Best places for family photos in St. Louis
Planning family photos in St. Louis? These are the spots worth shortlisting, chosen for the light, the backdrop, and how easily a session comes together.
12 places to shoot family photos & videos in St. Louis
Forest Park (Grand Basin & Art Hill)
Larger than New York's Central Park, Forest Park centers on the Emerson Grand Basin's reflecting pools and the sweeping view from Art Hill up to the Saint Louis Art Museum. Its lagoons, bridges, and tree-lined lawns give couples endless variety in one location.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Missouri Botanical Garden
The nation's oldest botanical garden spans 79 acres with a Japanese strolling garden, the geodesic Climatron, and formal Victorian landscapes. Its cherry blossoms, lily pools, and manicured beds make it a premier spot for engagement and portrait work.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
The Jewel Box
This Art Deco glasshouse in Forest Park is a stepped, cantilevered greenhouse filled with seasonal floral displays. Its bright interior and surrounding lily ponds and lawns make it a striking year-round backdrop.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
Tower Grove Park
A Victorian-era walking park designated a National Historic Landmark, filled with ornate pavilions, lily ponds, and colorful gazebos. The whimsical structures and mature trees lend a romantic, storybook feel to sessions.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Gateway Arch National Park
The 630-foot stainless-steel Arch rises over landscaped grounds and the Mississippi riverfront in the heart of downtown. Its curving reflective form and open lawns create dramatic, unmistakably St. Louis portraits.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
World's Fair Pavilion
This open-air stone pavilion sits atop a hill in Forest Park with sweeping views and grand limestone arches. The colonnade and hillside setting offer elegant, elevated backdrops for couples and families.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
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Citygarden Sculpture Park
A modern downtown sculpture park with contemporary art, water features, and landscaped terraces spanning two city blocks. The clean lines and interactive fountains suit fun, modern urban portraits.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Lafayette Park
St. Louis's oldest park sits within the historic Lafayette Square district of Victorian townhouses. Its lake, bandstand, and iron-fenced gardens paired with the surrounding painted-lady homes create a romantic, historic setting.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
Saint Louis Union Station
The restored Grand Hall of this former train terminal dazzles with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, gold leaf, and a nightly light show. The opulent hall and Romanesque exterior provide grand, all-weather portrait options.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
Washington University in St. Louis (Brookings Hall & Danforth Quad)
Washington University's Danforth Campus is a sweep of collegiate gothic architecture, anchored by Brookings Hall with its twin towers looking out over a grassy quad. The stone archways, ivy, and manicured lawns make a classic, dignified backdrop that reads as academic milestone. Late afternoon light warms the pale limestone and rakes across the quad.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Saint Louis University (DuBourg Hall & Clock Tower Plaza)
Saint Louis University's midtown campus pairs 19th-century red-brick DuBourg Hall with the landmark clock tower plaza and open green lawns. The mix of historic facades, fountains, and tidy greens gives grads and seniors a formal yet friendly stage. Morning light softens the brick before the plaza fills up.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
Inside Faust Park, the Butterfly House keeps an 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory warm and green year round, with free-flying butterflies drifting through tropical plants. The diffused light through the glass stays soft and even, and the lush foliage wraps little ones in color. It is a gentle, sheltered spot for newborn and family photos when the weather outside will not cooperate.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
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Shooting family photos in St. Louis
It depends on the spot. Public streets and sidewalks usually don't, while many parks, gardens, and landmarks require a permit for professional sessions. Each location above notes what we found on permits — confirm the current rules and any fee with the venue or city before you book.
Golden hour — the hour after sunrise or before sunset — flatters almost every location, and each spot above lists the light that works best there. Early morning also means thinner crowds at the popular ones.
Snappr pricing is flat and set before you book, with no travel or editing surprises. Most sessions run one to two hours; you can see current rates and what each tier includes on the pricing page.
Pick your date and shoot type and we match you with a vetted local photographer who shoots in St. Louis. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
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