Rare Sighting Photography

I would not hesitate to book Devonte and Rare Sighting Photography for any event. My husband and I decided on a destination wedding in New Orleans. While we had a wedding planner who provided many useful vendor recommendations, we also looked into certain vendors, like photographers, ourselves. We wanted a photographer who was experienced with New Orleans weddings and with Black wedding culture, so hiring Devonte was the perfect fit. We came across Devonte on Hue I Do and when we saw his Instagram profile, we decided to book an introductory Zoom call. On the introductory call, Devonte gave us more details about his services, answered all of our questions, asked us our love story and shared his love story with us. After meeting with him over Zoom, it became clear that we had found a great match, both in terms of style and personality.  We booked Devonte along with a second photographer for 8 hours on our wedding day. This included preparation, first look, ceremony, a second line, family style dinner and reception. As introverts we wanted someone with a larger-than-life personality, and Devonte really brought the fun.  Devonte was always very responsive to the many questions and concerns we had. He gave us insight into the photography process and shared his thoughts on other wedding vendors and NOLA generally. As someone planning a destination wedding, it was truly appreciated. Plus, we could expect a response from him within 24 hours and usually much quicker than that. On the day of, Devonte deftly navigated complex family dynamics, moved swiftly through the portrait session, and knew when to blend into the background and when to assert himself to get the best pictures. Our family members assumed Devonte must’ve been a friend due to how well he was able to vibe with our group.  Devonte had sneak peek photos ready within a matter a days and the finished product was delivered in a little over a month, which was quicker than his contract provided and an amazing feat given that our wedding was a few weeks before Christmas. Our wedding day was perfectly captured. We love our wedding photos and will treasure them forever. Thank you, Rare Sighting Photography!

If you’re searching for a caring and professional photographer, Devonte of Rare Sightings Photography is highly recommended! From my inquiry email to the delivery of my final photos, Devonte was professional and very timely! If your expectations are 100%, Devonte gives 200%. He fulfilled all of my request and some! I felt his positive energy the moment I met him! Throughout the planning process, I felt at ease about my photos because he gave an “I got you covered” energy! He captured beautiful pictures of my husband and me! I stare at my photos daily! I was so blessed to have found such a wonderful photographer! He is now my brother lololol. Thank you sooooooo much Devonte!

Devonte did a great job capturing and matching the energy of our reception. We had a few prep calls leading up to the wedding and Devonte pointed out that there was construction next door to our venue. Since this was a destination wedding reception, he went ahead and scouted the area and sent us some photos. We also reached out to him a few months ahead of the wedding asking for wedding planner recommendations and he led us to Poshed & Peachy — who were also dope to work with. Devonte is formally part of our NOLA fam!

I went to a wedding five years ago where Devonte was a the photographer. When I saw the final pictures I said if I ever get married he would be my photographer. Well… I got engaged and hired Devonte. Devonte was very professional and flexible with scheduling for engagement photos and wedding day. He brings great energy to the space which is what you want on your wedding day. I also appreciate the direction he provides during photography to ensure you have the perfect shot. Our sneak peek photos alone are impressive!

We started working with Devonte back in 2022 when we started our wedding planning journey. He documented our engagement photos, bridals, and wedding day (Oct 2023). Throughout the whole process, Devonte was professional, communicative, and very helpful with his suggestions throughout the whole process. We felt at ease during the whole process and each photo shoot he delivered a beautiful gallery that we will cherish forever. Highly recommend rare sighting photography to document your special day.

Loved working with Devonte! It was our engagement pictures and we have never gotten professional photos done. He made us feel comfortable and let us be ourselves. Him and his wife were so sweet to us, they even stayed a little bit longer to make sure we had a perfect picture in front of the streetcar. 10 out of 10 recommend!

It was a pleasure working with Devonte. He is a complete professional but also very personable and flexible when accommodating to our needs. He is responsive in a timely manner and when it came to our wedding day, he and his team really made us feel comfortable enough to just enjoy the day. His photography really captured how amazing and fun our day truly was and we are so grateful to have these photos to last for a lifetime.

