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New Orleans Wedding Photographer
I’m Chad Populis, a New Orleans wedding photographer documenting real moments, clean portraits, family photos, and reception celebrations throughout New Orleans and South Louisiana.
I combine documentary coverage with calm direction when you need it, helping keep portraits, family photos, and the wedding-day timeline organized without turning your day into one long photoshoot.
At a glance
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Style: Documentary moments with guided portraits—natural, clean, and polished without feeling overly staged
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Coverage: Full wedding collections include 8–10 hours
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Delivery: Preview images within 72 hours; full galleries typically within 2–4 weeks
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Starting investment: Wedding photography collections begin at $2,500
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Service area: New Orleans, the Westbank, and South Louisiana, with travel available
Trusted by New Orleans Couples
10+ years professional photography experience • 50+ weddings photographed • 72-hour previews • 2–4 week gallery delivery • Fully insured
Chad Populis Photography is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and has been featured by New Orleans Bride / MyNewOrleans. Wedding work and client reviews are also available through WeddingWire, The Knot, Zola, and WeddingRule.
Jervis McClenton
“Very professional and on time. He took his time to make sure the pictures came out the way we wanted. He went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed. Pictures came out great.”
Amy Laurenza
“Great value, amazing photos! We worked with Chad for our October wedding. He was professional and supportive, we aren’t people who have professional photos taken. He was also so affordable and made everything so easy and smooth.”
New Orleans Wedding Photography Starting at $2,500
Wedding photography is built around the way your day actually moves—from getting ready and ceremony moments to family photos, couple portraits, reception details, second lines, dancing, and everything happening in between.
You’ll get natural documentary coverage when moments are unfolding and clear direction when portraits need structure.
Full wedding collections include:
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8–10 hours of wedding-day coverage
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A second photographer
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Timeline and family-photo planning
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Guided couple and wedding-party portraits
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Ceremony and reception coverage
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Clean, consistent edits with natural skin tones
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Online gallery delivery
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Preview images within 72 hours
Engagement sessions, albums, wedding videography, photo booths, and additional coverage options are also available depending on the collection.
Wedding photography packages begin at $2,500.
How Wedding Coverage Works
Wedding coverage is planned around your timeline, priorities, venue, and the way your day actually moves. The goal is to keep photography organized without making the wedding feel like one long photoshoot.
Before the Wedding
We’ll plan the photography timeline, family photo list, portrait priorities, venue logistics, and any important moments you want documented. This helps family photos and portraits move efficiently on the wedding day.
Wedding Day
I document the real moments as they happen while providing clear direction for couple portraits, wedding-party photos, and family formals when needed.
Full wedding photography collections include a second photographer, helping us cover different parts of the day and multiple perspectives while keeping the timeline moving.
After the Wedding
Preview images are delivered within 72 hours, with the full professionally edited gallery typically delivered within 2–4 weeks.
Most wedding galleries average approximately 50–100 edited images per hour of coverage, depending on the pace of the day, number of events, and photography opportunities.
Your final gallery includes high-resolution downloads, sharing options, and print ordering.
Sample 8-Hour Wedding Timeline
Best for most wedding days with getting ready coverage, ceremony, portraits, and reception highlights.
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Getting ready details and key moments
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First look, if planned
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Wedding party portraits
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Ceremony coverage
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Family photos with a planned list
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Couple portraits, with golden hour if possible
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Reception highlights, including entrances, toasts, dances, and open dancing
Sample 10-Hour Wedding Timeline
Best for couples who want a fuller view of the day, more breathing room, or multiple locations.
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Extended getting ready coverage for both partners
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First look and extra portrait time, or multiple photo locations
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Ceremony coverage and full family photo plan
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Cocktail hour details and guest candids
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Full reception coverage, including toasts, dancing, and exit moments
How to Choose Your Wedding Photography Package
Choosing the right wedding collection usually comes down to your timeline, number of locations, engagement-session needs, album preferences, and whether you want photography-only or combined services.
Compare the Standard, Premium, Luxury, and Elite collections for coverage hours, engagement sessions, albums, prints, and other inclusions.
Meet Chad
Before photography, I spent 25 years working in customer service and hospitality. That experience still shapes how I communicate, prepare, solve problems, and help couples feel comfortable throughout the wedding day.
I now have 10 years of professional photography experience, including more than 50 weddings photographed and 20 weddings filmed. My approach is calm and organized: I’ll give you direction when you need it, help keep portraits moving, and step back when the real moments are happening.
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Recent New Orleans Weddings
New Orleans Wedding Traditions, Second Lines & Cultural Celebrations
Every wedding has its own traditions and meaningful moments. From unity candles, sand ceremonies, and ring exchanges to grand entrances, first dances, family dances, speeches, and cake cutting, I photograph the moments that bring your wedding story together.
African American Weddings, Second Lines & Brass Bands
New Orleans weddings often celebrate cultural heritage through traditions like jumping the broom, money dances, and lively second lines featuring Zulu Tramps and brass bands. Having photographed these celebrations, I know how to anticipate the movement, energy, and spontaneous reactions without interrupting the experience.
