Find the Best Photographers in New Orleans

Autumn Hutton Photography specializes in documentary-style birth, maternity, and newborn lifestyle photography for families throughout the greater New Orleans area. Autumn holds certification from Birth Becomes You and accreditation from the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, credentials that reflect specialized training in the fast-moving, unpredictable environment of birth and newborn photography beyond standard portrait work. In 2025, Autumn was named runner-up for Best Family Photographer by Nola Magazine, recognition that speaks to the studio’s growing reputation in the local photography community. Rather than bringing families into a studio, Autumn Hutton Photography favors calm, in-home newborn sessions, describing the approach as bringing ‘a calm, grounded energy’ into a family’s space rather than asking a days-old baby to travel. That philosophy extends to birth photography as well, where Autumn documents labor and delivery for families who want the earliest possible moments of their newborn’s life preserved. The studio serves the greater New Orleans area and surrounding parishes within roughly a 90-minute drive, making it accessible to a wide swath of Southeast Louisiana families. For parents interested in documentary-style, in-home newborn photography from a certified birth photography specialist rather than a traditional studio setup, Autumn Hutton Photography offers a distinct, credentialed option. Inquiries can be made through the contact form at autumnhutton.com. 

Dawn Roe Photography operates a dedicated newborn and family portrait studio in Metairie, offering New Orleans-area families a full-service space designed specifically around the needs of photographing very young babies. As an award-winning newborn, baby, and family photographer, Dawn has built a studio practice around stress-free sessions, with controlled lighting and temperature to keep newborns comfortable and settled throughout the appointment. The studio, located at 7005 Magnolia Ct in Metairie, offers both in-studio sessions and on-location work throughout the greater New Orleans area for families who prefer to be photographed at home. Dawn Roe Photography’s newborn galleries emphasize soft, classic posing and detail shots, the kind of imagery built to be printed and passed down rather than shared once and forgotten. The studio actively promotes seasonal newborn and holiday booking windows, reflecting a steady, ongoing client base throughout the year. For parents specifically seeking a studio built around newborn photography rather than a general portrait business that occasionally photographs babies, Dawn Roe Photography’s dedicated Metairie space is a purpose-built option. Prospective clients can reach the studio by email at [email protected] to check current session availability and pricing. 

Amy Milam Photography has spent a decade building a full-service newborn photography studio in Metairie, just outside New Orleans. Established in 2016, the studio has become known locally as run by ‘the baby whisperer,’ a nickname clients gave Amy for her particular gift at soothing and settling newborns during sessions — an essential skill given how much of successful newborn photography depends on a calm, sleeping baby. The Metairie studio offers dedicated newborn sessions alongside maternity, milestone, and family photography, giving parents the option to book a single photographer across a baby’s first year. Amy Milam Photography’s newborn packages include both studio and outdoor session options, with pricing structured to fit a range of budgets. Over ten years in business, the studio has photographed a substantial number of New Orleans-area newborns, developing a practiced, efficient approach to posing and lighting that minimizes time spent handling a sleeping baby. The studio’s online storefront also makes it easy for clients to review session details and pricing before booking. For Metairie and New Orleans families who want a specialist known specifically for her calm touch with newborns, Amy Milam Photography’s decade of focused experience is a strong recommendation. Sessions can be booked by calling (504) 756-3030. 

Melinda Gilmore Photography brings more than 15 years of specialized maternity and newborn photography experience to families across South Louisiana, including New Orleans. While the studio is based in Morgan City, Melinda regularly works with clients throughout the greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette areas, making the drive worthwhile for families seeking a photographer with deep, focused newborn experience rather than a generalist portrait photographer. Melinda is affiliated with Professional Photographers of America and NewbornPhotography.com, professional networks that reflect ongoing training in the safety and posing techniques specific to working with babies just days old. The studio has been recognized as one of Louisiana’s best photo studios, a reputation built over a decade and a half of newborn and maternity sessions. Melinda Gilmore Photography’s approach favors soft, classic newborn imagery — swaddled poses, macro detail shots, and gentle family portraits worked into the same session — designed to be printed and displayed for years to come. For New Orleans families willing to travel for a photographer with specialized newborn training and 15-plus years of focused experience, Melinda Gilmore Photography is a well-regarded regional option. Prospective clients can reach the studio by email through melindagilmore.com to check current availability. 

