Celebrate your Engagement in America’s Most Romantic City
Expert location advice from an Engagement Photographer in New Orleans
There are few North American cities as romantic as New Orleans. In fact, I’d dare any American city to rival the romantic backdrop that is the Crescent City. From the cobblestoned streets of the historic French Quarter to the sweeping Oaks in City Park, this city is the perfect place to be in love.
Whether you’re celebrating your newly-minted fiancé status for some save-the-date cards or just want to commemorate your relationship with a couple’s session, there’s no better city than New Orleans for an Engagement Portrait Session.
As a veteran portrait photographer of 15 years, I’ve taken many sweet engagement photos in this beautiful city. Here are my top five best locations for a New Orleans Engagement Photography Session.
City Park
New Orleans City Park is hands down my favorite Engagement Session location. It has a number of versatile backdrops within a short walking distance of each other. If you’re going for that sun-soaked golden hour look or that moody twilight vibe, City Park has you covered. Stone bridges, ancient oaks, old-style street lamps, and Spanish moss give that undeniable South Louisiana look and make this an easy choice for your engagement session.
2. French Quarter
A close second to City Park is the Vieux Carré (aka The Quarter). It only comes in second place because the streets are often very busy with tourists. I like to steer couples away from the busier areas of the French Quarter and hold Engagement Sessions in the Lower Quarter. You’ll find classic New Orleans architecture on the colorful residential end of this Historic neighborhood. Shotgun homes, wrought-iron balconies, and just the right amount of grit provide an engagement session vibe that screams New Orleans. Book your session during Carnival Season and you’re likely to find some purple, green, and gold decorations too!
3. Jackson Square
While it is still a part of the French Quarter, I consider Jackson Square a location all on its own. You can easily spend an hour using locations around this iconic park in the heart of the Quarter. This area has its own distinct vibe. The St Louis Cathedral feels like it dropped straight out of a fairytale while Pirates Alley feels like stepping out of time machine. The Square itself is often rather crowded (and requires a photography permit) but there are a load of locations just steps away that are perfect for your New Orleans Engagement Session.
4. Audubon Park
Audubon Park is another of New Orleans’ beautiful evergreen parks but with a bit more polish than City Park. Stretching from the St. Charles streetcar line all the way to the Tchoupitoulas (bonus points if you know how that is pronounced!), this Uptown park offers a lot of versatility. There are even a few spots that are tucked away that only locals know where to find them. But the biggest draw to Audubon for an engagement photography session in New Orleans is definitely the Tree of Life (it’s a great location for a Surprise Proposal, too!).
5. The Botanical Gardens
So this is another location within a location but I would be remiss if I didn’t include it in this list. The Botanical Gardens are located inside of City Park but are only open during limited hours. You do have to buy tickets to get in as well as a $50 photography permit but I promise you it’s worth every penny. The gardens are cared for meticulously with vine-covered archways, towering hedge-rows, and seasonal flowers in bloom all year round. But they are especially spectacular in the Spring! If you’re looking for a lot of color in your New Orleans engagement photos, the Botanical Gardens is definitely a great place to go.
New Orleans is an excellent choice for your Engagement Portrait Session. It has way more than just five great locations to offer! But I’ve got to get back to image editing so we’re just going to have to leave it at 5 for now. From the Bywater to the Riverbend, there is historical architecture, native foliage, and more than just a few epic backdrops to choose from. And I’m here to guide you if you need help narrowing it down. Want to book your own New Orleans Engagement Session? Start Here.