session? Totally understandable. It’s not every day you hire a photographer to third wheel on your date. But I’ve been doing this long enough to confidently be able to give you some suggestions and recommendations for making the most of your shoot.

Let’s get into it…my guide to make the most out of your New Orleans engagement session.

What’s a typical engagement session like?

A session usually lasts an hour and a half, but I can work within time constraints if you have them. I have couples pick a meeting place that has meaning to them, or is somewhere they’ve been wanting to try. We start with getting to know each other a bit before I take my camera out. I’ll ask you a few questions about your relationship, like how you met or when was the last time you were really proud of each other. Real casual.

For the first 15 minutes of me photographing you, I am trying to see what your relationship dynamic is like. Are you a little more reserved, or are you a couple that can’t take a serious photos if your life depended on it. Once I get an idea of how you naturally interact with one another, I approach the session in that manner.

I love love, and I love most when you can tell when two people are together without the big gestures. I’ll never make you kiss or fake laugh at one another, and you can throw all of that stiff posing out of the window. Honestly, just show up and be open. I’ll take care of the rest.

What should I wear for my engagement session?

I recommend sticking to one outfit, two tops. We are often on the move during the session, walking around town and capturing cute shots where we can. It’s no fun lugging around extra items or outfits. If you’re committed to an outfit change, we’ll plan to stay close to the area we’re shooting in, or we can circle back to your car mid-session. It’s a good idea to start with your most dressy outfit and move to a more casual look. Check out some more recommendations on what to wear here and my Pinterest guide here.

Is there a “best” time to do my engagement session?

There is no good or bad time to shoot, and I welcome all types of light. But since we are chatting times, ideally shooting the first two hours after the sun rises or the two hours before the sun sets. If we are shooting indoors, this rule may not apply at all.

I prefer to choose a time that works best for you and the look we are going for. Once you choose a location for your session, I can let you know what time I think would be best!

How far out should I plan my engagement session?

If you are wanting to use photos from your engagement session for save the dates, I recommend schedule your session at least two months before you plan to send them out. This accounts for inclement weather, editing, and production.

If you are local to New Orleans, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. If you are planning a destination wedding here, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.

What do I get from my engagement session?

Two weeks after your session date, you will receive an online gallery with 100 high resolution and web images. The gallery is connected to my online print store where you can print directly from your gallery without having to upload or download a thing. I also provide you with a print release if you’d prefer to print from a third party service.

Where should I do my engagement session?

If you have a favorite spot in New Orleans, or a place you’ve always wanted to try, let’s start there! If you’re visiting here and staying at a boutique hotel or cute AirBnb, those are great options as well. I love starting out at a place that feels comfortable to you, and then taking it from there. See the list below for a few of my favorite shooting locations in New Orleans. Please be mindful – some of these places require a permit or approval from staff to shoot on the premises. It is the client’s responsibility to obtain the permit or approval. If a permit or approval is not obtained before the day of the shoot, I am not responsible for any loss of images at the desired location.