If you are new around here, you may not know how or why I started my photography business. Our little family moved to Morgan City in May 2007 from Washington, DC. I knew nothing of the area other than it was the place we stopped for gas on the way to Lafayette when we were evacuating for Katrina. I had never lived in a small town before and here I was, a new mom in a new town with no friends and nothing to do. I had gotten a brand new DSLR when we lived in DC and I spent a lot of time on various photography forums, trying to learn how to be a photographer. At this point, I followed my 18-month-old around taking photos of every little thing he did.
Sometime over the summer, I met a friend with 2 boys who were around Hayden’s age and we began hanging out often. It gave me 2 new subjects to photograph, so we would arrange playdates and I’d run around after all 3 boys taking photos. We spent a lot of those days either at Lake End Park or Brownell Tower. In the fall of 2007, she began encouraging me to start taking clients. At the time, there were only a small handful of photographers in the area and no one was really doing what was trendy at the time. The one photographer that everyone went to was really old school, still doing mostly studio work and I guess people were ready for something different. That fall is when I first started doing my fall mini sessions and, if I remember correctly, every session was at Lake End Park or Brownell Tower. But I hated shooting in Lake End Park. Not only was it a location that everyone in Morgan City had already used for portraits, but I was never happy with how my photos came out there. Looking back now, I can admit that I just didn’t know what I was doing. Although it seems like it would be an easy place for photos, with tons of shade and trees, it is actually a pretty challenging location. Because of this, I started looking for unique locations all over the area. I began doing sessions downtown on Front Street and especially loved to use all the little side areas that most people wouldn’t think to use. I would drive around and find other areas to use – old gas stations, tucked away alleys, overgrown train tracks (do not do this, it’s actually illegal) – any place I could think of that other people may not use.
Ironically, 15 years later and living in a different city, I LOVE going back to Morgan City to use Lake End Park for sessions! Now that I know how to utilize the beauty of that location and especially since the little beach is so unique to this area, it’s one of my favorite places to shoot. I’ve done several sessions there recently and have loved how each of them has turned out! Brandi and Rudy’s engagement session was no exception!
Despite a lot of wind, that was a bit difficult to navigate, I just love how these turned out. And their outfits couldn’t have been more perfect – look how beautiful Brandi looks in her flowy pink skirt! I had the best afternoon hanging out with them, and getting to know them. I’ve known Brandi for years now and photographed her sister’s wedding back in 2017. I was so thrilled when she contacted me to book her wedding at the Berry Barn next June. I couldn’t be happier for her that she’s found Rudy and the two of them are so sweet together. How many men would be good sports about doing their engagement photos during an LSU game? Not many, I can promise you that – I’ve got experience dealing with grumpy men who were missing a big game for pictures LOL
So Rudy – THANK YOU – for being such a good sport – I know it meant the world to Brandi and it meant a lot to me too! I am so excited to work with you guys more in June – it’s going to be so much fun!
