Weddings & Engagements
NEW ORLEANS ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
NATURAL & UNPOSED SESSIONS · ICONIC NEW ORLEANS LOCATIONS · THE ULTIMATE WEDDING REHEARSAL · DIGITAL FILES INCLUDED
An engagement session is an unhurried celebration of the two of you, a chance to slow down in the middle of wedding planning and simply enjoy each other in one of the most photogenic cities in the world.
It is also the best wedding-day rehearsal you can give yourselves. You learn how I work, test your hair and makeup in real Louisiana light, and shake off any camera shyness, so when your wedding day arrives, being photographed already feels natural.
Sessions run 60 to 90 minutes across one or two meaningful locations, scheduled around golden hour, roughly 90 minutes before sunset, or early morning for a quieter, more private French Quarter. Start times shift with the calendar so the light is always on your side.
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The Experience
The Ultimate Wedding-Day Rehearsal
Zero Stiff Posing
My background is photojournalism and editorial work, so direction stays minimal: a place to stand, a reason to walk, something to talk about. Then you are encouraged to simply enjoy each other while I capture the real, unscripted connection between you.
Your Wedding-Day Confidence Builder
An engagement session is the best rehearsal for your wedding. You learn how I work, test your hair and makeup in real Louisiana light, and lose any camera shyness, so on the big day you already feel at ease in front of the lens.
Images Made To Be Used
You walk away with versatile, high-resolution images for save-the-dates, your wedding website, announcements, and reception slideshows, plus a shared reference for what you both love, which makes the wedding day faster and smoother.
Where To Shoot
Iconic New Orleans Engagement Photo Locations
French Quarter & Pirate’s Alley
Wrought-iron balconies, gas lanterns, and cobblestones beside St. Louis Cathedral. We shoot early morning or at dusk for quieter streets and the most flattering light.
City Park Live Oaks & The Peristyle
Centuries-old live oaks draped in Spanish moss, tranquil bayous, and classical columns, with built-in covered architecture if a summer shower rolls through.
Garden District & St. Charles Avenue
Historic mansions, ornate cast-iron fences, lush subtropical gardens, and the passing streetcar for an elegant, timeless neighborhood feel.
Audubon Park & The Tree of Life
Sprawling low branches, lagoons, and soft dappled light create an organic, romantic setting ideal for a relaxed sunset stroll.
Crescent Park & The Bywater
Riverfront skyline views, industrial steel architecture, and colorful neighborhood murals for couples who want something modern and urban.
Private Tremé Studio Sessions
Fine-art lighting and a climate-controlled escape from heat or rain, perfect for elegant, editorial-style portraits or a mix of studio and street.
The Details
What Every Engagement Session Includes
Pre-Shoot Consultation
Guidance on locations, timing, wardrobe, and the light so you arrive relaxed and prepared.
60–90 Minutes Of Coverage
Time for up to two outfits across one or two meaningful locations.
Rapid Sneak Peeks
A handful of favorites delivered within 48–72 hours to share right away.
Private Online Gallery
A beautifully edited, color-corrected gallery to view, download, and share.
Full Personal Printing Rights
High-resolution digital files with zero watermarks, ready to print anywhere.
Flexible Weather Rescheduling
If Gulf weather turns, we move to a covered spot, the studio, or a new date at no charge.
Before You Ask
NEW ORLEANS ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY QUESTIONS
- Where should we shoot our New Orleans engagement photos?
- Anywhere meaningful to you. Favorites include the French Quarter and Pirate's Alley, City Park's live oaks and the Peristyle, the Garden District and St. Charles Avenue, Audubon Park's Tree of Life, Crescent Park and the Bywater, or my private Tremé studio. I'm happy to suggest the best spots for your style and the time of year.
- What should we wear for our engagement session?
- Bring two outfits: one more casual and one dressier. Coordinate colors rather than matching exactly, and avoid large logos or busy patterns. For location sessions we walk quite a bit, so wear comfortable shoes between spots and change into your dress shoes for the photos.
- What time of day is best for engagement photos?
- Golden hour, about 90 minutes before sunset, gives the softest, most flattering light. Early morning is ideal for the French Quarter, when the streets are quiet and you have the city almost to yourselves.
- What happens if it rains?
- Every session has a rain plan. We can move to covered locations like the Peristyle, head into my private Tremé studio, or reschedule at no charge. New Orleans storms are usually short, and a courtyard after the rain can be even prettier.
- Can we bring our dog or props?
