Best places for family photos in New Orleans
Planning family photos in New Orleans? These are the spots worth shortlisting, chosen for the light, the backdrop, and how easily a session comes together.
12 places to shoot family photos & videos in New Orleans
New Orleans City Park
Stone bridges arch low over the lagoons, shallow enough that kids can lean on the rail and point at turtles without anyone tensing up. The paved paths give a stroller and a chasing toddler equal room, and the open lawns keep strangers out of frame.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Jackson Square
The manicured garden inside the square's iron fences gives kids a contained, walkable space with the cathedral rising behind them the whole time. Go early in the morning, since the square's foot traffic turns heavy fast once street performers and vendors set up for the day.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden (NOMA)
Bronze and steel pieces sit spaced far enough apart across the lawns that kids can run between them without anyone posing near the same piece twice. The garden draws a lighter crowd than the rest of City Park, so a group can spread out across the grass without strangers drifting into frame.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
Garden District
Iron fences and wide porches line block after block, giving kids plenty of gate posts and stoops to climb on without wandering onto anyone's actual lawn. The sidewalks stay flat and shaded the whole stretch, so everyone can walk at a toddler's pace without losing the light.
For family photos: space to run without wandering out of frame.
Audubon Park
Kids can run ahead on the lagoon's flat, paved loop while the oak canopy keeps the whole path shaded end to end. Weekday mornings clear the path of joggers, so the group can spread across the lawn without anyone else drifting into the background.
For family photos: somewhere the grandparents can reach and sit comfortably.
Crescent Park
The rusted-steel arch bridge gives kids something to climb through and point at, and the wide promenade above the river leaves plenty of room to run without crowding into the shot. Weekday visits keep the elevated park quiet, since the foot traffic here really only picks up on weekends.
For family photos: a spot that holds a large group without a crowd behind them.
Show all 12 placesShow fewer
Longue Vue House & Gardens
Low terraces and fountains let kids lean over and watch the water without any real hazard, and the estate stays quiet enough on weekdays that a group gets whole sections of garden to itself. Gravel paths wind between eight acres of grounds, plenty of room to spread out.
For family photos: enough going on to keep toddlers cheerful between frames.
Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Open lawns run right up to the water's edge, giving kids room to spread out while the passing steamboats keep them looking toward the river instead of the camera. The riverfront streetcar drops off close by, so the walk in from parking stays short even with little ones in tow.
For family photos: open ground for the classic everyone-together shot.
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Art Deco statuary and fountains give kids plenty to point at and ask about along paved paths built wide enough to walk two abreast. Spring and fall bring the outdoor beds into full bloom, though the conservatory holds color for a visit booked any other time of year.
For family photos: corners for the smaller, quieter groupings.
Marigny & Bywater
Pastel shotgun houses line block after block here, giving kids a rainbow of porches and stoops to sit on between shots without wandering far from a parent. The residential streets stay quiet outside of the late-afternoon light, so the group can work a whole block without much foot traffic to dodge.
For family photos: a setting that suits repeat visits as the family grows.
Magazine Street
Cafes and storefront awnings give shade to duck under between shots, with plenty of places to stop if a kid needs a break from the six-mile corridor. Street parking runs the whole stretch, so there is always a spot close to wherever everyone ends up stopping.
For family photos: forgiving light for a group with mixed heights.
Lake Pontchartrain Lakefront
Wide steps down the seawall give kids somewhere to climb and sit without any real drop-off, and the open sky overhead means nothing to compete with a chasing toddler in frame. Weekdays keep the sand and promenade clear, since the crowds here really build up on weekends.
For family photos: a backdrop that reads as your city, not anywhere.
Book a Snappr photographer in minutes. Vetted, local, and ready to shoot these spots.
Snappr family photos shot in New Orleans
Real sessions our photographers have delivered around New Orleans, so you know the standard before you book.
Still need a photographer?
Snappr photographers are available in New Orleans to shoot at the venue you choose. All vetted, insured, and booked through the same platform.
Pick a date and Snappr matches you with a vetted local photographer, every shoot backed by our quality guarantee.
Shooting family photos in New Orleans
It depends on the spot. Public streets and sidewalks usually don't, while many parks, gardens, and landmarks require a permit for professional sessions. Each location above notes what we found on permits — confirm the current rules and any fee with the venue or city before you book.
Golden hour — the hour after sunrise or before sunset — flatters almost every location, and each spot above lists the light that works best there. Early morning also means thinner crowds at the popular ones.
Snappr pricing is flat and set before you book, with no travel or editing surprises. Most sessions run one to two hours; you can see current rates and what each tier includes on the pricing page.
Pick your date and shoot type and we match you with a vetted local photographer who shoots in New Orleans. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
More places to shoot
Same guide, a different city or milestone. Every page is researched locally.
Get the shoot on the calendar
Thousands of vetted photographers, one booking flow, and every photo delivered to spec. Start in under two minutes.