All Locations

Houma

Melvin's Restaurant

Soft, natural bayou light with a tropical, waterfront feel right in town.

Mini or shorter session

Houma

The Heylands

Jamie Heyl Photography's own private property — a wooded setting with soft trails, mature trees, natural greenery and a quiet, organic feel, available exclusively to Jamie Heyl Photography clients.

Full or shorter session

Seasonal — timing dependent

Houma

Robinson Ranch

A private ranch setting with open green space, black and white fencing, a pond, covered structures, mature greenery and several distinct portrait areas. There's enough variety here to create very different looks without leaving the property.

Full session

Houma

Downtown Houma

A charming historic downtown with brick accents, iron railings, walkways, benches, small bridges, greenery and bayou-side elements.

Full session

Houma

Houma Marina

A relaxed waterfront location with wooden boardwalks, docks, bayou views, mature trees and several bridge backdrops. The large bridge over the water gives it a more dramatic look, while the blue pedestrian bridge and landscaped areas add variety within a relatively compact space.

Shorter session, or an easy pairing with Downtown Houma

Houma

Jim Bowie Park

A classic outdoor Houma location with huge live oak canopies, rows of tall cypress trees, open green space and a concrete bridge area that adds a different look. The mature trees create dramatic natural backdrops while the open lawn gives plenty of room for walking portraits and wider scenic images.

Stand-alone outdoor location, or add-on to Downtown Houma

Houma

Golden Ranch Plantation

A polished Southern property with a classic white house, massive live oaks, Spanish moss, open lawn and a few architectural details like brick columns and iron gates. The combination of historic architecture and mature trees gives this location a timeless, elegant feel with several distinct portrait looks.

Mini or session location

Houma

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

A rugged, natural South Louisiana setting with a shaded trail through cypress, oaks, palmettos and Spanish moss, opening toward freshwater marsh and wetland views. It has a more untamed feel than a manicured park, making it a great option for seniors who want something outdoorsy and distinctly Louisiana.

Mini or session portion

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Thibodaux

Downtown Thibodaux

Downtown Thibodaux offers a historic small-town feel with brick walls, iron details, industrial stairways, painted walls, greenery, and older storefront textures. It has a lot of variety in a compact area, making it easy to get several different looks without needing to travel far during the session.

Full session

Thibodaux

Bayou Rose Gazebo

A small seasonal garden spot centered around a rose-covered gazebo, with brick details, flowering vines, greenery and soft water views nearby. When the roses are blooming, it creates one of the prettiest floral backdrops in the area, but the look is very dependent on the season and weather.

Mini or add-on

Seasonal — timing dependent

Thibodaux

Nicholls State University

A polished campus setting with mature trees, landscaped walkways, open lawn, benches, white steps and classic brick-and-iron details. It offers a clean, timeless look with plenty of variety, and seasonal azaleas can add a soft pop of color in early spring.

Mini, or a portion of a longer session

Thibodaux

Bayouside Park

A quiet natural spot with mature trees, open grass, waterside greenery and soft bayou views. Bayouside has a relaxed, understated feel that works especially well in warm evening light, with a mix of water, tree-lined paths and simple green backdrops.

Mini, or a portion of a longer session

Thibodaux

Laurel Valley

Laurel Valley has a distinctly historic, rustic feel with weathered wood, old farm structures, vintage equipment, brick, open fields and mature greenery. There are lots of little pockets to work with, so backgrounds can range from simple natural greenery to more textured, character-filled scenes with old doors, wooden steps, fences and antique sugar-cane equipment. It's especially good for seniors who want something relaxed and a little different from a manicured park or downtown setting.

Mini or add-on

Thibodaux

Holloway Acres

Holloway Acres is a private farm-style property in the Thibodaux area with rustic outdoor settings and a barn available for sessions. It could be a great option for seniors who want a relaxed country setting without traveling far, especially if they are drawn to open space, natural textures or a more casual outdoor look.

Full session or combine with another Thibodaux-area location

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Thibodaux

Ducros Plantation

A historic Southern property with a grand white-columned home, sweeping porches, mature oaks, open lawn and charming older outbuildings. Indoor access adds bright rooms, tall windows, hardwood floors and classic architectural details, giving Ducros an unusually wide mix of polished and rustic portrait settings in one location.

Full or shorter session

Morgan City + Franklin

Downtown Morgan City

Downtown Morgan City is a great choice if you want a lot of variety in one area — downtown charm, brick and architectural details, doors and steps, urban textures, waterfront views and an open riverfront walkway near the bridge. It's a great option for seniors who want an urban feel without losing the soft, natural look in their gallery. Bonus: Lawrence Park is just about a block away, so it's easy to include in the same session for more greenery and beautiful oak trees.

Mini, or the ending of a longer session

Morgan City + Franklin

Brownell Memorial Park

Brownell Memorial Park has a distinctly South Louisiana feel with wooded paths, palmettos, cypress trees, Spanish moss, natural greenery and water views near Lake Palourde. One of its most recognizable features is the tall Brownell bell tower, which adds an architectural option to an otherwise very natural setting. It works well for seniors who like lush, slightly rugged scenery and want something different from a manicured park.

Full session

Morgan City + Franklin

Lake End Park

Lake End Park offers a mix of sandy shoreline, open lake views, cypress trees, grassy areas and natural greenery. It gives a noticeably different look from most South Louisiana locations because of the small beach area, while still keeping the cypress-and-water scenery that feels local. It works especially well for seniors who want water or a slightly more relaxed, coastal feel without traveling all the way to the Gulf.

