An engagement session can be so much more than a few formal poses. This New Orleans engagement session shows all the funny and tender sides of Jeannie and Jacob’s relationship. Throughout it, they trusted me to play with light and document their love in a way that felt creative and true to them. The day culminated in gorgeous sunset engagement photos by the lake.

Playful, Romantic Photos with Jeannie and Jacob

Jeannie and Jacob have such good energy together. They’re playful and affectionate in a way that makes my job as a photographer easier. From our first conversation, they were open to ideas that would show off all these aspects of their relationship.

Starting a session with a fun activity is always a great way to help people settle in. Before taking sunset engagement photos, we met up at Midway Pizza. Jeannie and Jacob had their first date here. We basically had the place to ourselves which made photographing easy. These two love sharing meals. Jeannie’s family actually owns a restaurant on the West Bank. This couple was in their element with a few slices of pepperoni pizza. 

As much as I love the golden sunset engagement photos we took later in the afternoon, photographing in the restaurant gave me a chance to work with very different light. It requires another level of technical abilities to tell a story in such a dark space. I’m grateful that Jeannie and Jacob trusted me to get creative. The photos taken through the restaurant window feel so intimate and tender.

Trust ended up being what made these sunset engagement photos so special. It might sound cliche, but I’ve found that it’s so important to trust the process – and your photographer. I spent about three hours with Jacob and Jeannie from start to finish. We didn’t photograph that whole time, but having an open-ended amount of time allowed for us to take advantage of all sorts of light. I appreciated that they were willing to relax for a few minutes until the sun softened. The sunset engagement photos were worth the wait!

Sunset Engagement Photos by the Lake

When Jeannie and Jacob finished their pizza, they changed outfits. Then we headed to Bonnabel Boat Launch. This sleepy park along Lake Pontchartrain is a perfect place for engagement photos that feel private but still have a touch of Louisiana nature. There’s a walking trail and a boulder-lined shore. The sunsets here are stunning. It really allows for a diverse set of images that aren’t your typical New Orleans portraits.

The first set of outfits Jacob and Jeannie chose for their Sunset engagement photos was more casual. We took advantage to show off more of the playful side of their relationship. They ran along the bank of the lake. Jacob carried Jeannie on his back under the trees. The whole time they laughed and smiled so naturally.

Jeannie describes Jacob’s lightheartedness as one of his qualities that she loves most. He’s easily the funniest person in her life. Despite this, she stressed to me that he’s very authentic, which endears him to the people in his life. 

Jacob is just as in love with every part of Jeannie. She’s strong and independent. Jacob added that since they started dating, she’s grown in admirable ways. She gives her all to everything she does, including their relationship.

While we waited for the sun to sink lower, Jeannie and Jacob changed into their most formal looks. These images are the kind that people usually have in mind when they ask for sunset engagement photos. They’re radiant and romantic with the lake sparkling in the background. As they settled in to sit by the shore, the wind picked up, giving Jeannie’s hair a romantic, windswept look.

Jeannie and Jacob explored along the shore holding hands and taking time to be a little quieter than earlier in the session. I love the image of Jeannie carrying her shoes through the grass. The gold light illuminates the plants and throws whimsical shadows on her white dress. The moment of light and shadow playing together is so beautifully preserved. 

Would you like me to take your New Orleans engagement photos? Reach out to me, and let’s get creative!