The St. Louis area is known for its wide variety of family-friendly activities and scenic spots. Among them are a great many locations perfect for taking photos of your little ones as they explore the many sites and parks that dot the scenery in the metro area. Amateur and professional photographers from all over the metro area flock to these best places to take pictures of your kids in St. Louis.

Missouri Botanical Garden

4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
www.mobot.org

The Missouri Botanical Gardens are located in the Tower Grove neighborhood of St. Louis, bordering Tower Grove Park. The Botanical Gardens sprawl across more than 79 acres, featuring hundreds of varieties of flowers and plants. Additionally, the gardens feature a rotating stock of sculptures created by artists from the world over. The Botanical Gardens feature a number of small gardens of various sizes and themes, including a maze garden where your children can live out their “Secret Garden” fantasy, and a children’s garden, where they can walk along rope bridges and explore.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

12580 Rott Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63127
www.laumeiersculpturepark.org

Laumeier Sculpture Park is an open-air art museum, located in South St. Louis County, featuring more than 75 outdoor sculptures spread out along hillsides and wooded trails. The sculpture park spans more than 105 acres, and while it is against the regulations of the park to climb on sculptures, the park still allows children to play under and around them. The space is great for children to frolic, while the brightly colored sculptures offer unique accents to enhance any photograph.

Citygarden

808 Chestnut St.
St. Louis, MO 63101
www.CityGardenSTL.org

The Citygarden opened in July of 2009 as an open space where city residents could soak up the sunshine, and where city workers could enjoy an oasis on their lunch hour. Admission to Citygarden is always free, and it’s open to the general public daily from sunrise to 10:00 p.m. The Citygarden features unique and playful sculptures and water play areas, as well as abundant greens and lush blooms. The space offers a unique backdrop and encourages lighthearted play, an ideal combination for lively candids and artful poses. Local photographer Dawn Corwin, owner of Dawn Corwin Creative Photography, recommends this as one of her top spots saying, “With rows of fountains to splash in, gigantic bunnies, a waterfall and a larger-than-life Pinocchio, this location can’t be beat.”

The City Museum

701 North 15th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
www.citymuseum.org

Photographer Corwin also recommends the City Museum as one of the best places to take pictures of your kids in St. Louis, as the opportunities are seemingly endless at this museum. The creative locations in the City Museum have to be seen to be believed. Snapshots can be taken of your children atop a rooftop Ferris wheel, on board an airplane that hangs off the side of a building, or scaling enchanted caves. Airplanes, castles, giant wrought-iron Slinkies and log cabins are among the possible locations for your little one’s next portrait.

- Danielle Eickenhorst