Bride and groom portraits are always one of my favorite parts of the wedding day. It’s a designated time block that my couples get to use to slow down and catch up, and time that I get to use to incorporate my creative direction. The photos that come out of what’s typically a quick thirty minutes are always some of the most loved. So, let’s talk about a few things you can do to truly maximize your time in front of the camera and walk away with amazing photos!

Forest Park is such a stunning St. Louis session location in any season. But, on this particular spring day, the bright blooms were truly showing off for Katie and Zach’s engagement photos!

When I first asked Emily about the overall style they were planning for their wedding, she said “winery meets bookstore”, and that unique answer had me SO excited to witness this gorgeous Nobelois Winery wedding. The rolling vineyard view, books stacked into centerpieces, and even the tiniest details nodding to their literary favorites—Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings—all brought that vision to life.

Bright botanical wedding inspiration complete with blooming branches framing indoor settings, a botanical tablescape set with vintage glassware, a lounge area with unique desserts, vintage couches for ceremony seating, a floral lapel and basket bouquet, actual adorable lambs, and more!!

From the tulle wings moving through the wheat field, the perfectly loose and wild bouquet (complete with toffee roses!), the floral fedora for a whimsical touch, and even the threat of rain disappearing to give us the most stunning evening on the farm—every single aspect came together beautifully.

Natalie and Alex’s 2020 wedding experience was filled with several firsts for all of us. They were the first of my couples to move forward with two wedding dates. It was the first time I've ever arrived to shoot a wedding with the couple’s wedding photos already hanging on the wall. ha! And, the first time I’ve ever had a groom casually pop into the bridal suite for the sweetest, unplanned moment.

Something about Shelby and Kyle makes it SO easy to be their third wheel. We just immediately connected, and I’ve loved every minute spent with them! They had a fall wedding at Silver Oaks Chateau, and I’m still drooling over the details.

We spent their engagement session walking Main Street St. Charles and laughing over wine—because if you know them, you know there’s wine.

This first photo, with Alyse and Chris exiting the incredibly beautiful St. Francis Xavier College Church, almost sums up their day in a single image—stunning, breathtaking, and all with the two of them hand-in-hand.

This romantic engagement inspiration at Chandler Hill Vineyards features refined details that complement an overall natural and organic feel. Sarah and Jake, are such a thoughtful and fun pair. And, when you hand them a glass of wine with the hills of a Missouri vineyard rolling behind them, the result is the epitome of romance.

Kortney and Chad’s fun, laidback personalities pair together perfectly, and their wedding was a reflection of that. Here is a glimpse into their intimate summer wedding at The Pour Vineyard!

Gabby and Nick are completely crazy about each other—like the rest of the world just melts away. Nick plants kisses on her cheek as Gabby is laughing about one of their many inside jokes. It’s perfect. Their personalities also have a way of making you feel like you’ve been friends for years, joining in on the laughs and always having fun. Being their third wheel was easy.

Meet my two favorite pharmacists, Nikki and Andrew! These two met while in St. Louis at pharmacy school, and the rest is history. I’m just honored that I got to spend a beautiful day in January documenting a piece of that history! Keep scrolling for some cozy, winter wedding GOALS.

It didn’t take long during that first consult to realize that I was going to LOVE working with Angela and Chris. Angela works in the event industry herself, so she knew exactly how to focus on what truly mattered and had a clear vision from the very start. The two of them planned their wedding at The Pour Vineyard that sits right outside of Red Bud, IL (my hometown!), and everything about this beautiful venue, fit the organic, natural, and bright vibes they were planning for.

The groups of pine trees create a stunning backdrop that works for any season. And, those trees are exactly what Annie fell in love with as she and August planned their outdoor wedding. When you combine that perfect setting with their thoughtful details and favorite people…it was one heck of a wedding day!

Everything about this stunning collaboration fills my creative heart all the way to the top. The amazing couple, cozy details, soft florals, unique cake, and romantic vineyard setting all come together perfectly. But, when you take all of that…and pour craft coffee all over it…well, it just doesn’t get any better.

As Gabby put it, I am the Jim to their Pam. And, you guys, I’m not sure I’ve ever received a greater compliment. Beyond grateful that our paths crossed! So, as you can imagine, we spent much of their session quoting our favorite Netflix binge shows, and I loved every minute spent laughing with them!

So, if an engagement session is THAT big of a deal, and I believe that it is! I want to give you the tools you need to get the most out of it. Let’s talk about the different elements that can give you a personalized, stunning, and overall bomb engagement session!

It took a total of ten minutes for me to click with Megan and Chris. We went from strangers, to the tightest hello hug, to sharing a cup of coffee, to discovering all of the things we have in common, to friends—just like that. It was like we couldn’t spill our life stories fast enough, and that’s the kind of connection I live for.

Desireé and Steven are one of those couples that could make a stranger smile with the love that they share…not that they’ve ever met a stranger. Their compassion for each other and everyone around them is sure to pull you in. And, their wedding day was exactly that, magnetic.