- Absolutely. Dogs, a favorite bottle of champagne, a vintage car, or something that tells your story all make the photos more personal. Just let me know in advance so we can plan for it.
- How long until we see our engagement photos?
- You'll receive a few sneak peeks within 48 to 72 hours, followed by your fully edited, color-corrected gallery within two to three weeks.
- Do we have to buy a print package?
- No. Your high-resolution digital files are included with full personal printing rights and zero watermarks, so you can print them anywhere you like.
Reviews
What Clients Say
“Wow. Marc truly has an amazing eye for capturing the moment. His presence was not intrusive, yet he caught the very intimate moments of our engagement. He is a pleasure to work with, very professional and responds to emails promptly. Without hesitation we would definitely hire him again.”
“I can't rave enough about Marc! From start to finish he was incredibly professional. My husband and I had a destination wedding in New Orleans with no friends or family local to the area. All weddings can be stressful, but destination weddings add the extra aspect of the unknown. Finding a qualified photographer who would be able to capture our wedding day was very important to me. You only have one opportunity to capture these moments. I reached out to Marc through his website and received a response while I was still searching photographers. This prompt response time was consistent throughout the months of planning that followed. Marc was always accessible and very transparent with all information about his services. We had Marc shoot our engagement pictures around the French Quarter. He had a number of great suggestions for locations we could shoot at and really has a great eye for light and framing. On our wedding day Marc was set up early, came fully prepared, and somehow captured all of the special moments throughout the day with the help of his associate photographer. The pictures from the ceremony, second line, and reception all turned out beautiful! There really are varying degrees of quality in photographers, even on the "simple" things like portraits. He's truly an artist and has the experience to back it up. I felt Marc was very reasonably priced for the quality of work he provided and everything that's included in the package we selected. Now that I've received the pictures from our wedding, I feel like we got an incredible deal. The images are spectacular and take me right back to the moment that's captured. It's true that you get what you pay for and Marc exceeded my expectations in every way. One key factor to planning a wedding or any large event is to work with exceptional vendors, and Marc Pagani is exactly that.”
“Wow! I can't believe how incredibly happy I am with my wedding photos. First off, my husband and I started out with some pretty off the wall Engagement pictures. My husband is in film school so we decided to do movie themes at a warehouse that houses old movie sets, Movie Sets Venue in Slidell. He totally understood what we were going for and was able to capture everything we wanted. And the wedding pictures!!! I am not one for traditional posed pictures and I had discussed this with Marc. I wanted pictures that caught the moment and the feel of the night. He did just that. I was so pleased and am so glad in a city with so many photographers I chose Marc.”
“We just got our link to our engagement photos gallery and we couldn't be happier!! Marc helped us through all of the steps of deciding which package to go with (we ended up do a modified version of Package B, and we added a bridal portrait session and engagement session). He was very easy to get in touch with and scheduling our session was so simple. During the photo session in the French Quarter, Marc chatted with us about the rest of our wedding planning and was cracking us up for most of the afternoon. The photos he shot really captured our personalities, and my parents already want to buy a bunch of prints for the wedding in May. I HIGHLY recommend Marc due to the great price, the professionalism, and the amazing photos.”
“I am so glad we chose Marc to capture the many wonderful moments of our wedding. He was perfect. His demeanor is very professional - he's quiet yet decisive, directing you through your photo shoots with his years of experience. We had him take engagement photos first, to test out the makeup/hair and get to know our personalities. Those photos were excellent, and I think he was even better able to capture our special moments are our wedding after getting to know us. The whole evening was perfect, and Marc caught every moment of it. From the first time we saw each other, through the ceremony and wedding party shots, through the cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing - he made every moment sparkle with the magic of the evening. With his photojournalistic style, Marc has a knack for catching the "true" moments - the tender kisses, the sweet looks, even the eye rolls. Everyone looked their best in his photos. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful collection of photos to remember the best day of my life. Thanks Marc!”
“My wife and I used Marc to shoot our engagement pictures, bridal portraits, and our wedding, and the pictures came out absolutely fantastic! Our pictures was one thing that we did not want to settle on, and after researching his work, and meeting with Marc personally, we knew he was our photographer and had to reserve him before anyone else got the chance. He is a professional that has an excellent eye for catching that perfect and special shot. He pays attention to detail, and knows all about lighting and what angles work best. Marc took well over a 1,000 pictures the day of our wedding, and literally, all of them could be framed. If anyone is looking for an experienced photographer that is easy to work with and takes great photos, my wife and I would highly recommend Marc Pagani.”