My goal is to preserve the traditions and genuine emotions that make your wedding uniquely yours.
Featured coverage across NOPSI Hotel, Hilton Riverside, French Quarter, City Park, and the Greater New Orleans area.
For couples looking for pricing details and coverage options, view our wedding photography packages.
New Orleans Wedding Venue Experience
Every New Orleans venue has different lighting, portrait locations, ceremony restrictions, parking considerations, and timeline challenges. Experience with the space helps us plan portraits efficiently without taking unnecessary time away from your wedding day.
I’ll help plan portrait locations, family photos, lighting, travel time, and coverage around the way your venue and wedding timeline actually work.
Best New Orleans Photo Locations for Wedding Portraits
New Orleans has a wide range of looks within a short drive—classic, modern, and nature-forward. I’ll help you choose locations based on timing, crowds, and the style you want.
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French Quarter: iconic architecture, courtyards, old-world texture
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Garden District: clean, timeless streets, greenery, and classic homes
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CBD / Downtown: modern lines, city energy, clean backgrounds
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City Park: spacious natural portraits with variety and privacy
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Lakefront: open sky, water views, and sunset portraits (wind can be a factor)
Churches & Chapel Wedding Ceremonies in New Orleans
New Orleans is home to a wide range of historic churches and intimate chapels that offer meaningful settings for wedding ceremonies. From traditional Catholic churches to smaller chapels ideal for intimate weddings and elopements, these venues play an important role in many wedding days.
If you’re planning a church or chapel ceremony, it’s helpful to understand lighting conditions, ceremony flow, and photography guidelines unique to each location.
View New Orleans Churches & Chapels for Wedding Ceremonies →
Getting Ready Locations
Planning where to get ready on your wedding day? These spaces can affect light, timing, details, and how smoothly the morning photos feel.
New Orleans Wedding Photography FAQ
How much does wedding photography cost in New Orleans?
Wedding photography collections begin at $2,500. Final pricing depends on coverage hours, engagement sessions, album upgrades, additional services, and whether you add video or photo booth coverage.
When will we receive our photos?
You’ll receive a preview gallery within 72 hours. Full wedding galleries are typically delivered within 2–4 weeks, depending on the season, wedding size, and final image count. If you have a specific deadline, let me know and we’ll plan accordingly.
How long do family photos take?
Most family photo blocks take 15–30 minutes depending on the number of combinations. We’ll plan a simple list ahead of time to keep it fast and stress-free.
What happens if it rains?
No problem—we’ll pivot to covered spaces, indoor window light, and venue-friendly portrait spots. I also build timeline buffer so weather changes don’t derail the day.
Can we do portraits in more than one location?
Yes. If locations are close and the timeline supports it, we can plan a two-location portrait flow (for example, venue + nearby neighborhood).
Do you photograph outside of New Orleans?
Yes. I cover the New Orleans metro and South Louisiana, and travel is available for destination weddings.
Do you help with the wedding photo timeline?
Yes. I help build a photo timeline around your ceremony time, family list, portrait locations, and reception flow so the day feels organized without taking you away from guests for too long.
Do you carry backup equipment?
Yes. I bring backup camera gear and plan for common wedding-day changes, including weather, timeline shifts, and lighting conditions.
Do you offer wedding videography too?
Yes—wedding videography coverage is available, including highlight films and full ceremony/reception edits depending on the package.
Can we add a photo booth or cold sparks?
Yes. Photo booth rentals and cold spark machines are available for weddings and receptions. Cold sparks are subject to venue approval, and I’ll recommend options based on your venue, space, and timeline.
Wedding Planning Guides
Wedding Pose Guide: Simple posing tips for couples who want natural portraits without feeling stiff.
New Orleans Wedding Blog: Real weddings, venue notes, and planning tips from local wedding days.
Wedding Shot List: A practical checklist for details, family photos, ceremony moments, reception coverage, and second line photos.
Add a Photo Booth to Your Wedding Reception
Add more guest interaction to your reception with a New Orleans mirror photo booth rental or 360 photo booth rental. For first dances, introductions, and other planned moments, cold spark machine rentals are also available subject to venue approval.
Wedding Videography Coverage
Considering Wedding Video Too?
For couples who want more than still images, I also offer wedding videography coverage. Video helps preserve the movement, sound, vows, speeches, and reception energy that photos cannot always show on their own.
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BRIDAL
PORTRAITS
Bridal sessions are available for clients who want portraits before the wedding day. These sessions can include gown portraits, polished bridal portraits, or private boudoir coverage when requested.
Each session is planned with calm direction, flattering posing, clean edits, natural skin tones, and private gallery delivery, just like your wedding coverage.
A bridal session is included with the Elite Wedding Package and can also be added to select collections.
I’m based in the New Orleans metro area and regularly serve clients throughout New Orleans, including the French Quarter, Garden District, Uptown, Bywater, Marigny, Mid-City, City Park, Lakeview, and the Warehouse District.
I also serve Gretna, Metairie, Kenner, Algiers, Marrero, Harvey, Westwego, the Westbank, the Northshore, Baton Rouge, and South Louisiana, with travel available for weddings, events, and destination coverage.
