A Cinematic St. Louis Engagement Session | Sarah & Shane

Sarah and Shane knew they wanted their engagement photos to feel a little different from the start. When Sarah described her vision, the words were cinematic, colorful, vibey, and fun, so we chose two St. Louis locations that gave us exactly that! Their cinematic St. Louis engagement session started inside 21c Museum Hotel before heading to Lafayette Park, giving us two completely different settings and so much variety without trying to fit too much into one session.

A Colorful, Cinematic St. Louis Engagement Session at 21c Hotel

We started at 21c Museum Hotel, and honestly, this space was made for the vibe Sarah had in mind. The colorful artwork, patterned walls, dramatic lighting, and unexpected little corners gave us so much to work with. Sarah and Shane kept things simple with their outfits, which worked perfectly against all of the color happening around them. We wandered through the hotel, stopped for drinks at the bar, and let this part of the session feel a little more like a date night than a traditional engagement shoot. It was playful and slightly editorial without feeling too posed, and the moodier lighting helped give the photos that cinematic feel Sarah originally envisioned.

Ending the Session at Lafayette Park

For the second half, we headed to Lafayette Park and completely switched things up. Sarah and Shane changed into lighter, more casual outfits, and we spent the rest of the evening walking around the park as the sun started to come through the trees. After all of the bold colors and indoor lighting at 21c, the greenery and softer light were such a fun contrast. Lafayette Park also gave Sarah and Shane plenty of space to move around, laugh, dance, and just be together. I love combining locations like these because you don’t have to choose between something fun and editorial or something relaxed and natural, you can absolutely have both in the same engagement session!

Planning Your Own Cinematic St. Louis Engagement Session? Would Love To Chat!

Sarah Kellie | St. Louis Engagement Photographer

Your engagement photos don’t have to stick to one specific look or location. Choosing two places that feel different but still fit your overall vision can give you a gallery with so much more variety. Whether that means starting with drinks somewhere colorful and moody or ending the night running around your favorite park, we can build your session around what actually feels like you. If you’re dreaming up your own St. Louis engagement session and want photos that feel fun, intentional, and a little outside the usual, I’d love to help you find locations that bring your vision to life! Head to my contact page so we can chat about the ideas you have! If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click here. Can’t wait to hear from you!