Mardi Gras at Lucky Dagger

While on assignment in New Orleans, I was asked to capture Mardi Gras from my own perspective. Rather than photographing the parades from the street, I found myself at Lucky Dagger Tattoo, located directly along the parade route, where the celebration took on a different kind of energy. I focused on the people who wandered in for spontaneous, walk-in Mardi Gras tattoos—small, permanent reminders of an otherwise fleeting celebration. The images capture the spontaneity, flair, and playful spirit of Mardi Gras 2026, seen through the intimate and unexpected perspective of a tattoo shop in the heart of the festivities.