I saw Maile last fall in Nashville. I actually needed a photographer who would be able to see us on…read moreshort notice as I was only passing through and needed artistic portraits done for my cousin who was on her way to NY to meet with potential agents for her acting career. Maile was gracious and while she was very busy, she agreed to fit us in her schedule and spent 5 hours with us in the VERY LATE evening to accommodate her insane schedule. The portraits turned out beautifully. While she is specialized in wedding photography and my cousin is a natural beauty, she created stunning portraits in a night time style that differs from the norm and thus stood out in a portfolio. Some people are just naturally talented and Maile is one of them. She was professional but made you feel like you were her long lost best friend and time had not skipped a beat. I will need portraits myself shortly, and you bet your sweet tooth I will be making a special trip to Nashville to see her. While I am not sure I will ever agree to get married again, which is an entirely different story, should someone convince me, I would also fly her in to whatever location to immortalize it.

A few years ago, Yelper Vicky L. asked to see my engagement pictures. I joked that my divorce would…read morecome through before my engagement pictures appeared. It turns out that I will actually get gay divorced (thanks, SCOTUS!) before my engagement pictures or a refund for my engagement pictures arrives. You know, the engagement pictures we took in 2008 or so. Yeah, Maile is fun. I'm sure she's a great photographer, but I wouldn't know because I've never actually seen my pictures. First we were told that the disc of pictures was lost in the mail. Then she claimed they were lost to a hard-drive accident (or a memory card accident or something) 6 months after our engagement session in Jackson Square. Did she offer us a refund? Nope. Did we pay in cash, up front? Yep. Did she offer to make it up? Nope. And hey look, now I'm getting a divorce so even an offer to make it right 7 years later would miss the mark like whoa. If you are laying out the cold hard wedding cash, wouldn't you want a photographer who actually delivers? Because Maile doesn't. Didn't. At least I don't need to host a ceremonial burial for my ill-fated engagement pictures...? Whatever. No consolation. Accessibility notes: none.

The photographer was absolutely phenomenal: prompt, personable, and made me feel comfortable…read morethroughout the entire photo shoot. It was a really unique venue that required an eye for lighting, indoor versus outdoor shots, staging, and photographing all the memorabilia, swag, and props. She was hands-down wonderful from that point of view. In addition, her interaction with our guests was extremely professional, and I appreciated that. It was not just professional, it was fun. For this type of audience of physicians and surgeons and executives from med tech, having someone who could really flow with that vibe was extremely valuable. I would absolutely work with them again the next time we hold an event at a venue in New Orleans.

I cannot say enough about how wonderful Jillian was for us. I had a family of 30 come to NOLA for a…read moresurprise birthday and on the evening that we had dinner, Jillian captured everything brilliantly! I would highly recommend Jillian. She is organized, creative, knowledgeable about the area and loves what she does. Thank you Jillian, you helped make our memories!!! xoxo

Katie is true professional and her experience shines throughout the session. She knows just how to…read moreposition her clients to get the perfect photo, all while making silly jokes that are sure to get a smile out of every member of the family. She has a beautiful open studio and spacious outdoor area that can easily accommodate families of all sizes in a variety of settings. Her prices are extremely fair for the quality of her work, and the turnaround time for receiving your photos is super fast! I highly recommend visiting Katie and her assistants if you're interested in beautiful family photos that you will surely treasure forever.

Joan is amazing! She really went above and beyond. I was just going to get a couple headshots for…read moremy work profile and she gave me many extra shots photoshopped in different locations since my budget was small and I couldn't afford for her to take these shots at these locations. I would definitely recommend her for any of your photography needs.

Traven is fantastic! At the last-minute I realized I wanted a professional photographer for a…read moresecond line parade and he was perfect! Responded quickly and professionally to my initial request and provided all the appropriate details right away. On the day of the event, he arrived a few minutes before his scheduled time and jumped right in with his camera. Traven has the perfect laid-back style and friendly personality to get shots of people having fun. I really love his action shots that show the energy and excitement of the day! If I ever need a photographer in New Orleans again, I would not hesitate to call Traven!

It was Gentilly Fest weekend, and baby, I was ready to spend my weekend in the city! The festival…read morewas beautiful -- so many lovely vendors, good food, and live entertainment that had me dancing for a good little while. But listen, once you hit your 40s, them feet start telling you when it's time to sit down! Mine went out on me mid-dance. I was walking around praying somebody would let me borrow a chair. Next thing I know, I looked up and -- hallelujah! -- there was a chair vendor sitting right there like a blessing from above. I said, "Look at God!" I grabbed me a chair so fast, picked up one of those cute little fans, and sat my happy self down. They even had New Orleans-style ones -- and you already know I had to represent because I'm a NOLA girl through and through! Now let me tell you about the people running that booth -- the owner was so kind, so friendly, and full of good energy. You could tell they really love what they do and enjoy helping people. I done ran my mouth with them girls so much, child -- me and them girls are newfound friends now! They made me feel welcome like family. The chairs were $20 if you used a credit card, and you get $10 back when you return them. They're embroidered and super cute too. And yes, baby, you gotta return them people's chairs -- don't play! I loved everything about it. I can't wait for the next festival -- I think the next one is Reggie Fest, and guess what I'll be looking for? Them same lovely folks! They also had earrings, jewelry, perfume, fans -- all the little festival must-haves. So if you see them out there at a fest, go check them out! They'll have you sitting pretty, fanning fabulous, and feeling the good vibes all day long. And when you stop by, let them know Danielle sent you! ‍