High School & College Graduation Portraits
Authentic New Orleans Senior Portraits
TREMÉ STUDIO · FRENCH QUARTER · AUDUBON PARK & CITY PARK · TULANE & LOYOLA CAMPUSES
A senior portrait should look like you on your best day — not a stiff, staged pose in front of a fake backdrop that you’ll cringe at ten years from now. With over thirty years behind the camera photographing rock musicians, commercial athletes, and celebrities, I bring an editorial, relaxed approach to every senior session. No awkward posing, no forced smiles. We keep things moving, and let your real personality, laugh, and style lead the way.
Whether you’re celebrating your final year at a local New Orleans high school or graduating from college with a degree in hand, our sessions are customized to what makes you unique. We can work in the controlled, clean light of my private Tremé studio, venture outside into the city’s most iconic landscapes, or combine both for complete variety. Bring your favorite wardrobe changes, sports uniforms, musical instruments, cap and gown, or even your dog — if it matters to your story, it belongs in the photo.
Every session includes relaxed one-on-one direction, full personal printing rights, and a selected, retouched set of high-resolution digital files ready for yearbook deadlines, graduation announcements, and family framing. Turnaround is prompt — typically about two weeks — with no surprise upcharges or pressure to buy complicated print packages. See also New Orleans headshot photography and family portraits.
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Senior Portrait Sessions Built Around You
High School Senior Portraits (Class of 2026 & Beyond)
Authentic, editorial-style milestones that parents and teens both love
High school graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime transition. We work with students from high schools across the Greater New Orleans area — including Newman, Jesuit, Sacred Heart, Country Day, Ben Franklin, Dominican, Mount Carmel, Lusher/Willow, Brother Martin, and beyond. We make sure all official yearbook specifications (crop ratios, backdrop rules, and deadline submissions) are met with zero stress, while creating a modern, magazine-quality gallery that feels true to the student’s personal identity.
College & University Graduation Portraits
Tulane, Loyola, Xavier, UNO & out-of-town visitors
Graduating from college in New Orleans is an extraordinary achievement celebrated in one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the world. We regularly photograph graduates from Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, Xavier University, and UNO — as well as seniors visiting New Orleans with their families. From iconic cap-and-gown shots in front of Gibson Hall and the St. Charles Avenue streetcars to champagne pops under historic live oaks, we document your university journey with style.
Studio, Urban & Natural Location Options
Custom lighting tailored to the environment
You aren’t locked into one look. Start with clean, modern studio lighting and contemporary backdrops at our Tremé studio, then head out on location. Because I carry portable, battery-powered Profoto studio strobes everywhere I go, we can balance glowing New Orleans golden hour light with perfect skin-tone exposure — giving you vivid, three-dimensional portraits whether we are on a cobblestone French Quarter street or beneath century-old live oaks.
Top New Orleans Senior Portrait Locations
The French Quarter & Historic Courtyards
Vibrant wrought-iron balconies, colorful creole cottages, textured brick walls, and quiet cobblestone alleys like Pirate’s Alley and Cabildo Alley. Perfect for seniors who love architecture, art, and the historic charm of New Orleans.
Audubon Park & City Park Live Oaks
Spanish moss, centuries-old live oak alleys, stone bridges, and tranquil lagoon reflections. These lush green spaces provide a timeless, classic Southern backdrop with gorgeous afternoon light.
Tulane & Loyola University Campuses
The iconic Romanesque architecture of Gibson Hall, Tilton Memorial Hall, the palm trees of the Gibson quad, and the bustling streetcar line running along St. Charles Avenue.
TREMÉ STUDIO SESSIONS
Clean, high-fashion seamless backdrops in black, white, and warm neutrals. Ideal for timeless headshots, athletic gear with dramatic rim lighting, or fashion-forward wardrobe looks unaffected by New Orleans humidity or weather.
What’s Included in Your Senior Portrait Experience
Multiple Wardrobe Changes & Personal Styling
Bring 2 to 4 distinct outfits. We recommend mixing casual everyday favorites, dressier or formal attire, athletic uniforms, school spirit wear, and your cap and gown.