Full session or combine with another Morgan City location

Morgan City + Franklin

Atchafalaya Golf Course

Atchafalaya Golf Course offers much more variety than a typical golf-course setting. The property includes open green space, ponds and water views, cypress trees, mature live oaks, wooden bridges, walking paths and rustic wooden structures. The mix of natural scenery and architectural details gives us several distinct looks without needing to leave the property, even for a senior who has no connection to golf.

Full session

Morgan City + Franklin

Oaklawn Manor

Oaklawn Manor offers one of the widest mixes of looks in the Morgan City / Franklin area. The property combines mature live oaks, brick walkways, landscaped gardens, small bridges, white architectural details and classic Southern grounds with the option for indoor portraits inside the historic home. It can move from soft and natural to polished and architectural within one session, making it a strong choice for seniors who want plenty of variety.

Full session

Morgan City + Franklin

Fairfax House

Fairfax House has a classic Southern look built around its white columned exterior, wide porches, iron railings, mature live oaks and open lawn. The architecture is the strongest feature, but the grounds also provide plenty of greenery and softer natural backgrounds. It works especially well for seniors who want a polished, timeless setting without the location feeling overly formal.

Full session

Morgan City + Franklin

Arlington Mansion

A grand Southern mansion with gardens, live oaks and varied backdrops across the grounds. The property also sits directly on Bayou Teche and includes a private dock, although I haven't personally photographed that part of the property yet.

Full session

Lafayette + New Iberia

UL Lafayette Alumni Center

A polished garden with a fountain, oak trees and brick walking paths.

Mini or session portion

Lafayette + New Iberia

Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette

Crisp white architecture with columns, steps and a small bridge.

Mini or add-on

Lafayette + New Iberia

Moncus Park

Open fields, a lake, native landscaping and quiet walking trails.

Full session

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Lafayette + New Iberia

Rip Van Winkle Gardens / Jefferson Island

A lush, high-variety garden setting with massive live oaks, Spanish moss, bamboo-lined paths, waterfront views, flowers and elegant Southern architectural details.

Full session

Lafayette + New Iberia

Avery Island / Jungle Gardens

A lush, scenic location with huge live oaks, Spanish moss, waterways, stone bridges, gravel paths, dense greenery and tropical plantings.

Full session

Lafayette + New Iberia

Acadian Village

Historic Acadiana buildings with weathered wood, porches and small bridges.

Mini or session portion

Lafayette + New Iberia

Vermilionville

Acadian and Creole buildings along the bayou with a rustic, historic feel.

Mini or session portion

Baton Rouge + River Road

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden

Open fields, roses, wildflowers and mature trees with endless variety.

Full session

Baton Rouge + River Road

Windrush Gardens

A formal historic garden with fountains, brick paths and old trees.

Full session

Baton Rouge + River Road

LSU Rural Life Museum

Historic buildings, weathered wood, porches, fences and tree-lined paths.

Full session

Baton Rouge + River Road

Veterans Memorial Park

Open greenery and simple tree light with a relaxed feel.

Mini or session portion

Baton Rouge + River Road

Downtown Baton Rouge Riverfront

The Mississippi, the levee and the bridge with a clean urban edge.

Mini or session portion

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Baton Rouge + River Road

The Gilmour

A polished property with elegant indoor rooms, a dramatic staircase, large porches and balconies, classic white architecture, mature oaks and landscaped grounds.

Full session

Baton Rouge + River Road

Rosedown Plantation

Formal gardens, columns, fountains and a long tree-lined approach.

Full destination session

Baton Rouge + River Road

Afton Villa Gardens

Formal gardens, oak paths, old ruins and seasonal flowers.

Full destination session

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Baton Rouge + River Road

Houmas House

Formal gardens, fountains, ponds and bridges around historic architecture.

Full session

Baton Rouge + River Road

Hemingbough

Landscaped grounds with water, sculptures and Mediterranean-style architecture.

Full session

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Baton Rouge + River Road

Cohn Arboretum

Quiet woods, bamboo and a butterfly garden.

Mini or nature session

Scout visit first — extra planning needed

Baton Rouge + River Road

Greenwood Plantation

A grand white-column mansion with a reflecting pond and wide grounds.

Full destination session

New Orleans

City Park

Live oaks, lagoons, stone bridges and green space in every direction.

Full session

New Orleans

New Orleans Botanical Garden

A formal garden with flowers, fountains and romantic architecture.

Full session, or paired with City Park

New Orleans

Audubon Park

Uptown live oaks, quiet lagoons and classic New Orleans greenery.

Full session

New Orleans

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Formal gardens, fountains and elegant brick architecture.

Short session, or full session

New Orleans

Race + Religious

Three brick courtyards, tropical greenery, balconies and vintage interiors.

Full session

New Orleans

French Quarter

Balconies, shutters, brick and colorful historic architecture.

Mini or portion of a longer session

New Orleans

Bywater

Graffiti, weathered walls and bold street-style color.

Mini or portion of a longer session

New Orleans

Crescent Park

The Mississippi, the skyline and clean industrial lines by the water.

Mini or portion of a longer session

Houma

Interests & Personality

Perfect for seniors who want their session to reflect what makes them uniquely them.

Works on its own or built into a full session

Destination

Grand Isle

Beach, dunes, sea grass and open Gulf horizon at sunset.

Full destination session

Destination

Fontainebleau State Park

A farther-drive option in Mandeville on Lake Pontchartrain, with a sandy lakefront beach plus mature trees, nature trails, boardwalk and marsh areas and historic sugar-mill ruins — more variety than a beach-only spot.

Full destination session