Devonte was one of the first (if not the first) vendors I started working with when we started planning our October 2023 wedding. He was incredible about answering my many many questions, working with our budget, and letting us know what his style was like. We decided to do engagement pictures with him and I HIGHLY recommend! It was so great to get to know him personally so that by the time the wedding came around he felt more like a friend than a vendor. Leading up to the wedding, Devonte was so helpful with my many timeline changes and was incredibly responsive. On the wedding day, Devonte’s presence was such a blessing. He made sure we did what we needed to do without feeling forced and to make sure we were all having a good time. The wedding was such a blur but i never felt like he was “in the way” and he was able to capture the moment in such a natural way. I loved our sneak peeks and can’t wait to see the final product. Do yourself a favor and hire him!

My husband and I worked with Rare Sighting for our New Orleans wedding in April 2023. We met with him almost a year before the wedding and immediately connected with him. He was professional, communicative, and very flexible in turning around his work early when we were presented with an opportunity to be in the NYTimes (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/26/style/tristan-thompson-tyla-wade-wedding.html) He made the entire day special for my husband and I. We recommend working with him. He made the process from start to finish seamless.

Once I browsed Devonte’s website there was no other option for me as a bride. He has a natural eye and gift for photography, easy to work with, extremely punctual (he says he will call at 10:30 and the phone rings at 10:30). I cannot say enough good things about him and LOVE his work! I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about missing moments with him behind the camera! 10/10 recommend!

Ugh. Where to begin?? Devonte was super patient as I first reached out to him. The dates changed, my vision changed and he was long suffering through my indecisiveness. lol. When we finally locked in a plan, he gave me so many suggestions regarding shot locations, bridal suites and videographers. And as bride planning from out of town, this made planning so much easier. He truly listened to my vision and helped me map out a plan for bringing it to life. I didn’t expect to get sneak peeks during my honeymoon, but they were gorgeous. And I received the album way ahead of the projected contract date. The colors. Our posing. The candids. His creative eye. I can’t even describe how much I love my wedding photos. Working with Devonte was truly a pleasure.

Devonte is excellent! Professional, friendly, and great communication. My fiancé and I decided to book engagement photos on our exploratory trip in search of Venues for next year. Our beautiful photos were exactly what I was looking for with a quick turnaround time. Highly recommend!

Devonte was an absolute MVP at our wedding. We hired him because of his beautiful portfolio, his ability to capture natural and unscripted moments and emotion, and how responsive and professional he was during our initial conversation. And we're so glad we decided to go with Rare Sighting. Not only was Devonte communicative throughout the booking process, but he was an absolute star during our wedding -- a calm and centered beacon in the swirling chaos of the day. He has an artist's eye and a no-nonsense presence, which we greatly appreciated, finding beautiful spots in and around our venue where we could take photos with a true New Orleans flavor, and herding us around with the patience of a saint. We're waiting on the final photo set but the sneak peeks he's provided are just gorgeous. Beyond the photos, he was so helpful and proactive, from pinning boutonnieres to helping me put on my shoes to directing us where to go during our second line. And he recommended an amazing brass band, on top of everything else. There's no need to research anymore - you should definitely hire Rare Sighting.

Rare Sighting Photography was hired for our engagement shoot (October 2022) and wedding photography (May 2023). Devonte and his team are beyond professional and super attentive. Any questions we had, were answered timely whether via phone or email. I felt comfortable describing my vision for both engagement shoot and wedding day flow. I loved how Devonte utilized each space to frame every shot and create gorgeous portraits. His eye for detail and quality is amazing. When my husband and I discussed possible photographers, quality work was at the top of our list. We made the right decision. I would recommend him to anyone.

