Kiener Plaza engagement sessions have such a unique feel in Downtown St. Louis, and that was exactly why it was the perfect next stop for Anastasia and Gabe’s engagement session.

After beginning our time together surrounded by the grand architecture and timeless elegance of the Central Library, we made our way into the heart of the city for a completely different backdrop. One of my favorite things about engagement sessions is creating a gallery that feels layered and complete, and Kiener Plaza brought exactly that to Anastasia and Gabe’s story.

One moment felt effortlessly sophisticated. The next felt playful and carefree. Somehow, Anastasia and Gabe moved seamlessly between both worlds. Honestly, those are my favorite kinds of sessions to photograph. Because the best engagement photos aren’t about choosing between beautiful portraits and genuine moments. The magic happens when you have both. The editorial images that stop you in your tracks. The quiet in-between moments that make you feel something. The laughter that you’ll remember long after this season has passed. Those are the photographs that become treasures decades from now.

Kiener Plaza was the perfect setting for exactly that.

With city views in every direction, beautiful architecture surrounding us, and landmarks like the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch nearby, it’s easy to see why Kiener Plaza has become one of my favorite locations for engagement photos in Downtown St. Louis.

For couples who love the energy of the city but still want images that feel timeless, romantic, and refined, it offers the best of both worlds.

But as incredible as Kiener Plaza is, my favorite part had nothing to do with the location. It was the way Anastasia and Gabe looked at each other. The way they laughed together. The way they settled so naturally into each other. Their absolute delight in each other. 

Those are the moments that matter. Those are the photographs that become family heirlooms. Those are the images that tell the story of their love.

Looking back on Anastasia and Gabe’s engagement photos now, after their wedding day has already come and gone, I’m reminded that engagement sessions preserve something wedding photographs can’t. Not the celebration. Not the timeline. Just the two of them at the very beginning of forever.

Anastasia and Gabe, thank you for trusting me to capture this season of your story. Looking back on these images now only makes me love them even more, and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to preserve this chapter for you both!

Photographer: Erika Rene Photography