Some engagement sessions start with a location scout. This one started with a love story. When this couple told me they wanted their photos at their favorite restaurant, the place where they had their very first date, I knew we were going to have a good evening.
Arriving the New Orleans way
We started with the streetcar. There is nothing more New Orleans than those green cars rolling under the oaks, and stepping into the doorway together set the tone for the whole session: relaxed, a little playful and completely them. I love when couples bring a sense of place into their photos, because years from now the setting tells the story as much as their smiles do.
Dinner on the balcony
The restaurant sits in a quaint neighborhood with colorful cottages, string lights and crepe myrtles in full bloom. They settled in at a table on the balcony and did what they did on that first date: talked, laughed and enjoyed dinner together. I worked from the street, shooting through the pink blossoms so the flowers framed them like a painting.
My favorite frame is the moment she leaned across the table for a kiss. That is the kind of moment I wait for in every session, and it is why I give couples room during the quiet parts of an evening. Real connection always photographs better than anything I could set up.
A walk through the neighborhood
After dinner we stepped out to the courtyard and the sidewalk out front. The pink tables, blue shutters and blooming crepe myrtles gave us color everywhere we turned. A slow walk hand in hand, a few close portraits by the flowers, and we had the full story from arrival to the walk home.
Why the place matters
After 32 years of photographing couples in New Orleans, I always suggest an engagement location that means something to you. A first-date spot, the bar where you met, the neighborhood where you fell in love. Those places relax you, and the photos become part of your story, not just pretty pictures. They also make beautiful save-the-dates and a meaningful display at the wedding.
If you are planning an engagement session or wedding, take a look at more of my work on my weddings page. I would love to hear where your story began.
Call or text 504-957-8412 to commission GK — gkphotography.com
