If this church looks familiar, it’s because it’s the church from My Chemical Romance’s Helena music video AKA a core memory for a lot of us elder emos! 😉 Between the dramatic architecture, stained glass, warm lighting, and overall cinematic feel, it’s honestly one of the coolest locations for a alternative couples, whether it’s for an engagement session or just for funsies!!

And surprisingly, it’s also much more photographer friendly than most churches.

How to Book a Helena Church Photoshoot

One of the best parts about this location is how flexible it is compared to other churches. You can actually book the space FOR photoshoots, and there’s a lot more freedom to move around and use the church creatively.

I definitely recommend reaching out ahead of time since availability can vary. The best way to reach out would be to send an inquiry form via their “wedding/events” page here! It’s $100/hr (as of May 2026 anyway), and the staff is super sweet and helpful!

I always recommend shooting for a weekday and earlier in the day around 10am-12pm to avoid LA traffic and the SoCal heat since it can get a little warm in there!

What to Wear

If you want to fully lean into the Helena vibe, black and red are obviously the way to go!! The church already has so much warmth and drama to it, and those colors photograph incredibly well in the space, especially against the stained glass and dark wood tones.

I’d also recommend dressing a little more formal rather than casual for this type of session. Long dresses, skirts, slacks, button-ups, ties, dress shoes, and heels all fit the atmosphere perfectly and help the photos feel more cinematic overall. One of my clients even brought her black veil from her wedding day!! GORG!!

The best outfits for this location feel intentional, dramatic, and a little nostalgic without looking costume-y. Think formal/editorial photoshoot, not Halloween.

Why I’m Probably Your Photographer

Truthfully, not every photographer really gets this kind of session, and that’s okay.

A huge part of photographing at the Helena church is understanding the balance between nostalgia, mood, and keeping the photos feeling elevated instead of gimmicky. My style leans cinematic, documentary, and guided enough to help you feel comfortable without making everything feel stiff or overly posed.

If your emo phase never fully left you, your middle school self would be losing their mind over this location. And if you also got made fun of for your emo/scene phase back then… I’m probably the photographer for you. Send me an inquiry here and let’s start planning!