Ladies’ or Guys’ Weekends in New Orleans Deserve an Hour With a Photographer

An hour of portraits gives everyone a turn in the picture, without making photography the whole weekend. I photograph visiting friends together and individually, usually while walking through the French Quarter.

When friends come to New Orleans for a weekend, there is usually plenty on the itinerary. Dinner reservations, music, and time to wander all compete for attention. An hour with a photographer fits into that trip without taking it over. It gives you photographs of everyone together, along with individual portraits that don’t depend on someone in the group volunteering to stay behind the camera.

I’ve photographed many of these sessions for groups of women and men visiting New Orleans. Some are here for a bachelor or bachelorette party. Others are simply friends getting together in a new city. Usually, we work in the French Quarter, where a short walk can give us several different settings without spending the session traveling between locations.

The reason to do this isn’t that your phone can’t take a good picture. It’s that making photographs and being part of the gathering are two different jobs. When I’m handling the light, backgrounds, and timing, everyone else can stay involved. Nobody has to organize the lineup, ask a stranger for help, or wonder whether the person at the edge made it into the frame.

A good group portrait takes more attention than asking everyone to stand close. I’m looking at faces, spacing, posture, and where hands fall. I need to notice when one person is hidden behind another or when bright sunlight is making half the group squint. Small adjustments help a photograph feel easy rather than stiff. Clear direction matters, especially when several friends are talking and laughing at once.

That said, for a photographer, it's almost as important to know when to stop directing. Friends have their own ways of interacting, and that's worth paying attention to. A look between two people or the laughter after someone says something can make a stronger photograph than a carefully held pose. I make room for those moments while still getting the group pictures everyone came for.

Individual portraits are part of the session, too. Not everyone arrives equally comfortable being photographed, and not everyone needs the same instructions. Some people settle in quickly; others appreciate a little guidance about where to stand or what to do with their hands. Working efficiently and keeping the conversation natural helps each person have a turn without leaving the rest of the group waiting for long.

After more than 23 years photographing in New Orleans and 9 years doing the same in Chicago, I know that choosing a background is only part of choosing a location. Jackson Square can be a good starting point, but pedestrian traffic and the direction of the sun affect where we actually photograph. Along Royal Street, I look for workable light and room to pause without blocking a doorway or sidewalk. A quieter stretch of the Quarter may serve your group better than the busiest landmark.

For planning, I recommend choosing a time when everyone can arrive together and doesn’t need to rush straight into another reservation. Later daylight often offers more comfortable conditions than midday, though the season and forecast matter. Wear shoes you can walk in, and keep bags to a minimum. Outfits don’t need to match; a little coordination in how dressed up everyone feels is usually more useful than identical colors.

Tell me beforehand how many people are coming, whether there is a guest of honor, and which combinations matter to you. That helps me balance the full group, smaller groups, and individual portraits within the hour. We can also discuss weather and a manageable route. The goal is simple: spend a little time together in New Orleans and come away with photographs that include every friend who made the trip.