New Orleans and New York Wedding Photographer | Kristy May Photography Blog

Cristin + John: New Orleans City Park Engagement

Kristy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:24:42 +0000

Gorgeous sunrise, fun engagement shoot and an order of beignets to top it all off! I should wake-up early more often…….

Annalise + Scott: Brooklyn Engagement Session

Kristy — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:37:51 +0000

I had such a great time with Annalise and Scott for their engagement shoot in DUMBO, Vinegar Hill and the Brooklyn Bridge. We even had a celebrity sighting! They are getting married in New Orleans in March, but live in Brooklyn, so just the perfect couple for me!

Scott recognized actress Beth Grant on the right, as we left the bridge. She was kind enough to take a picture with us. Such a New York moment…..

Yoga with Tara

Kristy — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:56:35 +0000

She’s 42, has 3 kids and a mean yoga practice. I love working with people who are passionate about what they do, and working with Tara was a blast! We spent the day shooting video and some stills for her website along Lake Pontchartrain. Luckily the weather cooperated and we had a lovely morning and a gorgeous sunset! I’m inspired to start back with my own yoga practice! Here are a few sneak peeks, video to come.

Katrina Memories

Kristy — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:26:43 +0000

I thought I’d get a jump on the 5 year Katrina anniversary and take a look at some of the images I shot around then. There aren’t many. That was intentional. I generally like to take photos of things that will make people happy when they see the images and remember what it was like then. Katrina is not something to remember fondly. But maybe it is an opportunity to remember that my family was pretty lucky considering all that went on. Ryan and I were living in Houma at the time and didn’t get any damage, but we were lucky to be close by to help deliver supplies, cash, gas and food to my family.

My parent’s house in Mandeville, Louisiana. 7 trees fell on it! My dad, brother and grandmother rode out the storm together. When the trees fell, they were able to save things from the water. It still feels weird driving through their neighborhood and feeling like there is too much sky.

Mom always wanted a sky light in the bathroom, right?

Dad taking a break in the attic. Being handy and strong, he did a lot of the rebuilding on his own.

My Nonna. She was there -physically at least- during the storm and the aftermath. Double whammy for my parents taking care of her and dealing with the storm damage and general chaos in the months that followed. They had to put her in a nursing home because the room that had just been added on to the house for her was too damaged. She died about 4 months later. Better that she never got to see her beloved New Orleans in the state it was, it would have broken her heart. New Orleans just isn’t the same city to me now that she’s gone.

Yacht Club

Something you don’t normally see over a suburban neighborhood: Black Hawk helicopters refueling. There was a war zone just 24 miles away…

Along the Mandeville Lakefront area.

I remember seeing lone stoops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast when I was a kid, years after Camille. Never expected to see some in Mandeville. But it should have been a warning. Last time I checked, this lot was still empty and the steps were gone.

What building?

Rip’s Restaurant on the Lakefront, literally ripped apart by Katrina.

The new and much improved Rip’s.

Carla + Kerry: Cedar Grove Tchoupitoulas Plantation, New Orleans

Kristy — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:10:31 +0000

I’m finally catching-up, it has been a crazy summer! Let’s flashback to Memorial Day weekend for Carla and Kerry’s fun wedding at Cedar Grove Tchoupitoulas Plantation outside of New Orleans. Lots of dancing, family, good food and a crawfish boil cake from Haydel’s!

I kinda felt this way after one of my flashes died! (I had a back-up, so it was ok, but it I hate it then things stop working!)

A Classy, Rock ‘n’ Roll Wedding: Omni Royal Orleans

Kristy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:00:38 +0000

Magda and Jamison were married at the Omni Royal Orleans in New Orleans Memorial Day weekend. It was one of the liveliest weddings I have ever been to, no doubt helped by the fantastic music by the Groovy 7. I was particularly moved by their choice of first dance, Romeo and Juliet by the Dire Straits as The Killers (one of my favorite bands) do a remake of it that I love! The groom’s cake was shaped as an electric guitar and it was such fun watching the newlyweds dance and sing up a storm. Enjoy!

Photos by Kristy May for Marc Pagani Photography

Michelle + Drew : W Hotel New Orleans

Kristy — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:35:52 +0000

Michelle and Drew were married at the W Hotel in New Orleans. Sweet couple, gorgeous flowers, coolest cake topper I’ve ever seen – all around great time! Oh, and the Panorama Jazz Band was a real treat!

Ceremony and Reception Venue: W Hotel New Orleans
Cake: Swiss Confectionery
Flowers: James Clawson at Urban Earth
Music: Panorama Jazz Band and DJ Patrick Brumfield

Asad + Omaira: French Quarter Portrait Session and News!

Kristy — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:44:59 +0000

One evening a few weeks back, I get a call from Asad. He wants to know if I can do a portrait session of he and his wife, Omaira, because they are moving away from New Orleans. I say sure, and ask him when. Tomorrow? Ok! I’m so happy I was free because it was a wonderful surprise to get to photograph such a lovely couple at an exciting time in their lives. He’s starting a new job in Philadelphia and they are expecting a baby girl in the fall. We lucked out with a gorgeous evening in the French Quarter. I don’t normally do portrait sessions outside of weddings and engagements, but this was so much fun, I would love to do more! Just call me!

As it would turn out, about a week after this portrait session, my husband got a job offer in New York and we ended-up leaving New Orleans too! Ryan and I are both from New Orleans, so we were hoping we could stay there, but I really love New York so we are very happy to be back in our other home. I’m still getting settled – apartment wise – and have a bunch of major website changes in the works. More to to come in the next few weeks! Don’t worry, I’ll still be coming to New Orleans for weddings!

Katie + Sean: Holy Name of Jesus and The Columns Hotel

Kristy — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:53:09 +0000

Katie and Sean were married at Holy Name of Jesus (at Loyola University, my alma mater!) followed by a festive reception at The Column’s Hotel. We did their engagement session in Audubon Park back in April and I was so happy to see them get married! I know their guests, almost all from out of town, had a real New Orleans treat with fantastic music by The George French Band and not to mention, the oysters and mint juleps!

Ceremony: Holy Name Of Jesus
Reception: The Columns Hotel
Music: The George French Band
Flowers: Audubon Flowers

Alexandra + Joel: Board of Trade, New Orleans

Kristy — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:49:33 +0000

I truly had a blast photographing Alex and Joel’s wedding at the Board of Trade earlier this month. I just loved their style! Everyone got ready at the St. James Hotel, a few doors down from the Board of Trade. Thunderstorms forced the ceremony under the entrance way, but they didn’t damped the celebration one bit. The band, Burgundy, got all the ladies on stage for a rendition of Proud Mary – including the bride’s mother. Seeing all of them singing away with the men watching from the dance floor and was my favorite moment of the night. I don’t always get a chance to sample the cake, but Alex’s cake from The Royal Cakery smelled so good, and each layer was different, so ultra tempting. The little keylime piece I had amazing! I wish I had a chance to try to red velvet and the almond layer too.

(Photos by Kristy May/Marc Pagani Photography)