Quick Answer
Twirl Photography offers three summer session types in New Orleans: outdoor water sessions for families, women’s headshots in the Garden Studio in Bayou St. John, and Dog Days of Summer studio pet portraits.
If you’ve been assuming that New Orleans summer photography sessions aren’t a thing — that it’s too hot, too humid, or that everyone just waits for fall — I’d like to gently change your mind. After 25 years behind the camera, summer is one of my favorite times to shoot. Summer Sessions: Families, Headshots and Dog Portraits are ready!
Some of my favorite sessions happen in summer. The kids are looser, the light at golden hour is stunning, and honestly — there’s a reason I have a bubble machine in my trunk at all times.
Here’s exactly what I’m offering this summer and how to get on my calendar before fall booking season arrives and takes over everything.
Summer Sessions at a Glance
- Outdoor Water Sessions — Early morning and late afternoon family sessions built around water, movement, and real moments. Pools, bayous, Audubon, and beyond.
- Women’s Headshots New Orleans — Air-conditioned Garden Studio in Bayou St. John, designed specifically for women. Natural light, no stuffy corporate vibes.
- Dog Days of Summer — Studio pet portraits for your four-legged family member. Complimentary session fee for existing Twirl families with a new puppy.
Table of Contents
Summer Water Sessions — For Families Who Want Real
What Makes Summer Family Photos in New Orleans Different
Water changes everything. When kids are splashing, jumping, and chasing bubbles, they completely forget there’s a photographer nearby — which means I get to capture the real stuff. The belly laughs. The mid-air cannonballs. The moment your dog decides he’s absolutely getting on that float.
I schedule New Orleans summer photography sessions in the early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat and catch that gorgeous golden light. Think backyard pools, the Children’s Pond at Audubon, bayou-side locations — anywhere with a little splash and a lot of personality.
These sessions are relaxed, fun, and nothing like the “stand here and smile” experience families dread. Bathing suits, popsicles, and wet hair are not only welcome — they’re encouraged.
Who Summer Sessions Are For
Summer sessions are a great fit if your kids are little and full of energy, if you’ve been wanting photos that actually look like your real life, or if fall always sneaks up on you and you end up scrambling for dates. Book your summer family photos in New Orleans before my fall calendar opens and you’ll have a much easier time finding your ideal weekend slot.
Great New Orleans Locations for Summer Photo Sessions
One of the best things about summer family photos in New Orleans is how many incredible water-friendly spots we have in and around the city. Here are some of my favorites:
Audubon Park — Children’s Fountain
One of my all-time favorite summer spots. The Children’s Fountain at Audubon Park is free, beautiful, and practically made for photography. Kids splash, siblings chase each other through the water, and the light filtering through the oak canopy is stunning in the early morning. It’s genuinely one of the prettiest locations in the city — and it never gets old.
Cool Zoo at Audubon Zoo
For families who want to make a full day of it, Cool Zoo is Audubon Zoo’s water park — a 750-foot lazy river, an alligator water slide, animal-themed soakers, and splash areas for every age. It’s open daily from late May through Labor Day. We can shoot during the morning session before it gets crowded and the kids have worked up a happy, soaking-wet energy that photographs beautifully.
The Batture
One of the newer additions to New Orleans’ outdoor scene and already one of my favorites. The Batture is a 10-acre riverfront space in Uptown — a former industrial yard that’s been transformed into a laid-back public gathering spot right on the Mississippi. This summer they’re launching a Batture Beach Club with water activities for kids, shady spots, and that unmistakable New Orleans river breeze. The open lawn, industrial bones, and sweeping river views make for a backdrop that’s completely unlike anywhere else in the city. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
Fontainebleau State Park — Splash Pad & Beach (Mandeville)
Worth the short drive across the lake. Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville has a sandy beach on Lake Pontchartrain, a splash pad open Tuesday through Sunday, towering oak trees, and a marsh boardwalk that makes for stunning backdrops. It’s one of Louisiana’s most visited state parks and for good reason — the light there at golden hour is extraordinary. Admission is $3 per person.
Your Own Backyard
Don’t underestimate this one. A backyard pool, a sprinkler, or even a water table for the little ones makes for some of the most intimate and personal summer family photos I shoot. There’s something about being in your own space that loosens everyone up — kids included. I’ll bring the bubble machine.
Bayou St. John
For a more relaxed, lifestyle-style session, Bayou St. John is a perennial favorite. Kids can wade in the shallow edges, run along the grassy banks, and explore — all against one of the most distinctively New Orleans backdrops in the city. It photographs beautifully in the late afternoon when the light goes golden and everything slows down.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Worth the hour-long drive. Bay St. Louis is one of those places that New Orleans families have been quietly escaping to for years — white sand beaches, shallow Gulf waters that are perfect for little ones, and a charming downtown with galleries and restaurants to wander after your session. The light on the water there is soft and wide open in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere in the city. If your family is already planning a beach day, we can build a session right around it.
