Hey friend! If you’re a milspouse moving your photography business to NAS JRB New Orleans or USCG Base New Orleans/D8, Jen Wolfe Photography has so much to share with you! This New Orleans, LA Photography Spotlight is filled with beautiful locations and helpful tips to make sure you get started on the right foot. I hope you enjoy it!

What are your top three favorite locations for sessions? Briefly share about each.

Audubon Park

Audubon Park has beautiful oaks with Spanish moss in the heart of the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans. The park is large so you can either set up on the St. Charles Ave side or the Magazine St side. St. Charles side offers better background and secondary light for sunset. You can even grab a portrait with the St. Charles street car that passes by. This side requires street parking along St. Charles or Walnut.

The Magazine St side offers easier parking in the parking lot at the Audubon Park Golf Club. There is a white marble bandstand, a small lake/pond and of course, oaks. Angles can be tricky with the parking lot/cars unless you’re shooting at sunset.

You can also cross Magazine to the Audubon Zoo part of the park and shoot at what locals call the “Tree of Life.” There’s parking on East Dr. A note about New Orleans parks: they are ALWAYS busy with running college kids and families. This particular park butts up against Tulane University, which you can walk around too! Also – because New Orleans is below sea level, this park (and pretty much every park) floods wildly after rain.

Gretna Park

This is a hidden gem on the West Bank full of wildflowers. There are light colored mulch trails that work well for photos, as well as fields of wildflowers around the pond. Both the Mason Street and Clare Ave entrances have their own parking spots. (Use Mason Street for sunset and Clare Ave for sunrise.) This park is really quiet, not nearly as busy as East Bank New Orleans parks.

Historic Algiers Point

If you’re looking for the charm and architecture of the French Quarter without the hustle and bustle of tourists, this is it! Sometimes families want that urban look or the traditional French architecture but bringing little kids into the Quarter is not a great option. Algiers Point is a quick 3 minute/$2 ferry across the river. It is still located in the city of New Orleans, just quieter.

There’s a ton of great walls, stoops, fences and shotgun houses to get photos with. It is surrounded by the Mississippi River Levee along the mighty Mississippi. At sunset, you can grab photos with the skyline and Crescent City Connection bridge along the batture (grass area on river side of levee). Opelousas Ave is also worth checking out for its mossy covered oaks – gorgeous for wide shots. Parking is all street parking, but simple to find.

Are there any particularly busy seasons for photographers in this area? Any events an incoming photographer should know about?

Spring (Feb-May) & Fall (Oct-Dec) are busy, but summer is dead because of the HEAT!

There are also always events. Too many to name and parades for EVERYTHING! Honestly, they are less opportunities for photos and more a hindrance. Be prepared for things to slow down during Mardi Gras. Tourists will love Mardi Gras themed shoots but locals, not as much. The parades/festivals are a draw for tourists and locals alike, but will affect the ability to book and use parks.

Example: City Park is a no-go during Jazz Fest (April-May), French Quarter is a no-go during FQ Fest (April) and during Carnival/Mardi Gras season, (begins January 6 – goes through February, sometimes early-mid March) you want to be mindful of parade schedules because they will affect your ability to to access pretty much anything on the East Bank of New Orleans.

What should an incoming photographer know about permits in this area?

Permits are based on park. You do not need a permit for Gretna or Algiers Point, but you do for Audubon Park.

Other popular parks where permits are required include City Park and Jackson Square in French Quarter.

What is the biggest piece of advice you’d give to an incoming photographer?

Market yourself. Do not be afraid to use social media. Even if you’re new – this is an amazing place to start your business. People in this area love their photos. It’s wild how busy you’ll get, so if you’re not busy yet, keep marketing yourself and wait for a busy season!

Also, always have bug spray. The mosquitoes are rough. And ALWAYS scour your locations for fire ants before shooting!

Where can other milspouse photographers connect with you?

Website: www.jenwolfephotography.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenwolfephoto

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Are you a milspouse photographer interested in contributing? I’d love to have your insight! Please send me an email at erin@erinthompsonphoto.com and I’ll be in touch with the details!

If you enjoyed this New Orleans, LA photography spotlight, be sure to check out other featured location guides and tips for moving your business!