Evan | A Street Boy in Nature
For Evan’s senior session we headed to Forest Park’s Victorian Bridge. His family visits the park often, but this quiet, lesser-known spot was new to them making it the perfect place to…
For Evan’s senior session we headed to Forest Park’s Victorian Bridge. His family visits the park often, but this quiet, lesser-known spot was new to them making it the perfect place to capture Evan and his calm and easy-going personality. As we walked to and past the bridge, we followed a creek that has periodic rocks nearby. These rocks were great for some comfortable sitting poses. We even walked down a boardwalk which was great for him to lean back against and cross his arms. And since this area of the park has a fair amount of wooded areas, Evan was even able to stand on a dirt pathway, surrounded by trees and greenery, for a perfect forest feel. As we made our way around this section of the park we noticed a huge, twisted, dead tree that we couldn’t stop talking about. It was such a cool and unique backdrop that we had to utilize.
Of Evan’s two outfits, one was a bit more casual, which he liked to call his “street” attire. With a stone building nearby, it gave us the awesome opportunity to really amp up that street feel. The building even had a blue, wooden garage door that made for the perfect lean back, cool guy, serious face pose. It just yelled “street scene.”
Throughout the session, Evan was an absolute pleasure to work with as he was easy-going and kind. He even shared his plans of earning his pilot’s license and joining the Navy to fly planes off ships, which I was in awe by and salute him. Check out his images below!
Top Locations for Senior Pictures that Aren’t in Downtown St. Louis
While downtown St. Louis has its share of cool urban cityscapes and beautiful parks, you might be looking for something a little different for…
While downtown St. Louis has its share of cool urban cityscapes and beautiful parks, you might be looking for something a little different for your senior pictures. Or maybe you just prefer to stay out of the city altogether. You can still capture that urban vibe or have a gorgeous park as your backdrop without heading downtown. With 10 years of experience in the photography industry, I’ve had the chance to work with seniors at lots of spots outside the city that are just as unique, beautiful, and/or give you that feeling of being in a town. To save you the hassle of hunting for the perfect locations, I’ve put together a list of my top favorites that keep you out of downtown.
Shaw Nature Reserve
Shaw Nature Reserve is the dream location for any flower lover wanting senior pictures surrounded by beauty. With the Whitmire Wildflower Garden in full bloom, charming wooden and brick buildings, a peaceful lake, and wooded trails, you'll have a variety of nature-filled backdrops. From vibrant spring flowers to quiet winter scenes, Shaw Nature Reserve offers stunning settings no matter the season.
Location: 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110
St. Charles
St. Charles offers the perfect blend of city charm and historical beauty, with brick streets, historic buildings, and lovely parks, making it a great choice for senior pictures. The area features unique spots like storefronts, fences, light posts, a rustic cabin, and even inoperable train tracks for a variety of photo opportunities. With its seasonal offerings, from flowers in the spring to fall colors on the trees and winter’s architectural backdrop, St. Charles provides a versatile setting for portraits year-round.
Location: 408 S Main St, St Charles, MO 63301
Queeny Park
Queeny Park is an ideal location for senior pictures, featuring a mix of open fields, flowers, and vintage architecture. With three buildings, a flower-lined brick pathway, and a spacious grass field, the park offers a variety of settings for both nature and country-inspired shots. Open year-round, it provides beautiful backdrops in every season, from colorful blooms in spring to fall foliage and even winter’s serene landscape, all at no cost to visit.
Location: 1675 S. Mason Rd, St. Louis, MO 63131
Eckert’s
Eckert’s is the perfect spot for anyone who loves the charm of farm life and the beauty of fresh produce. Whether you’re looking for a rustic country vibe or colorful backdrops from changing crops, this location offers a variety of picturesque scenes all year round for your senior pictures. From picking peaches and apples in the orchard to getting lost in a sunflower field or pumpkin patch, there’s a backdrop to suit every mood and season.
Belleville Location: 951 S Green Mt Rd, Belleville, IL 62220
Millstadt Location: 2719 Eckert Orchard Ln, Millstadt, IL 62260
Faust Park
Faust Park is a great spot for senior pictures if you want a mix of nature and unique architecture. With its beautiful woods, lake with grassy paths, historic log cabins, and the stunning Butterfly House, you’ll have plenty of beautiful backdrops to choose from. You can even make your session extra fun by visiting the Butterfly House or hopping on the carousel for one-of-a-kind portraits.
Location: 15025 Faust Pk Dr, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Brooke | A Blooming Beauty
Brooke had only one request during her senior session and that was to capture the flowers at the…
Brooke had only one request during her senior session and that was to capture the flowers at the Jewel Box in her background. That was the most important thing to her, so I made sure we spent plenty of time working with all those beautiful flowers. She even had a black dress picked out specifically for those photos.