Devonte is very kind and professional! He makes being in front of the camera so easy and delivers more than you’ve asked of him. My Husband and I were very pleased with the photos he has taken for us and we will be cherishing these for a lifetime. If I had the chance I would do this day all over again and pick Devonte every time. :)

We were planning a wedding out of state and messaged a few photographers to see if they were available based on their work. We were immediately impressed with the website and the photos, plus we heard back immediately. We set up a call with Devonte and knew instantly that we found our photographer. Being out of state, we couldn't use him for our engagement photos but communication with him was very easy leading up to the wedding. He was always responsive. The day of our wedding, he was professional but fun! He made it easy to get some amazing shots and understood the one inspiration photo I asked for. He was out on the dance floor getting the best photos, especially of my nephew. Devonte even joined us in the photo booth to take pictures with us. Everyone loved how easily he fit with our families vibes. The photo of me getting ready with the reflection off the TV? Stunning. I only have my sneak peeks right now but I seriously can't wait for the rest! If you are looking for a photographer that is talented and will engaging with you for everything to feel easy and natural, this is who you want!

Devonte and his team are amazing; stop reading this review and go book them before they're full. Luckily, Devonte was available on our wedding day and he made everything a breeze from our first meeting to the big day. His communication was stellar and everyone on his team makes you feel comfortable and like a star of the show. Devonte and his team showed up early and began working immediately. They knew exactly what shots would look great and told you how to pose and no one was going to ruin the shot. Also, some of the finer details were caught and fixed before pictures were taken. Something else I really appreciated was that they knew they got the right shot and you didn't have to spend ten minutes smiling for what would amount to one picture. Everyone knew where to stand and what to do, smile, and done. Next shot / next group, and as someone who had to smile for pictures all day, I really appreciated that and it made things much smoother and more enjoyable. We had some ideas for pictures and he and his team were open and made the shots work. They were part of the action throughout the night and I'm sure we'll see even more great pictures as more pictures become available. All of our guests loved them and were appreciative of capturing pictures of their family and friends. My bride knew receiving pictures shortly after our event was unrealistic considering all the work that goes into touching up the pictures and how long we've heard other couples had to wait, but Devonte sent us over some great photos just a couple days after our event and it made her week. We loved working with Devonte and his team so much we've already talked about using them for events in the future. Thank you guys so much and we hope you had as much fun as we did!

The Rare Sighting Photography team was a joy to work with! Devonte was great at communicating with us prior to our big day and making sure everything was ready to go! Eddie was our photographer for the wedding and his work is beautiful! We are in love with the sneak peek photos we received (just days after the ceremony) and are so excited to see our full collection. Eddie was great at helping us to check-off "must-have" shots on our list– as well as capturing little moments throughout the night. Exceptional work and would highly recommend!

Devonte was so nice and worked with us throughout the process. Our pictures are gorgeous! He sent us beautiful sneak peek photos just a couple of days after our wedding. We loved his positive energy, professionalism, and great personality. He partied with us all night and the photos came out great. He made sure my husband was drinking water and even helped him to fold his pocket square correctly for photos. Highly recommend!

Working with Rare Sighting Photography was beyond one of the best decisions we made regarding our wedding day. Not only were the Photographers talented, but they did a great job of giving clear direction, driving confidence towards the individuals they were shooting, and becoming creative in the moment to capture once in a life time shots! I will never consider working with anyone else for photography if I’m in this region! I recommend them 1000%!

Devonte is an absolute pro. He did our engagement photos as well as our wedding reception and was extremely flexible with our Covid rescheduling. The photos all came out gorgeous and we can’t wait to hire Devonte again for any future events!

Outstanding experience with Devonte as our wedding photographer. From the moment we started discussing the day, we knew Devonte was the one to be a part of our day. I believe when you are looking for a photographer to capture the day, the moments and to truly catch that moment in time you need someone who cares. Devonte is all of this and more. Truly one of the most skilled and talented photographers I have ever worked it. Thank you, Devonte for making our day memorable through your lens. Definitely a day made in history! ;)

The professionalism and talent that Devonte possess is jaw-dropping. My husband and I searched for someone who would catch not only the traditional shots of our day but also pure moments and memories that we should have for a lifetime. We loved that Devonte never hid his enthusiasm and passion for photography and that he understood exactly the type of photographer we had been looking for. The morning after shooting our wedding day, we had over 50 stunning images to peak at. 10000/10 recommend booking with Devonte, it'll soon become one of your best decisions.

Best in the business. Professional but personable. Very easy to be your natural self when working with Devonte.

