Because Everyone Deserves to Be Represented | New Orleans Senior Portrait Photographer
Let me guess. When you hear “senior portraits,” you picture the same thing everyone pictures. Brick wall. Folded arms. A smile that says “I would rather be literally anywhere else right now.” Maybe a cap and gown thrown in for good measure.
And if that’s what you’re picturing, I completely understand why you’d rather skip the whole thing.
But here’s what I want you to know: that’s not what a modern senior portrait should be. Senior portraits for every personality means it will look like you now, not everyone else.
I’ve been photographing seniors in New Orleans for over 25 years, and the sessions I love most — the ones that produce images families hang on their walls and seniors actually want to share — have nothing to do with brick walls or folded arms. They have everything to do with showing up as exactly who you are.
So this one’s for the seniors who think senior portraits aren’t for them.
Table of Contents
First, Let’s Talk About the Part of Photos Everyone Dreads
Nobody walks into a senior portrait session feeling completely comfortable in front of a camera. Nobody. I don’t care how confident you are in real life — the moment a lens points at you, something shifts and suddenly you have no idea what to do with your hands.
I know this. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. So we don’t start with the camera. We start with a conversation.
I’ll walk you through everything — where to stand, how to move, how to hold yourself. I give direction constantly, which means you never have to figure it out on your own. And when something isn’t working, we just try something else. There’s no awkward silence, no “okay just… be natural,” none of that.
By the time we’re twenty minutes in, most seniors have completely forgotten they were nervous. That’s not an accident. That’s the whole plan.
Pick Your Breakfast Club Character
Okay, I’m dating myself a little, but if you know, you know. Think of what follows below as loose archetypes, not boxes. You might be the athlete who’s also got a flair for the dramatic, or the quiet student with a very specific alternative vision. The point isn’t to put you in a category — it’s to show you that whatever you bring to a session, I’ve got you covered for your New Orleans senior photography.
For the Theater Student
You have been performing your entire life. You know how to inhabit a character, command a space, and make people feel something. So why would your senior portraits look like everyone else’s?
They shouldn’t. Let’s be as dramatic as you want to be. Let’s tell a story. Let’s make something that actually looks like you — the you that shows up on stage, the you that lives for that moment in the spotlight. New Orleans gives us incredible backdrops for exactly this kind of session, and I am absolutely here for it.
For Madison, dressing up big for a French Quarter senior photo shoot was the perfect spot to compliment her energetic personality and fun moxie and make unique senior photos.
For the Athlete
You’re most comfortable when you’re moving — on the field, on the court, in the water. Sitting still in front of a camera for an hour sounds like a special kind of torture.
Good news: we don’t have to do it that way. The best senior portraits for athletes happen when we lean into what you actually do. Bring your gear. Bring your jersey. Let’s capture the person who shows up every single day and puts in the work — because that’s a portrait worth having.
For Isa’s graduate photos in New Orleans, we used a beautiful pool setting to highlight her years of competitive swimming at Willow High School. This was a fun and carefree session both in and out of this private pool.
For the Quiet Student
Not everyone wants dramatic. Not everyone wants to perform. Some of my favorite sessions have been with seniors who walked in a little nervous and just wanted something real — something understated and genuine that actually looked like them.
That’s not a problem. That’s actually my favorite thing to photograph. Quiet confidence photographs beautifully, and I promise you don’t have to be “on” to have a great session.
For Cricket, meeting at sunset at the Children’s Fountain at the former entrance to the Audubon Zoo was a great place to sit, talk and walk around a little for her senior portrait session in New Orleans. Adding in her dog was a great way to break the ice.
For the Free Spirit Student
You have a vision. You always have. And you’re tired of people trying to talk you out of it or water it down into something more “classic.”
I’m not going to do that. If you want dark and moody, let’s do dark and moody. If you have a specific aesthetic in mind, bring it. If you’ve been collecting inspo photos for six months, show me every single one. The whole point of a senior portrait is that it looks like you — and if your “you” doesn’t fit the mold, even better. For Caitlin (above), a Ben Franklin High School grad, leaning into the incredible light of the late afternoon, the textures and colors of the Bywater and her unique style lended to an authentic portrait of this New Orleans senior.
And for Madeline, her distinct retro style and creativity was a joy to photograph. We stayed in the Bywater (her high school’s neighborhood, go NOCCA grad!) to celebrate her uniqueness.
For the Senior Who is Mostly There for Mom
Okay, this one is going out to mostly the boys. This is a strength in character for these high school graduates who love their mom and are willing to step outside their comfort zone to make her happy.
Genuinely, this is awesome. You don’t need to show up with a Pinterest board or a detailed vision. You just need to show up.
Figuring out what works for someone is kind of my whole thing. We’ll talk, we’ll move around, we’ll try a few things — and before long you’ll forget you’re being photographed at all. That’s usually when the best images happen. And dogs are always welcome to join in! For Christian (an Isidore Newman senior), above, that was a walk at sunset at the Batture along the Mississippi River.
For the LGBTQ+ Senior
You are so welcome here. Fully, completely, without reservation.
Your session should reflect who you are — how you dress, how you present, who you love, what makes you feel most like yourself. I want to photograph you, not a version of you that’s been edited down for someone else’s comfort. These are your senior portraits, and they should make you feel seen.
What a Senior Portrait Session in New Orleans Actually Looks Like
We’ll spend time at locations that mean something — or look incredible, or both. New Orleans is genuinely one of the most photogenic cities in the country for unique senior photos, whether you want lush gardens, historic architecture, colorful streets, or something completely unexpected. As your New Orleans senior portrait photographer, I know spots most people never access.
We’ll move around. We’ll talk. I’ll give you direction when you need it and back off when you don’t. And at the end of it, you’ll have images that look like you on your best day — not a stranger in a cap and gown. For Saura (an Isidore Newman senior) just taking a walk around her uptown neighborhood lended to amazing backdrops. And we got to sneak her pets in one or two.
Senior Portraits for Every Personality | One More Thing
Senior year is genuinely one of those moments that deserves to be documented well. I know that sounds like something a photographer would say, but I’m also someone who has watched enough families flip through senior portrait galleries with tears in their eyes to know that these images matter more than anyone expects them to.
You don’t have to love having your photo taken. You just have to show up. I’ll handle the rest.
Senior year happens once. Let’s make it look like you.
How to Book a Senior Portrait Session in New Orleans
Booking is simple — reach out by email or phone, we’ll talk through your vision, pick your location, and get you on the calendar. Or check out more information on my senior page and fill out the form at the bottom. A booking fee reserves your date and time, and your finished gallery will be delivered within two weeks of your session. Sessions book fast, especially in spring and fall, so don’t sit on it too long.
Email me at mail@twirlphotography.com and let’s figure out what your senior portrait session in New Orleans looks like.
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