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.

Best wedding venues in St. Louis Missouri and surrounding areas. Rural, chic, intimate and full of character. These are my favorite wedding venues.

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.

If I had only one word to describe this session, it would be “magical”

Following our sunrise session in the dunes at Stormy’s Hometown Retreat in Oregon, we drove back to the old school house to capture the indoor magic by manipulating the sun rays streaming in through the windows with a fog machine.

Though limited on space (especially shooting alongside nine other photographers) we managed to create a variety of intimate nursing portraits, filled with emotion and movement.

I’ve been a photographer for over ten years and am very well-versed in sunset sessions – yet, surprisingly, I have never, not once, photographed a sunrise session.

Partly to blame, I’m sure, is that I despise getting up before sunrise, but it was high time that I photographed in the morning hours! I set my alarm for 4 am, and after grabbing some coffee, we were on our way to an enchanting location encapsulated by the morning fog of the Oregon Coast.