Devonte was everything we wanted in a wedding photographer and more! He was really personable and easy to communicate with leading up to the wedding. Everyone really appreciated his energy during the wedding and the direction that he provided. The photos are absolutely beautiful and the entire experience was seamless. We would definitely recommend working with Devonte and Rare Sighting Photography. He was really professional while adding a fun and positive element that guests appreciated.

Beyond his exceptional talent for creating stunning images, Devonte is an incredible human. He was extremely attentive to us throughout the day and so easy to work with. Devonte is talented, professional and drama-free. We were so lucky that he was available on our wedding day and we could not recommend him enough. Hire this man!

I booked Devonte for both of my maternity shoots. I’m shy in front of the camera, but Devonte made me feel comfortable and directed me in order to get the most beautiful shots. I told him my ideas and he brought them to life. Both times he chose the perfect locations. The only photographer I will ever use!

Devonte was an absolute pleasure to work with. He went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction and left me with drop-dead gorgeous photographs and memories to last generations. I am truly happy I met him. Thank you Devonte!

Devonte is superb! Beautiful photography and his energy is through the roof! From inquiry, I knew he was the right choice for us. He sought to get to know us and the vision we had for our wedding day. He quickly responds to email and phone calls. He is very thorough and passionate about his craft. Wedding day - He was awesome! In moments when I felt panicked, he kept me together and was so supportive. And I can't forget to mention.. he is not afraid to join the party! We received "sneak peeks" literally the morning after our wedding. Work ethic UNMATCHED. Thank you again, Devonte!

We highly recommend Devonte of Rare Sighting Photography! Devonte is the best at communicating and keeping up with time, he is passionate about his craft, and takes the most beautifully authentic photographs. My husband and I had our engagement session and our full wedding day captured. On our wedding day, Devonte and his team arrived before time and got to work. Devonte even took the time to ensure our guests took their cell phone pics at the best angles for the best lighting. We received a sneak peak not even 48 hours after our special day with pictures that are breathtaking, literally brought me to tears. We truly feel we made the best decision with our special memories that we intend to cherish for years to come... passion driven, friendly, amazing energy, professional, and gifted. Thank you so much! -The McKenzies

Devonte truly cares about documenting the genuine moments and people in front of him, all while adding a calming yet fun presence to the event. He captured our elopement perfectly, and was so fun to have as part of our small party of four. He was perfect in the moment and left us with images to last a lifetime. Thank you, Devonte!!

We booked Devonte for our engagement shoot and he was absolutely amazing! He made us feel so comfortable and our vibes just clicked. His service is so fast, we got our pictures the next day! People are still talking about our pictures!

There was no question who we would entrust to document our special day, having followed the amazing growth and accomplishments of Raresighting Photography. Devonte is truly an artist and enamored with his craft. He captured the energy of the moment, showing the absolute best of us with such authenticity. I am so incredibly grateful to have been apart of this magic, impressed with the expeditious turn around, and excited to be able to relive the best parts of my wedding day for years to come. It was especially important for us to have photos to share with friends and extended family following our micro-wedding, and didn't hurt that our creatives were a vibe! Thank you for not only documenting but being a part of the day. -Brittney & Dana

After 4 postponements due to Covid and Hurricane Ida, we finally had our day. Devonté was more than accommodating and ensured us he was along for the ride, no matter how many more postponements we had to go through. He made everyone feel extremely comfortable in front of the camera, and you can feel his passion for photography pour out with every shot. He is highly creative and efficient with his time; a true artist. His personality shines through and you quickly begin to feel like he is part of your wedding party; someone you’ve known your entire life. Words can’t express how grateful we are for his creative vision and we’re blown away by the images he created. We have found both our photographer and a great friend for life!