Women’s Headshots in New Orleans — Garden Studio
The Studio Headshot Experience You Didn’t Know You Were Missing — Until Now.
Summer is actually one of the best-kept secrets for getting your professional headshots done. Schedules are slightly looser, come by when the kids are in camp, and there’s no fall rush competing for your attention.
My Garden Studio in Bayou St. John was designed specifically for women’s headshots in New Orleans. It’s air-conditioned (very important in the summer), filled with natural light, and feels nothing like a traditional photo studio. Most clients tell me it feels more like hanging out with a friend than sitting for a portrait — which is exactly the point.
If you’ve been putting off updating your LinkedIn photo, your website headshot, or your professional brand images, summer is the moment. I’d love to help you finally check this off the list.
Who the Garden Studio Is For
Business owners, attorneys, real estate agents, consultants, women’s headshots New Orleans — really anyone who needs a professional image that actually looks like them. Confident, approachable, and authentically you. Not stiff. Not corporate. Check out my guide on How to Feel Comfortable in Front of a Camera for your next headshot.
Dog Days of Summer — Studio Pet Portraits
Because Your Dog Deserves Better Than a Blurry Phone Photo
As a New Orleans pet photographer, I’ve been capturing the four-legged members of Twirl families for years — and this summer I’m making studio dog portraits an official offering. We’re talking proper portraits — good light, your dog’s full personality on display, images you’ll actually want to print and hang.
Studio sessions let me control the environment in a way outdoor sessions don’t, which means we’re not chasing your pup around a park in the August heat. It’s calm, it’s fun, and the results are genuinely beautiful. A great and easy way to create dog portraits that will be proudly displayed in your home for years.
New Puppy? Your Session Fee Is On Me.
If you’ve added a new puppy to your family, I want to celebrate that with you. For existing Twirl Photography families, the session fee for a Dog Days of Summer portrait is complimentary. Puppies don’t stay this tiny for long — trust me on this one as a New Orleans pet photographer.
Ready to Book Your Summer Session? Summer Sessions: Families, headshots and dog portraits
Summer is moving fast and my calendar is filling up. Whether you’re after splashy summer family photos in New Orleans, women’s headshots in the Garden Studio, or portraits of the newest (furry) member of your family — I’d love to make it happen.
Reach out at mail@twirlphotography.com or call 504-388-8739, and let’s find your date before fall takes over.
Isn’t it too hot for outdoor photos in New Orleans summer?
It can be — which is exactly why I schedule New Orleans summer photography sessions in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is golden and the temperature is actually bearable. Most sessions run 45 minutes or less, and water sessions are built around staying cool. Kids splashing in a pool don’t notice the heat at all.
What locations do you use for summer water sessions?
It depends on your family. I work with backyard pools, the Children’s Pond at Audubon Park, bayou-side spots, and other New Orleans locations that work well in summer light. We’ll talk through what makes sense for your family during booking.
Do I need to have a specific setup for a water session?
Not at all. A backyard with a sprinkler works just as well as a pool. I bring a bubble machine, popsicles are encouraged, and bathing suits are the dress code. The goal is for it to feel like a real summer day — because it is.
Where is the Garden Studio located?
The Garden Studio is in Bayou St. John in New Orleans. It’s a private studio space designed specifically for women’s headshots in New Orleans — bright, comfortable, and air-conditioned. Parking is easy and the whole experience is low-key and relaxed.
How is a studio headshot session different from an outdoor session?
Studio sessions give me complete control over the lighting, which means consistently beautiful results regardless of weather or time of day. For professional headshots, studio light tends to be more flattering and polished. The Garden Studio also has a styling area so you can arrive, settle in, and feel ready before we start shooting.
What is the Dog Days of Summer pet portrait offer?
Dog Days of Summer is my studio pet portrait offering — professional portraits of your dog in a calm, controlled environment for about 30 minutes. Your online gallery will be available about 2 weeks after your session where you can purchase prints and digital images. For existing Twirl Photography families who have welcomed a new puppy, the session fee is complimentary. Puppies grow fast. This is my way of helping you capture that. Contact me for pricing.
Do you photograph pets with the whole family?
Absolutely. If you want the kids on the float with the dog — or the whole family in frame — we can make that happen. Just let me know when you reach out.
When should I book a summer session?
As soon as possible. Summer calendars fill up faster than people expect, and fall booking season opens before you know it. If you want a weekend morning slot, especially, don’t wait.
How do I book a summer session with Twirl Photography?
Email me at mail@twirlphotography.com or call 504-388-8739 and we’ll find the right session type and date for you.
Make sure to check out a few more tips and resources:
Why do I Photograph Hands? Telling the Story of Family Connection
And if you are looking for Virginia Beach Summer Photos make sure to check out this post by guest blogger Ashley Brickner.