Twirl Photography has been photographing New Orleans families since 2010, giving the studio 16 years of hands-on experience with newborn and lifestyle family portraiture. Rather than bringing families into a studio, Twirl specializes in candid, genuine lifestyle sessions captured in the comfort of a client’s own home — an approach especially well suited to newborns, who tend to settle more easily in familiar surroundings than in an unfamiliar studio setup. That in-home, documentary-style method results in images that read as authentic moments rather than posed portraits, capturing the real texture of a family’s first days with a new baby, from tiny fingers and toes to older siblings meeting the newest addition. Over a decade and a half in business, Twirl Photography has refined a relaxed, low-pressure session style built around the baby’s natural rhythms rather than a rigid shot list. The studio serves families throughout greater New Orleans, bringing full lighting and camera equipment directly to clients’ homes for the newborn session. For parents who want genuine, unposed newborn images rather than a formal studio look — and who would rather not pack up a days-old baby for a studio visit — Twirl Photography’s long-running, home-based lifestyle approach is a strong fit. Sessions can be booked by calling 504-388-8739. 

For nearly 30 years, Milestone Portrait Art & Design has been photographing newborns and growing families from its studio in Kenner, just minutes from New Orleans. The studio is led by Melanie Langteau, a Certified Professional Photographer whose three decades in the business have made Milestone one of the most established portrait studios serving the greater New Orleans area. That longevity translates directly into newborn session experience — few studios in the region can point to as many years of hands-on work safely posing and photographing babies in their first days and weeks. Milestone operates by appointment only, allowing sessions to be paced around each newborn’s feeding and sleep schedule rather than rushed through a fixed time slot. The studio’s newborn portfolio reflects a classic, art-driven portrait style, consistent with its name — treating each session as a milestone worth documenting with the same care as a fine art piece rather than a quick snapshot. Families across Kenner, Metairie, and New Orleans proper have relied on Milestone for newborn, maternity, children’s, and family portraits, often returning across multiple life stages with the same trusted studio. For parents who value working with a veteran, certified professional rather than a newer studio still building its portfolio, Milestone Portrait Art & Design’s near-30-year history is a significant differentiator. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 504-338-3299. 

With more than 20 years of experience photographing newborns, Annie Whitaker Photography has become one of the most recognized names in Louisiana baby photography. Based in Covington and serving families throughout greater New Orleans and the North Shore, Annie was named Best Newborn Photographer in Louisiana in 2018 by Bored Panda, an accolade that reflects two decades of specialized, hands-on newborn work. That depth of experience shows in the studio’s confident handling of the delicate posing and safety considerations unique to photographing babies just days or weeks old. Annie Whitaker Photography has built a 5.0-star reputation across 26 client reviews, with families consistently highlighting the calm, unhurried atmosphere of sessions and the heirloom quality of the finished portraits. The studio’s approach favors timeless, classic newborn imagery designed to be printed, framed, and displayed for generations rather than images built around fleeting trends. Beyond newborn sessions, the studio also offers children’s and family photography, giving clients the option to continue working with the same photographer as their family grows. For New Orleans-area parents who want a highly experienced, award-recognized newborn specialist rather than a general portrait photographer, Annie Whitaker Photography’s two-decade track record is hard to match. Sessions can be scheduled by phone at (985) 966-7251. 

Photography by Erika Parker brings a distinctive fine-art, film-based approach to newborn photography in New Orleans. Rather than relying purely on digital post-production, Erika shoots much of her newborn work on film, giving each session a soft, timeless quality that sets her portfolio apart from more heavily edited digital studios. Serving families across greater New Orleans, the studio’s newborn offering sits alongside baby and maternity photography, so clients can work with the same photographer across pregnancy, birth, and a baby’s earliest weeks. Clients have rated the studio 5.0 stars across 33 reviews, citing both the quality of the finished images and Erika’s calm, unobtrusive presence during sessions with newborns. The film-forward style is especially popular with families who want portraits with a classic, editorial feel rather than the brighter, high-key look common in many newborn studios. Session guidance on the studio’s website — including recommendations on wardrobe colors and pacing — reflects an experienced, detail-oriented approach to working with very young babies. For New Orleans parents drawn to fine-art, film photography rather than a standard studio package, Photography by Erika Parker offers a genuinely different aesthetic backed by strong, consistent client reviews. 