When we decided to pick a photographer for our wedding we wanted someone we was comfortable with & someone who would have a great time amongst our guest as well. I knew him from college & wanted to keep the XU tradition going & decided I needed him to be apart of our memories. Wedding morning he was prompt and even brought an extra photographer with him to cover all angles which I was super thankful for. Our pictures turned out AMAZING! I can tell he definitely put effort into the edits and he gave us the perfect direction. Thank you for everything Devonte we definitely appreciated EVERYTHING. April & Donald Wallace

WOW!!!! Devonte is a rare talent. He has the ability to tell your story through gorgeous high quality photos. When you meet the composed, confident, professional and helpful gentlemen you know immediately that your memories are in good hands. Not only did Devonte take photos that would be fit for print in any wedding magazine he also took the time to assist the bride in which shoes look best and helped the groom get it together by fixing his jacket and putting on his cufflinks. He even ran upstairs to grab the brides bouquet for the photos. All of these extra touches make Devonte second to none. If you want the best photographer in NOLA and beyond then look no further. Devonte is the one. Devonte, thank you so much for all the beautiful memories. Thank you, Alisha and Jeff

We were so happy we went with Devonte and his team! They were professional, on time, courteous and accommodating throughout the entire day. He captured the exact shots we wanted and even made suggestions for shots we couldn’t imagine! His turnaround time was great too with the sneak peeks and overall. Every shot he took had us in awe and we couldn’t have asked for a better photographer on our special day. I highly recommend you book them you won’t be disappointed!

DEVONTE IS AMAZING!!!!! He is truly a professional and puts his all into his work. He was very organized and made sure that everyone understood their assignment. LOL. But really the entire process went smoothly and I cannot think of another wedding photographer for my wedding day. He's super friendly and nice and made our special day even greater. Plus, he has an incredible turn around time with sending sneak peek photos. I don't think it was a week after the wedding and we had multiple high quality sneak peek shots. If anyone is looking for a wedding photographer, Rare Sighting is the one to choose!!!!!

Rare sighting was so professional. Turned my dreams into reality. My husband and I love every single shot they took. First class.

Devonte is truly exceptional!!! From prompt and personable email correspondence to brainstorming sessions with our coordinator to being our ring leader when it came to candid and not so candid shots for our in-laws, hehe. I can not recommend him enough! Truly... Our photos look stunning... he was able to capture it so masterfully one would think we had lights and reflectors following us around. Nope! Just the craftsmanship of this brilliant brilliant man! I can not recommend him and his company enough and I will always make sure that my New Orleans friends and beyond shoot with Devonte only! Thank you so much for capturing our day so exquisitely!!!

Devonte and his team are the epitome of professional photography and elegance! Both my wife & I appreciated Rare Sighting Photography’s fine attention to detail not only during our wedding ceremony but before and after! This company makes sure to tell your entire story and we can’t recommend them enough. If you are looking for high quality content, Rare Sighting Photography is the way to go! Thanks for all that you do.

Rare sighting was our top choice for our wedding photographer and we are so happy that we chose them! Devonte arrived at our dressing location on time, and knows how to get the best shots of the bridal party that don’t look super posed. Our photos are absolutely stunning and the action shots are my favorite! We would recommend Rare Sighting 1000 times over. Super professional and friendly, and will make sure you get every shot you want. For brides who want a stress free experience plus amazing photos - this is the photographer for you.

We did an anniversary shoot with Devonte just wandering around the Quarter. Devonte was so easy to work with and provided such good direction. It was so fun to just be ourselves with one another but also have this super cool, laid back guy there taking pictures and tweaking little things he sees as a professional. We quickly jived and just spent time together so easily. I knew the pictures were going to be great but when they came (super timely too!) I was in awe. We will always have one of these pictures up in our home because they are just that special. He was a gem to work with and we would recommend him to anyone and everyone looking for photography services. Thank you so so much!

I really wanted to highlight black owned businesses during my wedding and utilized Instagram hashtags to do so! In my #nolaweddingphotographer search I found Devonte! He was the very first vendor I found and he was so helpful in suggesting places to get ready and wedding planners! The planner I went with was awesome book Delia King!! Back to photography Devonte made sure to check in with me a couple weeks before to discuss timeline, and on the day of he was AWESOME! He and his second shooter came in and were so efficient and kind. Everyone has such nice things to say about them and talk about how awesome they were. Our wedding was at the end of May and Devonte got us a sneak peak super fast like within a week and the full album in July! The photos look amazing and we can’t wait to order an album! Devonte will make sure your day is photographed beautifully. If you aren’t thinking of getting a professional wedding photographer PLEASE DO! The day goes by so fast and Devonte will capture every moment perfectly!!!

