Carefree, Chic Garden District Photos to Celebrate an Engagement

When Kristin and Nick told me that they wanted to do Garden District photos for their engagement session, I got excited. A lot of people choose to do their New Orleans engagement photos in the French Quarter. The Quarter is beautiful, but Uptown has a unique charm that lends itself to a chic, relaxed session like this one. Keep reading to get inspired for a Garden District photo session!

A New Orleans Romance for Kristin and Nick

Kristin’s description of her relationship with Nick had me in my feelings. She said, “We love our families, each other, and making each other laugh. When I make Nick laugh I feel like I won a million dollars.” Needless to say, photographing this engagement session was a blast.

Kristin and Nick wanted Garden District photos for their engagement session partly because they live Uptown. They love the life they’ve built there. Nick is from Minnesota and Kristin is from Maine. Their wedding will take place at Kristin’s family home on the coast of Maine, but they wanted to celebrate their engagement in the city they call home.

“Nick and I are best friends,” Kristin said. “He is my happy place and where I feel my most authentic.” These photos give you the sense that when Kristin and Nick are together, they really are true to themselves. That makes my job as a photographer that much more enjoyable, especially because I love unscripted candid images.

New Orleans attracts people who are really passionate about it. Kristin and Nick fit that mold. Kristin told me, “We have been privileged to be able to travel to some cool places together but New Orleans really is our favorite place to be. We feel that if you took our personalities, blended them together, and printed it out as a city that city would be New Orleans.”

Where better to take their engagement photos than the place they feel most at home?

Chic Garden District Photos at La Boulangerie 

Since Kristin and Nick love the food scene in New Orleans, we decided to start these Garden District photos at one of the city’s best bakeries, La Boulangerie. La Boulangerie is a classic French bakery on Magazine Street. Kristin and Nick relaxed with lattes and a flaky croissant. While I snapped photos, I could tell that this was how they spent a lot of time together – laughing over amazing food and watching the world go by.

This part of the engagement session had a European aesthetic. It was partly the sidewalk café and jasmine-covered wall. Kristin and Nick’s chic looks helped, too. In a white dress, strappy sandals, and gold jewelry, Kristin took an especially classic approach to fashion for these Garden District photos.

(Feeling stumped on what to wear for your engagement photos? Check out the tips in this blog post.)

Starting the photo session at the café had the added benefit of giving Kristin and Nick a chance to get used to being in front of the camera. By the time we got up and started walking around the neighborhood, they felt at ease with each other and me.

Preserving Sweet Moments at Creole Creamery

After a walk full of laughs and tender moments, we ended our Garden District photos at Creole Creamery. You’ll be hard pressed to find a New Orleans local who isn’t low-key obsessed with this ice cream shop. Their seasonal flavors draw people from all over town. And how cute is this interior?

This part of the engagement session had a more nostalgic quality. The colorful ice cream shop definitely contributed to that. In a setting like that, who could resist sharing a milkshake with their partner? More ice cream at engagement sessions, please! 

Carefree Engagement Photos on Film

For these Garden District photos, I focused a lot on film photography. I always have my digital camera on hand, but there’s something special about film. Kristin and Nick specifically mentioned that they were excited for film photos, too. In their inquiry, they said, “We are drawn to your use of film, incorporation of color, and general approach to photography.” I think all of that came through in this gallery!

Would you like me to photograph your New Orleans engagement session? Inquire with me! 

*Thank you to La Boulangerie and Creole Creamery for welcoming us for this New Orleans engagement session.