Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville is an ideal location for an engagement portrait session on the Northshore. It features a number of great spots to shoot, such as the old brick remains of what was once a sugar mill, an alley of grand oak trees, and even a beach on Lake Pontchartrain.
But this spot is one of my favorites. It's a nature trail that winds through a wooded area, and I love doing walking shots here, where I have the couple walk toward me as they hold hands and talk. It's a great way to get relaxed portraits of a couple, as it's easier to "act natural" when you're engaging in an activity such as that, as opposed to sitting or standing still.
Near the beginning of this particular path is another fantastic spot, a small brick building that appears to have once been a shelter of some sort, but is now abandoned and overgrown with foliage. Has somewhat of a "and they were never heard from again" vibe to it, but I love the contrast between an attractive, nicely-dressed couple, and a weathered old structure that has long been forgotten.
Location: 62883 LA-1089, Mandeville, LA 70448.