Having a wedding in a pandemic is already crazy and rough and before finding out about Rare Sighting Photography, I didn't have high hopes for my weeding photos. Devonte shot my engagement photos and when we got them back, I knew our wedding would be amazing. My engagement shoot was in February 2021 and people are STILL talking about how amazing our photos were. Devonte is a true professional and my wedding photos were outstanding. His attention to detail and professionalism is unmatched. His creativity made our photos more precious than I had hoped for. Will be using him for any events I need coverage for in the future.

Devonte was such a wonderful person to work with. He delivered beautiful photos, executed our vision, and added such good vibes on the day of our wedding. Thank you for everything.

Top notch professional service! Devonte made sure we captured all of the special moments for our big day and the whole evening! He made sure that we felt comfortable and confident in all of the pictures we took! I highly recommend!

Just wanted to thank you for these amazing photos AND services. They are beautiful!!! I mean you captured every single detail. We are very pleased! 🤗🤗 Again, thanks for everything

Devonte was an absolute joy to work with. From the moment we had our first meeting I knew he would capture the best parts of the day and he delivered! He was professional, prompt, and willing to hear my ideas. Due to COVID-19 we had to make so many last minute changes but he maintained a positive attitude throughout the whole endeavor which made it easier on me. His photography skills are incredible! It rained during my outdoor reception and no one cared, we kept dancing. He captured the happiness on everyone's faces so well and I'm so glad we had him there to shoot our big day.

Devonte was our photographer for our wedding on 12/6/20 and WOW were we blown away! From the very beginning Devonte was so kind and worked with us from across the country. Even when having to reschedule, he was so accommodating! His vision on how he sees photography is on a different level and having him be apart of the most important day of our lives meant so much to us. I was looking for someone who took beautiful, candid, fun pictures and he hit the nail on the head. I would recommend Devonte a million times! DONT even think about it, just book him!

Professional, talented, creative, and a GOOD TIME are the words that describe Devonte. If you want someone who will capture your day and all the details in its entirety, book with him. We used him for our engagement photos and our wedding and he exceeded any expectation we set!

Omg what can I say except this man is AWESOME! So professional and a ton of fun ! Devonte truly takes the time out and gets to know you prior to shooting. He is a VIBE and he vibes off you! He made my husband and me feel comfortable and confident in our poses and most importantly directed us in how we should stand, which way we should look, where we should place our hands, etc. I’ve had experiences with photographers who are just no help at all . Not everyone is a super model and knows what to do so you need someone to lead you, and that’s exactly what you will get with Rare Sighting Photography. He has captured the most amazing moments for us and our family! And talk about a fast as lightening getting our pictures. I promise you won’t regret booking with him! That’s for sure!

In an age of COVID weddings, Devonte was made our union one of the most memorable days of our lives. Not too many people have an “eye” for the moments he captured or even the ability to connect the way that he does. We will definitely be booking again!

We booked Devonte before Covid hit, and then once we were in the midst of the pandemic everything changed with our plans. And not just once, but many times, and I reached out to Devonte to schedule and reschedule and reschedule yet again. And he was accommodating each and every time! We eventually just went for an extremely small ceremony (elopement?microwedding?) which was captured so beautifully. Devonte not only did the photography but also helped us to pick the perfect little corner of the park which made for the most amazing backdrop for our day! He was communicative, professional, helpful, and also just a cool person to have around at your event. I would hire him again in a heartbeat.

Man! Where do I begin! The quality of work and professionalism we received with Rare Sighting was impeccable. Devonte was very warm, professional and he captured our special day beautifully! He works with you to make sure your vision is executed to the “t”. I absolutely hate taking pictures (esp staged pictures) but the session felt effortless and the results were beautiful. Our venue included a photographer and I opted to go with Rare Sighting instead - I would do it again lol!