How far in advance should we book a wedding photographer in New Orleans?

For spring and autumn Saturdays — the two seasons the city is genuinely pleasant — most couples inquire nine to eighteen months out. Shorter timelines are workable when the date is open; the constraint is availability, desire to shoot your wedding.

Do you shoot with a second photographer?

It depends on the day's schedule. Things that might trigger a second wedding photographer are two parties getting ready in different places, a large wedding guest count, a wedding second line and/or a wedding ceremony with restricted photographer positions. A small ceremony and a single-venue reception often do not need two wedding photographers. It is usually decided per wedding rather than automatically included.

What happens if it rains?

New Orleans rain is usually short, violent and then gone. Every session gets a rain plan built in advance: an interior portrait location or a covered location option. Umbrellas photograph well, and a courtyard after a storm is actually prettier than a courtyard before one.

How long until we see the photographs?

A short wedding photography preview set goes out within a few days of the wedding so there is something to share while it is still recent, followed by the full edited wedding photography gallery. Full wedding gallery usually arrives to you 3-4 weeks after the wedding date.

Do you travel for weddings?

Yes. Destination weddings and elopements outside Louisiana are regular work, quoted with travel and lodging itemised so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Do you work from a shot list?

For family formals, always — names and groupings, written down. For everything else, no. A shot list applied to a whole wedding day guarantees you get the frames someone thought of in advance and miss the ones nobody could have.

Do venues need proof of insurance?

Most New Orleans venues require a certificate of liability insurance from every vendor. That paperwork is handled directly with the venue's events coordinator ahead of the date.

New Orleans & Worldwide

New Orleans Wedding Photography

Documentary coverage · a limited number of weddings each year · New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans wedding photography is not just a set of pictures, it is an art form molded by hundreds of years of culture-based traditions that make up a day...a story with a shape. The story has around six chapters that each carry moments that cannot be repeated. Each moment has its own tempo, light, composition, and emotion. Knowing that story arc in advance and knowing how to artfully capture it are what separates an experienced New Orleans wedding photographer from "a person with a camera who will shoot your wedding".

Our New Orleans wedding photography is documentary-based in nature by default and direction occurs only where direction genuinely helps at a wedding: group formals, a bridal, groom, or couple's portrait, a first look that needs somewhere private to happen, etc. The rest of the day I stay out of the way, close enough to the faces and far enough from the centre of the room that people forget I am working. It's no coincidence that I've often been called a "stealth photographer" and people are surprised to see certain images because they "didn't even know I was there"...mostly because I'm actually invisible. True story.

New Orleans plays host to a specific kind of wedding. This occurs in courtyards, carriage houses, on balconies and bayous, with blaring sunlight and soft pastel sunsets...these all present differing challenges to a New Orleans wedding photographer. Add to that churches with rules about where a photographer may stand, rain that arrives hard and leaves in twenty minutes, and brass band-led Second Line parades heading down the street with the sun backlighting all of the action. Every one of those environments requires an experienced New Orleans wedding photographer who anticipates all of it, who has shot in all of it, and who CONSISTENTLY creates artful images, no matter what the scenario (that's me...in case you were wondering).

Choose Marc Pagani as your wedding photographer and this is what you'll receive after the wedding: A NEW CAR!!!. Not really...sorry I lied. You'll get a short preview set within a week of the wedding so there is something to share while it is still recent, then the full edited gallery — every frame worth keeping, color-corrected and retouched, in print and web sizes, with high-resolution downloads and archival prints available within 3-4 weeks. Album design is available and quoted separately. New Orleans wedding photography and international destination wedding photography coverage, second-shooter needs and travel are quoted per wedding, because a courthouse elopement and a three-venue Saturday wedding with a second line have different photography needs.

Only a limited number of weddings are booked each year, which is what makes the unhurried version possible — as-needed consultation, a timeline built around the light, and a photographer who has the experience to help either guide you through, or let you take the reins. It's your day - we're just here to capture it forever...calmly, beautifully and artfully.

Check Your Date

The Framework

Six Chapters

Read The Story Of A Wedding Day

Reviews

What Couples Say

“He was an amazing photographer and captured the moment of my engagement seamlessly, I will def reccomend him to others.”

Brandon Pollette — via Google · 2026-09-13

“We were so incredibly happy with Marc's work as our wedding photographer. He has an amazing artistic eye and was able to capture so many incredible candid moments throughout the wedding. He's also a clear and efficient communicator for portrait shots. He added a wonderful energy that fit in perfectly in our wedding and was always friendly and professional”

Nicholas Sahagian — via Google · September 2025

“Mark was great to work with and was able to get unique, creative and iconic shots of my son’s wedding. An incredible experience! We actually had one of our favorite but now retiredphotographers review several photographers we looked at, and he recommended Marc hands down. We wanted black and white, candid photo journalistic shots, and he delivered big time. Very pleased. A true professional with the eyes an artist.”

Anne Y — via The Knot · August 2024

“Marc did a wonderful job capturing the vibe of our destination wedding in NOLA. He was on time and went above and beyond. I highly recommend!”

Tracy P — via The Knot · August 2024

“I can't say enough great things about the professionalism and quality of work. I chose Marc for my NOLA wedding with second line from his online portfolio and he delivered. On the day, if I'd been in my right mind I would have pointed out the specific parents and asked for a single group shot at Pat'O Brian's. That said, I had a near perfect day that was stress free and so much fun. In part to Marc's vigilance and assistance (plus none of pics I didn't think to ask for would be wall hanging so it's no real loss). Also my niece who is a photog like myself commented on the quality of the day and night work Marc produced. I told her that's why I chose him and he delivered. Also the portrait of my husband is the best he's gotten done. Thanks for making him look like him. I can't say enough great things about Marc's work and the photos. I highly recommend.”

Tmp A. — via Yelp · 2024-04-13

“Used Marc on several occasions. My favorite, by far, was when he took my bridal photos. Very professional, great artistic eye, excellent communication, and overall just a nice guy! Will do business with again!”

Leslie Hiles — via Google · 2023-12-24

Before You Ask

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY QUESTIONS

How far in advance should we book a wedding photographer in New Orleans?: For spring and autumn Saturdays — the two seasons the city is genuinely pleasant — most couples inquire nine to eighteen months out. Shorter timelines are workable when the date is open; the constraint is availability, desire to shoot your wedding.
Do you shoot with a second photographer?: It depends on the day's schedule. Things that might trigger a second wedding photographer are two parties getting ready in different places, a large wedding guest count, a wedding second line and/or a wedding ceremony with restricted photographer positions. A small ceremony and a single-venue reception often do not need two wedding photographers. It is usually decided per wedding rather than automatically included.
What happens if it rains?: New Orleans rain is usually short, violent and then gone. Every session gets a rain plan built in advance: an interior portrait location or a covered location option. Umbrellas photograph well, and a courtyard after a storm is actually prettier than a courtyard before one.
How long until we see the photographs?: A short wedding photography preview set goes out within a few days of the wedding so there is something to share while it is still recent, followed by the full edited wedding photography gallery. Full wedding gallery usually arrives to you 3-4 weeks after the wedding date.
Do you travel for weddings?: Yes. Destination weddings and elopements outside Louisiana are regular work, quoted with travel and lodging itemised so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Do you work from a shot list?: For family formals, always — names and groupings, written down. For everything else, no. A shot list applied to a whole wedding day guarantees you get the frames someone thought of in advance and miss the ones nobody could have.
Do venues need proof of insurance?: Most New Orleans venues require a certificate of liability insurance from every vendor. That paperwork is handled directly with the venue's events coordinator ahead of the date.

Inquire About Your Date