Based in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans, AmyCherie Photography has built a loyal local following for newborn portraiture that blends soft natural light with thoughtfully arranged studio setups. The studio maintains a dedicated newborn photography service alongside its well-known maternity work, giving growing families a single trusted photographer to document the journey from bump to baby. AmyCherie Photography has earned a 5.0-star rating across 41 client reviews, a track record that speaks to the studio’s gentle, patient approach with newborns during those delicate first days and weeks. Sessions are tailored around each baby’s schedule and comfort, with an emphasis on soft, timeless imagery rather than trend-driven setups — the kind of photographs that hold up in a family’s home for decades. Serving the greater New Orleans area from its Mid-City base, the studio works with local families who want an experienced, highly-rated photographer close to home rather than driving across the metro for a session. From swaddled close-ups to sibling and parent portraits worked into the same appointment, AmyCherie Photography structures its newborn sessions to capture the full scope of a family’s earliest days together. Prospective clients can reach the studio directly by phone or through its website to check availability for a newborn session. 

Jillian Marie Photography has been a fixture of the New Orleans photography scene since 2011, building a reputation over more than a decade for warm, natural imagery that families treasure for a lifetime. As a full-service studio, Jillian Marie Photography offers both lifestyle and posed newborn sessions, giving new parents the flexibility to choose an approach that fits their family’s personality — whether that’s candid at-home moments or classically composed studio portraits. With a 5.0-star rating built on 81 client reviews, the studio has earned trust across the greater New Orleans area for its attentive, patient work with the tiniest clients. Newborn sessions are handled with an unhurried pace that prioritizes the baby’s comfort and safety, while still delivering the kind of polished, gallery-ready images parents want to display and pass down. Beyond newborns, the team’s broader experience in family, maternity, and milestone photography means every session benefits from years of hands-on expertise directing real people, not just babies, in front of the camera. For New Orleans families searching for a newborn photographer who combines longevity, consistently high reviews, and a flexible style menu, Jillian Marie Photography stands out as one of the city’s most established options. Sessions can be booked directly through the studio’s website, jmpnola.com, or by phone. 

Elizabeth and Daryl have run 1216 Studio as a husband-and-wife team for fourteen years, attending every wedding together rather than splitting coverage between separate photographers, a structure that has let them build a shared visual language across more than 700 New Orleans weddings. Their portfolio spans the city’s classic ceremony backdrops, from St. Louis Cathedral and French Quarter balconies to garden ceremonies and modern industrial venues, reflecting just how varied New Orleans weddings can be from one weekend to the next. The studio frames its own mission around a simple idea: a wedding is the beginning of a couple’s life together, not just a single afternoon, and that perspective shows in galleries that balance formal portraiture with the sparkler exits, cultural traditions, and candid reception moments that make each wedding feel specific to the couple who had it. Both The Knot and WeddingWire have recognized 1216 Studio with vendor awards, a reflection of consistent five-star reviews across their fourteen years in business. Clients frequently mention feeling like they got a team’s undivided attention throughout the day, since Elizabeth and Daryl work as a unit rather than dividing responsibilities between an unfamiliar second shooter. For couples who want the same two photographers present from getting-ready shots through the last dance, 1216 Studio has built its reputation specifically around that continuity. 

Traven Stout runs Gris Gris Photography as a native New Orleanian shooting weddings across the city he grew up in, and that local familiarity shows in a portfolio built around the city’s most distinctive venues, including the Pharmacy Museum, Napoleon House, Music Box Village, Compass Point Events, and Peter + Paul. Stout’s style leans candid and photojournalistic, deliberately avoiding overly complex, forced posing in favor of letting couples’ real personalities and energy carry the images, a philosophy he sums up simply: the more fun the couple is having, the more fun he has shooting it. Reviewers consistently describe him as punctual, communicative, and organized ahead of the wedding day, with several specifically praising the planning templates and sunset-timed shot lists he provides in advance to help couples map out their timeline. On the day itself, clients note his unobtrusive presence during the ceremony paired with efficient, low-stress direction when it’s time for formal portraits, a combination that keeps the schedule on track without making anyone feel micromanaged. Beyond the technical skill, Stout is repeatedly credited with reading a couple’s style and vision accurately from the first conversation, translating those early planning discussions into a final gallery that actually looks like what the couple pictured. For couples drawn to New Orleans’ offbeat, atmospheric venues rather than traditional ballrooms, Gris Gris Photography has built a loyal following specifically around that niche. 

