Did you know that there is way more to the beauty of New Orleans than the historic charm of the French Quarter or the stately Oak trees? While both have their place and are clear statement pieces for New Orleans, in my opinion, one of the most underrated spots for engagement photos is along the lakefront of Lake Pontchartrain.
First, did you know that Lake Pontchartrain isn’t a lake by proper definition!? It’s actually an estuary, which is an enclosed body of water that has both rivers flowing into it and has a connection point to the sea. This means that Lake Pontchartrain is actually a body of brackish water – or, water that is both a mix of salt and freshwater. The more you know!
Lake Pontchartrain also is home to the worlds’ longest continuous bridge over water, spanning 24 miles! And while the Northshore is home to some known beautiful spots for photos, there are also some equally as beautiful spots on the Southshore.
Personally, out of all the environments that I shoot in, shooting on or close to the water is my favorite. And while many people travel to New Orleans to experience the historic charm of the French Quarter or the immense beauty of the Garden District, being on the Lakefront is one of the best kept secrets of this city! It is usually peaceful and calm on the lakefront (that is, unless a storm is rolling in!), and it’s a perfect location to get intimate images that highlight quiet moments together. These are the moments that I love to capture, especially during an engagement session.
I really love to do engagement photos somewhere on the Lakefront for couples who are local to New Orleans that want to capture the beauty of our area, without having traditional looking New Orleans photos. This fit Penny and Jared perfectly. They are both New Orleans locals, and while they love this city, they wanted something a bit different than the standard photos with the French Quarter in the background, while still highlighting the beauty of this region!
I met up with Penny + Jared at a boat launch park just outside of New Orleans city limits. The day could not have been more ideal for photos – low 70s, beautiful sunlight, and even the wind was in full appearance this day.
Both Penny + Jared have this natural vintage-inspired look to them, which was the inspiration of this Lake Pontchartrain engagement session. The warmth of the sunlight infused with the cool colors of the surrounding water lended itself beautifully for vintage looking images. I love the way the blues and yellows interacted this evening, and it made for some stunning Polaroid portraits of them as well!
Non-Traditional New Orleans Engagement Photos
Photographing Penny and Jared together in this location could not have been more perfect. Together, while their energy is palpable, it also is steadfast which I felt really was able to be seen at this location. Because this spot on the Lakefront isn’t loud like Bourbon Street (there was, however, a pretty loud ice cream truck here this day!) or full of a lot of tourists, it an ideal spot to take your engagement photos if you are looking for intimate photos together in New Orleans.
Lastly, not only is this spot beautiful when the sun is setting, “blue hour,” or, the hour right after the sun sets, is absolutely stunning here on the Lakefront in New Orleans! This was the perfect way to end our time together.
There are so many unique and untraditional spots to take your engagement photos in New Orleans that are not in the Quarter. Want to see another unique location for engagement photos in New Orleans? Check out this blog from Hannah + Megan’s engagement session in their New Orleans home!
