North Louisiana Lifestyle Family and Newborn Photographer

Tag: Family Photographer in North Louisiana

Waiting on Baby | A Heartfelt Maternity Session in North Louisiana

Some sessions just stay with you — and this beautiful North Louisiana maternity session was one of those special ones. This sweet family of three is soon to become a family of four, and every moment we captured together was filled with tenderness, joy, and anticipation.

From the very first hug to the last soft laugh, there was so much love in the air. You could feel the excitement as they dreamed about the little life they’ll soon be holding. Melissa was absolutely glowing in her blush pink dress, her hands gently resting on her baby bump, and the way her husband looked at her said it all — pride, love, and a quiet sense of awe for the beautiful journey they’re on together.

Kinlee absolutely melted my heart. She was so curious and gentle, already stepping into her new role as big sister with so much sweetness. One of my favorite moments was when she reached up and rested her tiny hand on her mama’s belly. It was pure magic — the kind of moment that makes you stop and realize how precious this season of life truly is.

The evening light in the North Louisiana countryside was soft and golden, wrapping this little family in the most beautiful glow. Surrounded by tall grass and open skies, it felt peaceful — like the world had slowed down just long enough for them to soak in these fleeting moments together.

Maternity sessions like this one remind me why I love what I do. They’re not just about capturing a bump or a beautiful dress — they’re about preserving the love, connection, and hope that fill these in-between moments. This family’s story is growing, and I feel so honored to have been a small part of it.

Soon, their arms will be a little fuller and their hearts even more so. And I can already tell — this baby is coming into a world overflowing with love.

October 28, 2025
A Golden Hour Session at Cross Lake | The Byram Family

There’s something truly magical about lakefront evenings in late summer — the warm glow of the sun, the gentle ripple of the water, and the peace that comes with stepping away from the hustle of everyday life. The Byram family’s session at their beautiful lake house on Cross Lake was nothing short of that kind of magic.

With three kids ranging from 13 to 8 years old, this session was full of personality, laughter, and sweet moments that only a close-knit family can create. From the second I arrived, I could tell this wasn’t just a vacation home — it was a place filled with memories, traditions, and love.

We started on the dock, where the family stood hand-in-hand, barefoot and relaxed, surrounded by the soft lapping of the water and the glow of golden hour. The older kids were naturally helpful and sweet with their youngest sister, who twirled in her pink floral dress, her bow catching the breeze. Mom and Dad stole a few quiet moments together too — moments that always make for some of my favorite frames.

The styling was simple, summery, and perfect for the setting. Soft pastels and whites played beautifully against the lush green trees and the deep blue lake, giving the entire session a light, airy feel that was both timeless and playful.

One of the best parts of this shoot was capturing the little candid moments — the glances, giggles, and spontaneous hugs that remind us what family is all about. There’s no doubt the Byrams have created something truly special at their lake house. It was an honor to help preserve those memories through my lens.

Here’s to barefoot summers, dockside sunsets, and families who know how to soak in every moment.

September 29, 2025
Taylor Family | Family Photo Session at Red River National Wildlife Refuge — A Bossier City Gem

As a family photographer, I’m often asked, “Is it too late to do family photos now that our kids are older?” My answer is always the same: *Absolutely not.*

In fact, there’s something really special about photographing families with older kids — the connections are deep, the laughter comes easy, and the memories made feel just a little more intentional.

That was exactly the case during this recent session at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in Bossier City. With its wide-open spaces, golden light, and quiet walking trails, the Refuge was the perfect backdrop for a relaxed, joyful session with the Taylor family and their sweet boys.

Capturing the Teen Years — With No Pressure

Working with older kids and teens is all about balance. They’re not little anymore, and they’re usually not too eager to pose for photos — and that’s totally okay. That’s why I approach these sessions with a laid-back vibe: no forced smiles, no cheesy poses, just a chance to be together and let the moments unfold naturally.

At this session, we started off with some casual walking shots along one of the trails. I let everyone settle in, joke around, and just enjoy the scenery. Before long, the laughter started to flow — mostly thanks to some sibling teasing (as it should be!) and a few well-timed dad jokes.