While the Jewel Box was Brooke’s main goal, we did venture around The Muny at Forest Park as well, where she wore a beautiful pink dress that complimented the soft tan tones of the architecture. We also went to the creek nearby where her mom asked to take some photos with her. But these weren’t just any ordinary mother daughter photos. Her mom had such adorable ideas in mind that create intimate photos between the two of them.
Lastly, Brooke made sure to bring along her gymnast medals. It was the cherry on top showing off her true personality. Scroll down to view her amazing session!
Abhinav | Revisiting His Childhood
For Abhinav’s session, we chose to head to Faust Park, because it’s a special location to him. As a child, his mom took…
For Abhinav’s session, we chose to head to Faust Park, because it’s a special location to him. As a child, his mom took him and his family there often. We captured a few portraits near the Butterfly House, incorporating the unique architecture and the beautiful pond in the background. We also explored the historic village that was full of fall color.
Unfortunately, it was supposed to rain all day during Abhinav’s session, but his mom and I were determined to find some part in the day that was dry. While the radar showed us that we’d have some dry time earlier in the day, despite moving up his session we still managed to get caught in a little bit of rain. But no worries. Abhinav was a trooper and worked through the rain. We found some dry spots under the overhangs of the buildings that worked perfect. The rain didn’t stop his session for a second. Check out his photos by scrolling down!
Faust Park
If you’re looking for both nature and architectural senior pictures that are different from the average high schooler, check out Faust Park. With a mix of woods, a lake with a path through…
If you’re looking for both nature and architectural senior pictures that are different from the average high schooler, check out Faust Park. With a mix of woods, a lake with a path through grasses, log cabins, and historic buildings, you’ll have a variety of backgrounds and looks in one, small park. You can even make your session extra special by taking a stroll through the Butterfly House, surrounding yourself with beautiful butterflies, or hoping up on the carousel and posing with the horses.
Check out my list of the top senior picture locations in St. Louis, MO to get inspired by more locations to have your senior pictures taken.
The Best Part About Faust Park
One of Faust Park’s best-known features is the Butterfly House. With butterflies flying all around in a bubble filled with trees, flowers, and bushes your photos will be filled with nature and gentle creatures. If you’re lucky enough, the butterflies will land on you and make for extra special portraits.
Head outside the Butterfly house for photos of you walking down the flower and grass filled pathway as you head over to the lake. With trees and tall grasses around the outside of the lake, you’ll have a variety of options for photos with the lake in the background. To add to it, this is the perfect angle for capturing the stunning, glass building that’s the Butterfly House behind you as well.
Just across the lawn stands a small village of log cabins and historic buildings that set against the woods. These buildings are perfect for standing in front of, leaning against, sitting on the steps, and holding onto fences. The wooded background gives your portraits more of a country vibe instead of feeling like you’re in the middle of a city as well.
Towards the back of the park is a pathway through the forest, giving you the perfect whimsical scene as you stroll through the woods or to step into the tall grasses to create a more earthy and adventurous look to your photos.
What to Expect Each Season
Spring
With the number of trees growing in Faust Park, you’ll find plenty of green leaves popping up on trees, giving Faust Park more color. The nature walk will also be blooming with spring wildflowers that are perfect for standing and sitting amongst. Along the lake you’ll also find those spring flowers blooming, giving you more variety for backgrounds with the tall grasses, lake, and Butterfly House.
Summer
Flowers can be found blooming in and around the historic village in small gardens. These flowers are perfect for standing behind, sitting in front of, or even having partially in the background while you lean against a nearby building, giving you both the liveliness of flowers but also an architectural vibe.
Fall
Faust Park is filled with trees that turn vibrant reds and oranges during the fall. You won’t fall short of fall colors here. Trees surround the area, so everywhere you go, whether it’s in the historic village, down the trail, or by the Butterfly House, you’ll find plenty of changing leaves on the trees and laying on the ground.
Winter
With the cabins and historic village, Faust Park offers plenty of scenery during the winter. You won’t have to worry about your background being full of brown trees. The buildings offer multiple, vibrant colors to brighten up your photos being painted in yellows, reds, whites, and greens.
Pricing and Accommodations
Faust Park is free and open from dawn to dusk. Restrooms are across from the playground that’s in between the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House and the historic village.
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House costs $8 per person or is free for Missouri Botanical Garden Members. Hours vary by season.
Spring/Summer: 9:00am - 4:o0pm
Fall/Winter: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday - Sunday (Closed Monday)
The carousel costs $2 to ride and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Address
15025 Faust Pk Dr, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Senior Pictures at Faust Park
Abhinav
Faust Park
For Abhinav’s session, we chose to head to Faust Park, because it’s a special location to him. As a child, his mom took…
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