BEST ENGAGEMENT SESSION LOCATIONS in St. Louis MISSOURI

No. one
Forest Park

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.

The Muny

The Muny is the most popular spot for many reasons – easily accessible, perfect backup location in case it rains and perfectly lit. BUT given it’s such a popular spot, it comes with it’s set of downsides – many wedding parties pick this spot for wedding photos on the weekends so you’re likely to have to wait for your turn and when events are happening in the park, the Muny is often closed off or park visitors sit on the benches in the background (which doesn’t always make for the cutest backdrop)

Worlds Fair Pavilion

Depending on the time of year, the pavilion is surrounded by blooming trees, lush greenery or colorful fall foliage. The mixture of architecture and nature is a perfect balance to achieve a natural yet classic look. The Pavilion is perfect for cute silhouette shots as well but you will most likely want to avoid photographing here on Saturdays due to the Pavilion often being rented out for weekend weddings.

Deer Lake Riffles

One of my absolute favorites! Tucked away from the road, the riffles make for a truly breathtaking backdrop. I would recommend this location for my adventurous couples

the Cascades

Conveniently located right by the road, the Cascades make for a beautiful backdrop and being tucked under the lush trees, this location if perfect to avoid harsh sunlight.

Lake Eisenhower

Right across from the Emerson Grand Basin, you can find a remote (and never busy) area with fields and pine trees.

Emerson Grand Basin

Definitely a top pick for engagement sessions in St Louis – at the bottom of Art Hill sits the Emerson grand basin. While I like the location, it is a very open area so on bright and sunny days, it’s difficult to work around the sun and the Basin tends to be a busier spot in Forest Park and often comes with difficulty finding a parking spot.

Wildlife Island

One of the more peaceful locations in Forest park. It’s about a 3 minute walk from the road to get here. If you’re looking for a more outdoorsy feeling location, I’d highly recommend shooting by Wildlife Island.

Bonus tip – the tall trees leading up to Wildlife Island are in full bloom the last week in May.

No. two
top of the Parking Garage

Outdoorsy is not really your vibe? You want an urban city feel? Then the top of one of St. Louis’ parking garages will be a great option for you. Your photos will look less traditional and sunsets overlooking the skyline of St. Louis are particularly photogenic.

Why I love this location: You can shoot from all angles and work around harsh conditions – and you can even see the Arch in the background, if that is your jam.

No. three
Lafayette Park

This location is ideal if you want a big variety of different backdrops. Let’s shoot by the lake surrounded by swans or go for a walk through the fields or use the surrounding houses beaming with character for a fun urban backdrop.

However, I’m redacting points for the mosquitos by the water XD

Nr. four
Central Library St. Louis

I have a love / love relationship with this location. I have absolutely no bad things to say about the library. It is truly stunning with it’s tall arches and golden gates, but if you want, you can swoop inside and shoot with the bright wall of windows in the background instead. Conveniently, you can use the bathrooms to change your outfits and it’s THE perfect location to use as a rainy weather backup.

HOWEVER, the library requires a (free) permit that needs approval from the PR manager prior to the session, the form can be found here

Nr. five
Tower Grove Park

Let me tell you, the way the sun shines through the willow trees and clearing is truly magical. It’s the perfect way to start a session before the sun becomes less intense and we can move on to the more open areas such as the ruins at Tower Grove park or the Piper Palm House.

Nr. six
Soulard

The terracotta wall and colorful Soulard homes are one of my favorite hidden Gems. Never too crowded, truly unique and a great alternative to the more popular locations. It’s also a great opportunity to shoot at a coffee shop around the corner – if that is your jam.

Nr. seven
Foundry Art Center

Bricks galore! If you love an industrial look, the Foundry Art Center will be the perfect location for your engagement session. Glass, brick and rustic doors make perfect backdrops for your urban portraits.

No. eight
Busch Wildlife

You want to go full blown outdoorsy? Then the Pine Trail at Busch Wildlife is your best bet. It is completely overrun with photographers around sunset on a weekend – for a good reason!
(it doesn’t make it impossible to take engagement photos here, but I highly encourage my couples to book their sessions on a weekday instead)

It’s a twofer though – after avoiding the harsh lighting by shooting at the Pine Trail first, I would recommend driving up to the overlook and taking advantage of the sun setting behind the stunning landscape. (I recommend checking for ticks after the session, even if you didn’t go into the tall grass)

No. nine
Towne Park

Towne park is about a 30 minute drive from St. Louis but SO worth it! You can use the cute wooden bridge for a more parkish flair and then move to the hills overgrown with beautiful wildflowers to finish the session with the golden sun setting behind you. Don’t forget your bug spray – to get to the good spots, you will have to hike through the field.

No. ten
Indian Camp Creek

Indian Camp Creek is particularly popular for it’s easy creek access and the vast variety of backdrops. It’s about a 30 minute drive from St. Louis and only 5 minutes down the road from Towne Park, so if you wanted, you could easily use both locations for your engagement photos.