WeddingLens operates as a boutique photo-and-video studio out of a Magazine Street storefront in New Orleans, built around a team, including photographers and editors like Pat, Camille, and Chris, that together brings more than fifty combined years of wedding photography and videography experience to every booking. Rather than a single photographer’s individual style, couples are working with an established studio system, which shows up in reviews praising fast, consistent turnaround on finished galleries and edited films even during the busiest parts of wedding season. The studio’s coverage area stretches well beyond the French Quarter, serving southern Louisiana broadly along with trips out to Baton Rouge and even Houston, Texas, for couples who want the same team for a destination wedding. WeddingLens positions itself around accessibility as much as polish, offering package tiers designed to fit a range of budgets rather than a single premium-only offering, and reviewers specifically mention appreciating the free quote process and clear pricing conversations before booking. Clients describe the team as friendly and easygoing on the wedding day itself, which couples say translates into more relaxed, natural-looking photos rather than stiff, camera-aware portraits. For couples who want both photography and videography handled under one studio roof with a track record of fast, reliable delivery, WeddingLens has become one of the most consistently booked options in the New Orleans market. 

Robert Welch has run his family-owned photography and video business for more than two decades, covering weddings throughout Covington, the North Shore, and into New Orleans proper. The studio’s documentary approach centers on staying out of the way during the ceremony and reception while still delivering the posed formal portraits families expect, a balance Welch and his team have refined over twenty-plus years combined experience as wedding professionals. Clients highlight the studio’s efficiency with group portraits in particular, noting that formals move quickly without feeling rushed, which leaves more time for candid coverage of the reception itself. Welch Photography & Video offers both digital and traditional film photography options, a somewhat unusual combination among current New Orleans-area studios, giving couples who want a specific vintage film aesthetic a real option rather than a digital filter approximation. The team has photographed weddings across a wide range of cultural and religious traditions, and reviewers frequently point to their sensitivity in adapting to different ceremony customs and family dynamics. Serving southeastern Louisiana broadly, from the Mississippi Gulf Coast through Baton Rouge and into greater New Orleans, the studio has built its client base primarily through word of mouth over two decades in business, a track record that keeps them consistently booked well ahead of peak wedding season. 

Très Bien Photo and Video pairs two specialists under one roof: Amy leads photography while Brian heads up videography, letting New Orleans couples book a matched photo-and-film team instead of coordinating two separate vendors. Based in Metairie and working throughout the New Orleans area, the studio has amassed an unusually large body of work, with over 786,000 wedding photographs taken and more than 1,700 hours of finished video produced across their career. That volume shows up in client reviews describing the pair as a dynamic duo who move through a wedding day’s logistics without cutting into reception time, a detail multiple couples specifically called out as a relief compared to other vendors they had used before. The studio has picked up recognition through WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice Awards and coverage on vendor platforms like Expertise.com and Borrowed & Blue, reinforcing a reputation built primarily on repeat referrals from past clients. Très Bien offers full wedding photography and videography packages along with engagement sessions, bridal portraits, and coverage for smaller, intimate weddings, and the team frames their goal less around pretty pictures and more around creating family heirlooms, images and footage a couple’s grandchildren might eventually watch. Couples looking for a single studio that can deliver both a photo album and a wedding film tend to gravitate toward this pairing specifically. 

Nichole Cannatella founded Belle Amour Photography in 2005, and over the past twenty years has grown it into a four-photographer studio that has covered more than 800 weddings around greater New Orleans. Her team includes Wendy, who joined in 2006, Mike, who came aboard in 2007, and Katy, who has been shooting with the studio since 2010, meaning most couples are working with photographers who have a decade or more of combined tenure at the studio itself. Belle Amour describes its style as a mix of light-hearted, upbeat energy paired with a range of photographic approaches, letting each couple’s gallery feel personal rather than templated. The studio has been named a Hall of Fame Vendor by The Knot and won Best of Weddings honors for 2013 through 2015 and again every year from 2017 through 2024, an unusually long streak of recognition that reflects consistency across two decades of bookings. Their work has also been featured in People Magazine. Based on the North Shore in Mandeville, the team regularly travels into New Orleans proper for ceremonies and receptions, and beyond weddings they also shoot boudoir, senior, maternity, and family sessions, giving couples an easy path to book them again for future milestones. 