Natural Expression Coaching & Direction
95% of the students I photograph tell me they feel awkward in front of a camera. Within five minutes, that tension disappears. I guide your angles, posture, and natural expressions continuously so you never have to wonder what to do with your hands.
Transparent Digital Files & Full Print Release
You receive a private online proofing gallery with full-resolution, individually retouched digital files. Every image comes with a full personal print release, meaning you are free to print announcements, canvas wraps, and framed prints wherever you choose.
Fast Two-Week Delivery for Yearbook Deadlines
Your gallery is delivered within approximately two weeks of your session date. Need a single headshot rushed to meet your school’s yearbook deadline? Just let me know in advance and we’ll expedite your yearbook select.
Send your graduation year, school, and the locations you have in mind, and we will get your New Orleans senior session on the calendar.
Before You Ask
SENIOR PORTRAIT QUESTIONS
- How long does a senior portrait session take?
- Most senior sessions run between 60 and 90 minutes. This provides plenty of time for 2 to 3 outfit changes and gives us the flexibility to explore multiple backdrops within walking distance or combine studio time with nearby outdoor locations.
- Can we shoot both in the studio and outdoors on location?
- Yes. Many seniors start in my Tremé studio for clean, modern backdrop shots (or dramatic athletic and instrument lighting), and then we move outdoors to Audubon Park, St. Charles Avenue, or the French Quarter for natural, environmental portraits.
- What should I wear for senior pictures?
- Bring variety. We recommend a casual, comfortable everyday look that reflects your personal style; a dressier, semi-formal outfit such as a suit jacket, dress, or blazer; and a school-spirited look, athletic jersey with gear, musical instrument, or your graduation cap and gown. Avoid tiny, busy patterns or loud graphic tees so the focus stays entirely on you.
- Can I bring props, musical instruments, sports gear, or my pet?
- Absolutely. If football, ballet, cello, soccer, guitar, or track defined your high school or college career, bring your gear. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome for outdoor park and campus shoots.
- Do you submit high school yearbook photos directly?
- Yes. Provide your school's yearbook submission specifications — crop size, resolution, and background color preference — along with the deadline. We will format and deliver your chosen yearbook image directly according to those guidelines.
- How and when will we receive the finished photos?
- Your curated, color-corrected, and professionally retouched gallery will be ready in a private online viewing gallery within roughly two weeks. You can download your full-resolution digital files immediately with no watermarks.
- Do we have to buy expensive print packages through you?
- No. Every session includes high-resolution digital files with full personal printing rights. You can conveniently order archival, professional lab prints directly through your private gallery, but you are completely free to print your announcements and photos at the lab of your choice.
- When is the best time of year to take senior pictures in New Orleans?
- Fall (October through December) and spring (February through April) offer the most pleasant weather and beautiful foliage in New Orleans. If you are taking college graduation photos at Tulane or Loyola, booking in March or early April avoids the intense graduation week crowds on campus.
Reviews
What Clients Say
“Exceptional experience with our daughter's senior pictures! We came in from Michigan. Marc immediately made my daughter feel comfortable and took her around to all of the best spots. Great communicator, very responsive to what we wanted. I seriously can't say enough great things. If you are considering Marc as your photographer, DO IT!! You will be so happy you did!”
“We are from out of town, and planned a vacation to New Orleans/Mexico (cruise vacation). My daughter is in love with the French Quarters, and wanted her senior pictures taken there. I took a leap of faith (after spending hours on Yelp reading reviews), and decided that Marc Pagani Photography was the obvious photographer to use! He was so nice, had a creative eye for beautiful photography, and had our pictures ready super fast! Being from out of town, so much could have went wrong. I'm pleased to say that he made sure that everything was super smooth! zero complaints here! 10/10 would recommend!!!”
“I hired Marc for my daughter's senior portraits during the pandemic and a very sad senior year for so many young people. Marc was the perfect fit for us. He was professional but fun, and my daughter loved working with him. Marc was masked, 6 feet from us at all times, and very respectful of the current situation with Covid 19. He took her portraits in the empty French Quarter and the outcome was much more than we could have even hoped for. Marc, you have an amazing talent. Thank you for making the end of Ella's senior year so very special. Absolutely a 5 star day!”