Whether you swap out your flower girl for a flower nana, do an emotional first look with your grandparents or give your g-pa and g-ma the honor of signing your marriage certificate – making them a part of your wedding and including them in the process will make them feel as special as they are to you.

Forest park is by far the most popular pick when it come to the best locations for engagement sessions in St. Louis. You can pick and choose between different styles, whether you’re drawn for a clean and bright look or you want to shoot by the water, shoot in tall grass or incorporate landmarks of St. Louis – this park is a great choice for a reason.

Having photographed weddings for a decade, I believed I had seen it all. However, Jenna and Daren’s wedding proved me wrong.

Nestled just outside of St. Louis, the Silver Oaks Chateau provided a picture-perfect backdrop for their heartfelt vows and intimate celebration with their closest loved ones.

After capturing their getting-ready photos with their bridesmaids and groomsmen, they opted for a private first look and exchange of vows. Both were crying happy tears as they revisited their love story and envisioned their future together, starting from that day forward.

Talk about a laid-back wedding! Peyton and Tyler focused on living in the moment, making unforgettable memories with their closest friends and family, and setting the record for the shortest and sweetest exchange of vows, from a quick trip down the aisle to a homestyle buffet in a rustic German-inspired dining room. The day was unique and marked with sweet gestures of love, laughter, and happiness.

Fun facts about this session:

Bradford pear trees are not native to Missouri. The trees, which flower early in the spring season and smell terrible, are an invasive species.

Emily is native to Missouri, smells lovely, and is my non-invasive best friend.

When I first discovered Stormy’s work, I felt moved in a way I hadn’t been before. Her art was unlike anything I’d ever seen – her portraits weren’t of families fake smiling at the camera but somehow there was no sign of uncomfortable expressions on anyone’s face. Still, instead, an effortless feel and authenticity and ease were captured in her intensely captivating images.

Stormy’s All Heart Access online education class was a big game-changer for me. I felt my mindset shift, and so many gears started turning – I kept buying more and more of her online education content, but I was still hungry for more until I learned she offered workshops.

Why should you bring your pet chicken to your family session?

Baw-cause it makes for the most unique family portraits and keeps your kids entertained!

We couldn’t have picked a hotter day for this outdoor session at Towne Park, but we had fun regardless. We started the session by playing some of the kids’ favorite tunes, which helped loosen up Mom and Dad while allowing everyone to shake off the jitters and seemingly uncomfortable and scary aspects of “having your pictures taken.” Once the boys got restless, Dad went with them to explore, which was the perfect opportunity to get sweet photos of just Mom with her girls.