Matthew Foster founded his New Orleans wedding photography business in 2005, and over the two decades since has built a style he sums up in three words: authentic, joyful, fun. Rather than directing couples through a rigid shot list, Foster and his associate photographer Liz aim to blend into the background of the day, catching real laughter and natural movement instead of staged smiles. That philosophy carries through the studio’s editorial-leaning aesthetic, which favors genuine interaction over formal posing while still delivering the classic portraits couples expect from their wedding album. Clients repeatedly describe feeling instantly at ease around the team, with some multi-generational families having booked Foster for more than one wedding over the years, a track record that speaks to the trust he has built in the local wedding community. Wedding packages start at $5,000, and couples typically receive their finished, high-resolution galleries within three to four weeks of the big day, a turnaround time reviewers frequently praise. Foster’s studio also offers standalone portrait and engagement sessions for couples who want to build rapport with him before the wedding itself. With more than two decades photographing ceremonies and receptions across the city, from Garden District mansions to French Quarter courtyards, Foster has developed a deep familiarity with the venues and light conditions that make New Orleans weddings unique. 

Michael Caswell has been photographing weddings around New Orleans since 2005, building a portfolio of well over 800 ceremonies across southeast Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Based in Slidell, he works the wider metro area routinely, from Uptown garden ceremonies to French Quarter receptions, and describes his own approach as that of a craftsman who treats every wedding as a fresh opportunity rather than a repeatable formula. That mindset comes through in reviews, which describe him as unobtrusive during the ceremony itself but efficient and confident when it comes time to organize formal portraits, a balance that keeps the day moving without sacrificing image quality. His documentary style favors real interaction over stiff posing, and clients frequently mention his transparency about pricing and clear communication throughout the planning process as reasons they chose him over other options. Caswell has been recognized as a Best of The Knot Weddings Hall of Fame photographer, an award reserved for vendors with a sustained track record of five-star service over multiple years, and he continues to book out well in advance for peak wedding season. Beyond weddings, he also shoots elopements, vow renewals, proposals, and family portraits, giving repeat clients a reason to come back to him for milestones well beyond the wedding day itself. 

Brocato Photography Collective has built its reputation the slow way: eighteen years and more than 900 weddings, most of them in and around New Orleans. Describing itself as a boutique wedding photography experience, the collective is built around a small team who work weddings together rather than sending out a single photographer to cover everything alone, which shows up in client reviews that specifically call out how well the team members read a room and hand off coverage between the ceremony, the second line, and the reception without missing a beat. Reviewers have singled out the team’s ability to know every shot to get and where to be to get the best ones, a skill that only develops after hundreds of New Orleans weddings, each with its own mix of historic venues, brass bands, and unpredictable Louisiana weather. The collective’s approach favors organized, communicative planning ahead of the wedding day itself, with couples repeatedly praising how comfortable and at ease they were made to feel in front of the camera, even those who described themselves as camera-shy going in. With nearly two decades in business, Brocato has photographed enough New Orleans weddings to have institutional knowledge of the city’s top venues, from Uptown mansions to French Quarter courtyards, and that experience is a big part of what keeps couples referring friends their way. 

New Orleans has no shortage of wedding photographers, but Josh Williams has been doing it since 2006, long enough to have photographed the same families’ engagements, weddings, and eventually their children’s milestones. His approach leans photojournalistic: rather than staging couples through a checklist of poses, he follows the day as it unfolds, catching the moment a father sees his daughter in her dress or a second-line parade breaking into full swing outside the reception hall. Alongside full wedding coverage, Josh offers engagement sessions and boudoir portraits, giving couples a way to build a relationship with him well before the wedding day itself. His portfolio favors natural light and unposed movement over heavily directed shots, an approach that reads as effortless in the final gallery but comes from two decades of learning how a New Orleans wedding actually moves, from a Garden District ceremony to a French Quarter second line. Clients consistently point to his easygoing presence on the day itself; he blends into the celebration rather than commanding it, which couples describe as making the whole day feel less like a photo shoot and more like a party that happened to be documented beautifully. For couples planning a wedding anywhere in the greater New Orleans area, his combination of tenure, style, and warmth has kept him consistently booked for nearly two decades.