5 Great Portrait Photography Locations in Gonzales, Louisiana
Gonzales, Louisiana may be known as the Jambalaya capital of the world, but it’s also home to some pretty sweet portrait photography locations.
It’s true that Baton Rouge is only 20 minutes away and New Orleans isn’t much farther, but I’m confident that Ascension Parish has beautiful locations for your portrait photography needs.
Jambalaya Park
Tee Joe Park
Lamar Dixon Park
George Washington Carver Park
Burnside Park
Bonus: Downtown Gonzales
1) Jambalaya Park
If you live in or around the Gonzales area, I’m sure you know about Jambalaya Park. It’s one of the largest parks in the area and located right off of Airline Highway. It features a small outdoor theater, a walking trail along the creek, dog park, fountain, and traditional play structures.
This location is great for portraits because of the variations of backdrops in such a small space. The garden provides nice greenery. The play structures provide a slightly industrial element. The creek gives a nice nature and water element. Although it may be small, Jambalaya Park is sure to provide you an excellent portrait experience.
2) Tee Joe Park
One of the hidden gems for portrait photos in Gonzales is Tee Joe Park. Located on W Orice Roth Rd, this small park is the perfect location for branding or headshot photos. The majority of the park is consumed by an open area and a few baseball fields, but the surrounding areas have large photogenic trees as background elements. There is a large tree behind the baseball fields near the edge of the property that is perfect for quick headshots or mini sessions.
3) Lamar Dixon Park
One of the largest attractions in Gonzales is the Lamar Dixon Expo Center. Events like the hot air balloon festival, Gun and Knife shows, and even smaller concerts are held here. However, if you were to drive to the end of the road, you’ll find a fairly large park area.
There are several locations on these park grounds that would make excellent portrait photography backdrops with a fan favorite being the row of trees. There are a few ponds that provide a nice water element with the option of trees or tall grass as a background. If your photo session is more nature themed, you can’t go wrong by shooting at Lamar Dixion.
4) George Washington Carver Park
George Washington Carver Park is yet another hidden gem of Gonzales. Located along Tobey Rd, this park is tucked away behind the main railroad. It features a large basketball court, a covered area, traditional playground elements, and even a decent sized football field.
This park lends itself to more of a sports or family session with an urban feel. There are still plenty of nature elements around, but the park vibe lends itself to a more dramatic theme. Because the park is not on a main highway, a portrait photography client is less likely to have high traffic or multiple people shooting in the same area.
5) Burnside Park
Think of Burnside Ave as the Main St. of Gonzales. Although Jambalaya Park is the most known, Burnside Park is on the main street. There is a long driveway but once inside the park, it has great potential. There are traditional playground elements, a few baseball fields, tennis courts, and some industrial elements in the very back.
This park leans more into a sports theme for portraits. The tennis courts always look nice and the driveway can provide nice leading lines provided there aren’t cars driving in and out. There is a small paved walkway in between the baseball fields which could provide some interesting backgrounds for a sports theme.
Bonus: Downtown Gonzales
Downtown Gonzales is a bonus location because of its unique photogenic situation. There are no large buildings and the sidewalks are not pronounced like a large city. However the area is full of character. The buildings are interesting enough to create some pretty nice backdrops.
A great hidden gem is located behind Lamendola’s, near the Ascension Community theater. The Tee Joe museum has a gazebo, a large old fire truck, and is walkable to the trail along the main creek. These nontraditional photo locations will provide you with unique photos with an interestingly small cityscape.
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