Why Red River Wildlife Refuge Works So Well

The Refuge really shines when you want to create a relaxed, scenic session that doesn’t feel too posed or formal. Some of the reasons it’s a great fit for families with older kids:

Scenic Variety: From boardwalks and water views to open fields and forest paths, there’s plenty of room to move and explore without it ever feeling crowded.
Comfortable Pace: Teens appreciate when things don’t drag — and the layout of the Refuge allows for a smooth, easy session that flows naturally.
Golden Hour Perfection: The lighting here just before sunset is incredible. It adds that soft, warm glow that makes every photo feel timeless.

Thinking About Booking a Session with Older Kids?

If your family is in that “teens and beyond” stage, don’t skip the photos. You’ll never regret documenting this season of life — and your kids (even if they roll their eyes now) will be glad to have these memories later.

Here are a few tips for making it great:

Keep it casual: Don’t stress too much about matching outfits. Comfort and personality go a long way.
Let the kids have input: Ask them where they’d like to shoot, or let them help pick a playlist for the ride over. A little buy-in goes a long way.
Make it part of a fun day: Plan dinner after the session, or grab dessert on the way home. Make it feel like a fun family outing — not just a photo shoot.

Ready to Book?

If you’re in the Bossier City or Shreveport area and thinking about scheduling family photos — whether your kids are little, teens, or even grown — I’d love to help you create something meaningful. The Red River Wildlife Refuge is one of my favorite hidden gems, and it’s the perfect place to press pause and celebrate your people.Let’s connect and plan your session!—Courtney DexterFamily & Lifestyle Photographer | Bossier City, LA
📍 Serving Bossier City, Shreveport, and surrounding areas

September 23, 2025
Rico | Lake Bistineau Photographer

The sweet Rico kids. I’ve been photographing them for a few years now and each time they are just so much fun. Full of life and energy. I love it!

We met at Lake Bistineau on a beautiful fall day. The kiddos were out of school on break so we were able to do a weekday. It can be hard when kids are in school, especially in the fall, because we have to start our session so early. Time change is a fun one. It’s hard to know what I prefer as far as time changes. Starting sessions earlier in the day means I have to find someone to watch my kiddos, but then I still have time to spend with them before bed after I get back home. Summer sessions can start so much later so hubs can watch the kids for me, but the session is close to bed time for all kids involved. It’s a toss up!

Regardless, these kiddos were so much fun to work with. They gave me plenty of idea and I let them lead the way. I’m photographing kids I find it’s really important to let them do the leading. If I try and force anything on then, odds are they will not want to do it! We all know how kids work, right?! Haha!!

We picked lots of flowers, danced like a princess, waved out our imaginary fans from the “stage” (haha!!), and fought imaginary battles with sticks. I love kids. They are just the best!

April 27, 2025
McKissack Family | Shreveport Louisiana Family Photographer

The McKissack family. Aren’t they so cute?!

We met for their session at Lake Bistineau on a very cloudy and gloomy day with every threat of an absolute downpour. Thankfully the rain held off and we’re able to capture some super sweet photos.

One thing I absolutely adore as a family photographer in north Louisiana is letting kids be kids. Letting them have fun. There’s nothing like it. You’ll notice that more and more in my sessions with littles, we have lots and lots of fun!

These kiddos were so sweet and I just loved this session. Thank you McKissack family!!

April 22, 2025
Thorne Family | Lincoln Parish Park Family Session | Ruston Louisiana Family Photographer

The Thorne family. Are they not the absolute cutest?? Seriously I can’t even stand it.

We met for their session at Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, LA. I love, love this park for sessions. It’s so beautiful!

Their little girlies took a minute to warm up to me but once they did they really let their personalities shine and I just adored that.

After our session we found out that Ragan and my brother were in elementary school together. How fun! It’s a small world, right?!

Thank you Thorne family for such a wonderful evening capturing your sweet, sweet family.

