Venue Guide
Notes from more than 30 years photographing weddings across New Orleans — courtyards, ballrooms, riverfront rooms, parks and historic estates — and how the light and flow of each one shapes your day.
French Quarter · Masonry arches & gaslight
Photographer’s Perspective: Deep arches and lantern light give Latrobe’s its drama. We add subtle off-camera light that respects the warm gaslight while keeping faces and first dances crisp.
French Quarter · Intimate historic courtyard
Photographer’s Perspective: The courtyard moves quickly from direct sun to soft bounce light as the afternoon fades. We plan portraits for that glow, then roll the ceremony exit straight into a Chartres Street second line.
French Quarter · Grand hotel ballrooms
Photographer’s Perspective: Chandeliered ballrooms, the Carousel Bar and Royal Street outside the door. We balance warm room light with bright street light so both the party and the Quarter read beautifully.
French Quarter · Royal Street ballroom & rooftop
Photographer’s Perspective: Elevated views over the Quarter make for a strong golden-hour portrait window, and the Royal Street address makes a second line exit effortless.
French Quarter · Patinaed walls & courtyard
Photographer’s Perspective: Centuries of patina on the walls do half our work. Small spaces mean we shoot close and quiet, using available light to keep the room’s old-world mood intact.
Riverfront · Mississippi River views
Photographer’s Perspective: Big river windows give soft directional daylight for portraits, and dusk over the Mississippi is one of the city’s best backdrops for a quick pull-out session.
French Quarter Riverfront · Riverfront event space
Photographer’s Perspective: Wide river views and open floor plans. We time couple portraits for sunset over the water, then shift to flash-balanced coverage once the dance floor fills.
French Quarter Riverfront · Panoramic river ballroom
Photographer’s Perspective: Floor-to-ceiling views of the river bend. Window light is gorgeous by day; after dark we light the room so the skyline and your guests are both exposed well.
CBD · Gilded historic hall & courtyard
Photographer’s Perspective: A soaring ornate hall paired with a courtyard. We use the courtyard for portraits and family formals, and the hall’s scale for grand, wide reception frames.
Garden District · St. Charles Avenue mansion
Photographer’s Perspective: Carved wood, staircases and grand rooms lend classic elegance. The staircase and front gardens give us several portrait looks without leaving the property.
Uptown · Victorian porch on St. Charles
Photographer’s Perspective: The wide front porch and streetcar line make for unmistakably Uptown portraits. Inside, the stained glass and dark wood reward patient, available-light shooting.
Lower Garden District · Courtyard with grand fireplace
Photographer’s Perspective: A big courtyard and outdoor fireplace frame evening ceremonies beautifully. We catch late Magazine Street light for portraits before the courtyard turns into a lit dance floor.
Lower Garden District · Creole cottages & reflecting pool
Photographer’s Perspective: Layered textures, peeling plaster and candlelit reflections. Guests drift between rooms and courtyard, so we stay unobtrusive and let the evening unfold naturally.
Lower Garden District · Antebellum mansion & courtyard
Photographer’s Perspective: Period rooms and a courtyard create an intimate, historic setting. Shaded galleries keep portraits and formals cool and soft even on bright afternoons.
Uptown · Audubon Zoo · Garden ballroom
Photographer’s Perspective: Bright rooms and park surroundings. We lean on soft window light for details and use nearby oaks for portraits before guests arrive.
Uptown · Audubon Park · Park clubhouse & lagoon
Photographer’s Perspective: Surrounded by live oaks and lagoon views. Golden hour in the park is unbeatable, so we build a short portrait walk into the timeline.
Uptown · Audubon Park · Ancient live oak
Photographer’s Perspective: Sprawling limbs make a natural cathedral for small ceremonies and portraits. We work the dappled light carefully so it flatters gowns and faces.
Warehouse District · Exposed brick & timber
Photographer’s Perspective: Big industrial windows give lovely directional daylight; after dark, warm brick and string lights make rich, cinematic reception images.
Bywater · Industrial-chic courtyard venue
Photographer’s Perspective: A modern-meets-historic space with outdoor areas. Bywater’s colorful streets nearby give us a fun, quick portrait walk.
Marigny · Former church with soaring ceilings
Photographer’s Perspective: Light through tall windows makes painterly portraits. We anticipate movement in the big room so wide architectural frames and intimate vows both get covered without distraction.
Uptown · Tchoupitoulas · Jazz-hall warehouse
Photographer’s Perspective: Built for music. We light for movement on the dance floor and keep the stage and band in the story of the night.
Bywater · Eclectic, art-filled space
Photographer’s Perspective: Character in every corner. We use the décor and color for portraits and keep coverage loose and documentary to match the vibe.
Algiers Point · Open, modern event space
Photographer’s Perspective: A flexible space that adapts to your plan. We scout ahead for the best window light and a quiet outdoor corner for portraits.
City Park · Neo-classical museum & sculpture garden
Photographer’s Perspective: Grand columns, galleries and the sculpture garden next door give endless portrait options. Museum lighting rules are worked out in advance so nothing slows the day.
City Park · Neo-classical colonnade on the lagoon
Photographer’s Perspective: Stone columns, lagoon reflections and moss-draped oaks. A natural rain plan too, since the columns give cover.
City Park · Botanical Garden · Glass-walled garden pavilion
Photographer’s Perspective: Tall windows open onto the gardens, so daytime light is soft and even. Evening receptions glow from the inside out.
City Park · Formal gardens & fountains
Photographer’s Perspective: Flowers, paths and fountains for ceremonies and portraits. We plan around the sun so the garden stays lush in your photos, not harsh.
Bayou St. John · Creole colonial house on the bayou
Photographer’s Perspective: A historic galleried home right on the water. Bayou St. John at sunset is a gift for couple portraits.
Esplanade Ridge · Historic Creole home & courtyard
Photographer’s Perspective: Historic rooms and a garden courtyard on Esplanade. The tree-lined avenue outside offers easy, beautiful portraits.
New Orleans East · Plantation-style mansion & oaks
Photographer’s Perspective: A grand staircase, ballroom and oak-lined grounds. We use the staircase and the oaks for portraits, then cover the big ballroom with balanced light.
River Road · Antebellum estate & gardens
Photographer’s Perspective: Sprawling gardens, oaks and a historic mansion. Travel time is built into the timeline so we never rush the golden-hour portraits.
Lakefront Airport · Art Deco terminal
Photographer’s Perspective: A restored Art Deco terminal with sweeping lakefront views. Strong lines and big windows reward clean, graphic portraits.
Tell me your date and venue and I’ll check availability and send a custom quote.
