Bridal boudoir, planned properly.

Bridal boudoir is one of the most common reasons clients come to the studio. Most plan it as a gift handed over the night before the wedding or the morning of, often through a bridesmaid or the planner. Some keep the images entirely for themselves, which is just as good a reason.

Sessions are photographed by Marc Pagani at the private New Orleans studio at 1216 N Galvez Street, in Mid-City near Tremé and Esplanade Ridge — a closed set, with no one present but you and the photographer unless you bring someone.

Six to eight weeks before the wedding if you want a printed album in hand for the wedding day. That window covers the session, your gallery selections, and album production with room for a reprint if anything needs adjusting.

Three to four weeks out is workable if digital images are enough, or if you plan to gift a single framed print.

Avoid the final ten days. The week before a wedding is crowded enough, and any last-minute beauty treatment, tan, or wax is better done well before the camera comes out.

Peak New Orleans wedding seasons — spring and late autumn — book up first. If your date falls in March, April, October, or November, reserve early.

White and ivory read as unmistakably bridal on camera: a slip, a bodysuit, a corset, a sheer robe, or a lace bralette and high-waisted set. Bring at least one piece in that palette even if the rest of your looks are darker.

Bring the wedding accessories. A veil, the garter, the shoes, your grandmother's jewelry, the jacket you inherited — heirloom pieces give the images a story only your wedding has.

Two to four looks fit comfortably into a standard session. A useful spread is one white or ivory, one bold color, one soft and simple, and one personal — a fiancé's dress shirt or a jersey works better than people expect.

Boudoir packages begin at $500 and include the session and a private online gallery of finished images. Printed albums, books, and fine art prints are available as add-ons, as is professional hair and makeup, which is the most common addition for bridal sessions and holds up through hours of shooting.

Albums take the longest, which is why the six-to-eight week window matters. Digital galleries arrive far sooner, so a late booking is never hopeless — it just narrows what can be printed in time.

Your privacy is the priority. Images are never shared publicly or used for marketing without your written permission. You are welcome to share images yourself if you choose.