April 15, 2025
Neville Family | Lake Bistineau Family Session | North Louisiana Family Photographer

The Neville family. What a joy they were to meet and photograph. Ugh, how I loved this session!! It was a bit of a gloomy day when we started but it turned out to have glorious sunshine towards the end. I always love when that happens!!

We chose Lake Bistineau state park for our session location because it’s just so stunning. You can never, ever go wrong here. Whether the water is down or whether it’s full it’s just absolutely gorgeous. The Spanish moss in the trees breathe such a gorgeous texture in the background and gives all the south Louisiana feels. Not that I have ever been there. But I imagine this is what it looks like. Haha!!

We walked our way throughout the state park and stopped at different areas giving us so much diversity in the photos. I really love locations like that, where you can walk around, get comfortable with each other and just have the best time and the best variety.

The Neville kiddos were some of the sweetest and most fun. It was so easy to photograph them because they were so open to whatever ideas I had and just went with the flow. Dream!!

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.

April 8, 2025
Nolan is One | Shreveport Louisiana Family Photographer

Sweet little Nolan and his family. Oh how I loved photographing them! He made me work so hard to get smiles out of him but when I did they were enough to melt your heart.

We met for their session at the red river wildlife refuge in Shreveport. This is always a go to location for me. I love it so much especially when there are littles involved. It’s far enough off the road for there to be no fear of littles and cars, we stay a good bit away from the water. It’s just a win win.

This was such a beautiful day. Not too hot not too cold. Just the ideal weather. The sun was shining. You can’t ask for anything better than that

We were here to document Nolan’s first birthday. I truly love documenting these precious milestones for families. Wether it’s newborn photos, first birthday, or just annual family photos I know how important it is and it’s such an honor to be chosen to document it.

I absolutely loved this family and felt as if I had gained new friends once we left. They were so sweet and so easy to photograph. I could have stayed there all day!

March 8, 2025
Butts Family | Ruston Louisiana Family Photographer

I have photographed this precious family several times, all such special moments that I have been so honored to photograph. It all started with their engagement session, newborn season of their first baby girl, extended family photos and maternity photos, newborn session with their second baby girl and now this beautiful family session. I know I have said this many times, but when families come back year after year it thrills my heart. To know that they trust me, not just once, but over and over again with their most precious times in life. I do not take it lightly. It is the greatest honor.

We started this sweet session in my backyard. Haha!! Hey, wherever a pretty spot is we can make work. After we finished up there we moved on to the second location where we captured some of the most fun-filled images. With toddlers it is so important that you keep them engaged. If all we are doing is smiling at the camera they will get bored FAST!! This is where I encourage play rather than poses. We sing songs, we run around mom and dad, we swing, we play airplane. Anything that sounds fun, we give it a try. There’s always something that littles like best and want to keep playing over and over. For Selah, she loved everything we did and I’m convinced we could have played these games until there wasn’t a speck of light left in the sky.

I loved reliving this session as I edited the photos, remembering all the fun we had together. I know these are memories that mama will cherish forever!!!

November 28, 2024
Our Family Portraits | North Louisiana Family Photographer

On a whim, like most things I do, I decided it was the perfect day to do our family photos. I knew the location I wanted to do them at so I quickly got our outfits together and we all got ready to leave. I always do self portraits for our own family sessions and although it can be stressful, I like that I can just randomly decide when and where and make it happen. Then if it doesn’t happen we just try again another time. But it almost always works well.

This time we parked on the side of the road about 15 minutes from our home in north Louisiana and we hoped out of the car. I started but getting pictures of David and the girls and then moved to letting Elaine get some photos of me and David. David then got pictures of me and the girls. Then we moved to the tripod set up with the timer. This was fun being on the side of the road where people driving by could see us all randomly smiling at the camera on the side of the road. Haha!!! We laughed and laughed about that one. It was actually lots of fun!

These are definitely some of my favorites that I have taken of us and this location is high up on my list of favorites ever! The lighting is pretty tricky though and timing is everything! But I am so glad we got these done here and I have since done another session there that I love just as much.

November 21, 2024