New Orleans – Photo Ops
New Orleans is a city where beauty can be found around every corner, making it the perfect place to photograph. No matter where you explore, photogenic neighborhoods provide plenty of photo ops.
If you need an idea where to start, check out a few of the destinations listed below. You can easily memorialize your trip to the Big Easy by visiting these photo-worthy spots.
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden sits right next door to the New Orleans Museum of Art and is open seven days a week. One unique thing about the sculpture garden is that it was built in an existing park, which already had landscaping, water features, and plants. Since it opened in 2003, the sculpture garden has grown to include more than 90 sculptures.
These sculptures include many unique and photogenic creations. One of these is Schädel, which translates to “skull.” This sculpture is of a large, white skull that’s located right along the water. Other sculptures include a huge, blue safety pin hanging over a pathway in the park, a large, bronze horse, and Mirror Labyrinth. This mirrored sculpture consists of multiple long, thin, rectangular mirrors of varying heights. They’re clustered together and reflect different parts of the garden’s trees, lawn, and sky.
With all of these outstanding works of art, it won’t be hard to get great photos at Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
French Quarter
The French Quarter neighborhood is one of the top destinations for New Orleans visitors. It’s not only party central, but the oldest neighborhood in the city. This balance of festivities and history makes for interesting photo opportunities. You can take pictures of yourself in Mardi Gras gear, holding a giant cocktail on Bourbon Street or walking beside an old-timey horse-drawn carriage.
The French Quarter also has beautiful, historic architecture that’s distinctly New Orleans. An example of this is the La Branche House, one of the most photographed spots in the French Quarter.
Right on the corner of Royal Street and St. Peter is this beautiful, three-story structure dating back to the 1830s. The curved building features open balconies, hanging plants, and classic wrought-iron fencing. It’s almost impossible to take a bad picture of the La Branche House, so head over there for a photo op!
Garden District
The Garden District is the most beautiful neighborhood in New Orleans. The wealthy and well-to-do citizens of Louisiana created the Garden District in the 1800s, and it has been an upscale area ever since.
The area features regal Victorian architecture and shady, oak-lined streets. The elegant and impressive homes are great photo ops and a quintessential example of Southern elegance. If you’re interested in photographing beautiful architecture, the Garden District is the place to go.
St. Charles Streetcar
Locals and tourists alike enjoy riding the St. Charles Streetcar, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest operating streetcar in the United States. The St. Charles Streetcar goes from the French Quarter into the Garden District, providing a miniature tour of the area.
Not only does the St. Charles Streetcar bring you to the most popular neighborhoods in New Orleans, but it is photogenic in its own right. The vintage trolley car is forest green with burnt orange accents and vintage numbers painted on the side. The large windows open widely to allow passengers to enjoy the view and a nice breeze as they travel through the picturesque neighborhoods. The St. Charles Streetcar looks as though it belongs in a forgotten time, making for a great photo.
City Park
City Park is a large greenspace with lots of photo ops, the most popular of which is Langles Bridge. This charming stone bridge arches over a calm pond surrounded by trees, greenery, and open fields.
Have a friend snap a picture of you enjoying the view or capture the photogenic bridge itself. Either way, you’ll snap an outstanding photo. City Park also has multiple attractions where you can grab a fun picture. These include a botanical garden, a model train display, and “Storyland.” This section of the park features large statues straight from a storybook. You can get some pictures of Cinderella’s pumpkin, the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, and the Little Mermaid. Explore the New Orleans City Park and you never know what photo op you may find!
Carousel Bar & Lounge
Inside the Hotel Monteleone is the Carousel Bar & Lounge, an iconic New Orleans watering hole created in 1949. Over the course of its 70-plus-year lifetime, it’s served the likes of Ernest Hemmingway, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Michael Jordan.
The top of the Carousel Bar is in the style of an old-timey circus attraction, with jesters’ faces, oval mirrors, and small lights. Customers sit in hand-painted seats surrounding the carousel bar, which completes a 360-degree turn in 15 minutes. The detailed and unique design of this attraction makes it especially photogenic. Snap a picture of this New Orleans icon where dozens of influential figures have enjoyed a drink.
Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter neighborhood that has served a major historic role. It was the site of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and for this reason was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Not only is this park a central gathering place, but it features one of the city’s major photo ops: St. Louis Cathedral. This regal church stands at the far end of the park, and is unmissable with its black, three-pointed spires and white stone exterior.
The inside of St. Louis Cathedral is also photogenic, with a marble altar at the front of the church with multiple statues surrounding it. Above it is an elaborate mural, lit up by chandeliers and surrounded by gold-trimmed columns. This old-world, classic-looking building is the oldest cathedral in the United States and the perfect place to snap a few photos.
Commander’s Palace
Commander’s Palace is a historic New Orleans restaurant that’s been around since 1880. It’s located inside a landmark building with unique architecture, but the most outstanding part is the color.
In 1974, the owners decided to revamp the restaurant inside and out, and this makeover was truly transformative. Now, the exterior of Commander’s Palace is a bright blue-teal color with a striped canopy and white accents. Because of its color, this Victorian structure stands out from others of its kind, which are usually more traditional, muted colors.