St. Louis Art Museum & Emerson Grand Basin Engagement

One of my favorite things about engagement sessions is that they do not have to happen in just one place! Kaylee and Jake’s engagement photos are a perfect example. Because these two have connections to both Chicago and St. Louis, we planned two engagement sessions to capture a little bit of both cities they love. Their first session took us to the Wrigley Building and North Avenue Beach in Chicago, and for Part Two, we headed to St. Louis for an early summer engagement session at the Saint Louis Art Museum and Emerson Grand Basin.

Kaylee is originally from Chicago and attended Mizzou, while Jake is from St. Louis and went to the University of Illinois. Now they live in St. Louis, but they are planning their wedding in the Chicago suburbs. With so many meaningful connections between the two cities, it felt especially fitting to document their engagement season in both places!

You can see Part One of their engagement story here: Chicago Engagement Session at the Wrigley Building & North Avenue Beach.

St. Louis Engagement Photo Inspiration

For their St. Louis engagement session, we spent the evening exploring Forest Park, and it did not take long to see why this is such an incredible location for engagement photos. The Saint Louis Art Museum and Emerson Grand Basin are within walking distance of each other at the park. This gave us the opportunity to create a lot of variety without having to travel between photo locations!

The Saint Louis Art Museum is such a beautiful backdrop for engagement photos. The classic architecture gives the images a timeless, elegant feel, while the surrounding paths and greenery add a more relaxed element to the session. Whether you are looking for architectural engagement photos or want a mix of classic portraits and natural moments, the St. Louis Art Museum offers so many possibilities.

And then there is the Emerson Grand Basin, one of the most recognizable spots in Forest Park! With the grand architecture, water, fountains, and expansive views, the Emerson Grand Basin gives engagement photos that unmistakable St. Louis feel. It was the perfect complement to the portraits we captured around the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Summer had just arrived for Kaylee and Jake’s session, so we were more than happy to welcome all of the green trees and warm temperatures. There is something about photographing engagement sessions at the beginning of summer when everything feels fresh and vibrant. The lush greenery throughout Forest Park added such a beautiful backdrop to their photos, especially paired with the timeless architecture of the Art Museum and Grand Basin.

Engagement Photos at Forest Park in St. Louis

I also love that their two engagement sessions feel different while still telling the same story. Their Chicago engagement session gave us the energy of the city, Lake Michigan, and some of Chicago’s most iconic locations. Their St. Louis engagement session brought us beautiful architecture, green space, and the classic scenery of Forest Park. Together, they create a collection of engagement photos that reflects both the places that have shaped their story.

And honestly, I am always up for photographing somewhere new. Getting to explore the Saint Louis Art Museum, Emerson Grand Basin, and Forest Park with Kaylee and Jake was such a fun change of scenery, and I loved getting to see these two in a place that is home to them right now.

Their engagement season has already taken us from Chicago to St. Louis, and I cannot wait to see where the next chapter takes them. Next stop: their Chicagoland wedding!

Kim Ritchie Photography is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Chicagoland, specializing in weddings, seniors, and corporate headshots captured in a timeless style. Want to work together? Reach out here and follow along on social to see what’s happening behind the scenes!

St. Louis Art Museum Engagement Photos | Emerson Grand Basin Engagement Photos | Forest Park Engagement Photos | Forest Park St. Louis Engagement Photo Inspiration | Chicago Wedding Photographer | Chicagoland Wedding Photographer | Kim Ritchie Photography