St. Louis Beauty Shots

St. Louis is a photogenic city, so here’s a list of “beauty shots” to help you find ideal locations for print photography, stand-ups or b-roll footage.

The Classic Shot

Set up a shot in Kiener Plaza looking east. The photographer can get the Gateway Arch framing the Old Courthouse. Directions to Kiener: Broadway, Market and Chestnut streets (across the street from the Old Courthouse west entrance) frame this downtown green space.

Skyline

Looking from the east to the west. East St. Louis viewing platform. Take the Poplar Street Bridge east to the 4th street exit and follow the signs toward the Casino Queen (CQ). There are signs directing you toward the fountain, but basically you pass the CQ parking lots on your left and continue toward the flood wall. Turn left, pass in front of the CQ hotel and make the next left. The platform and parking will be in front of you. Bonus: The 600-foot geyser fountain there goes off multiple times a day.

Looking from the west to east. This may be a difficult skyline shot, but can be achieved by heading west on Market Street to Harry’s Restaurant and Bar. From Harry’s parking lot, photographers can get a spectacular view of the St. Louis skyline. This may be an impressive sunset shot. Harry’s Restaurant is located on 2144 Market Street.

The Gateway Arch Riverboats offer visitors one-hour narrated cruises along the Mississippi River. During a cruise, media may also utilize the authentic paddle wheelers to capture a striking St. Louis skyline shot from its decks. Departure times are: Noon, 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. Gateway Arch Riverboats are located on the St. Louis Riverfront just below the Gateway Arch. Gateway Arch Riverboats contact: 314/621-1042.

Photographers can set up a shot on the Eads Bridge looking west to downtown St. Louis. James Buchanan Eads built the historic bridge in 1874. It was the first bridge to span across the Mississippi River at St. Louis and the first to use steel truss construction. Pedestrians and cyclists can cross the bridge for great views of the St. Louis skyline. Directions to the Eads Bridge: Access Washington Avenue heading east. Washington Avenue ends at Eads Bridge.

Neighborhoods

If you want to shoot a downtown entertainment spot or want to capture a feel of old St. Louis, make your way to Laclede’s Landing entertainment district. Cobblestone streets, red brick buildings, trendy restaurants and vibrant nightclubs call this nine-square block area home. Directions: The Landing is an easy walk from downtown St. Louis and MetroLink light rail stops at the Laclede’s Landing station. Motorists can take Memorial Drive north to Washington Avenue east to Landing and Arch parking.

The Loop neighborhood is near Forest Park and is home to 120 one-of-a-kind stores and boutiques, more than 40 ethnic and American restaurants and the Tivoli, a grandly restored movie theatre specializing in international and limited release films. Be sure to visit the Pin –Up Bowl, a modern retro design bowling alley. The attraction’s Martini Bar is a fun interior shot, as is the memorabilia-filled Blueberry Hill restaurant. The Loop is similar in look and feel to the East Village of New York City. Directions: From downtown St. Louis, take I-64/40 west to Forest Park Parkway exit, turn (right) north on Skinker and west on Delmar.

In the 1890’s, Italians seeking a new beginning in America came to the St. Louis area to work in the clay mines. They settled and made their community in the quaint town now known to St. Louisans as The Hill. More than 100 years later, the Hill has grown and flourished and is home to some of the finest Italian restaurants in the country. A popular spot for photographers is the front/exterior of the St. Ambrose Catholic Church and “The Italian Immigrants,” statue by local sculptor Rudy Torrini. Directions to St. Ambrose Church: Take I-64/40 to Kingshighway south, make a right onto Daggett Ave., turn left onto Hereford St. and turn right onto Wilson. End at 5130 Wilson.

Capture St. Louisans and visitors enjoying lunch or dinner at any of the cafes located in the Central West End (CWE). Euclid is the main artery of the CWE. The most active portion of the CWE is between Maryland/Euclid and McPherson/Euclid. Directions to the CWE: Take I64/Highway 40 to the Kingshighway North exit. (Wash U. Medical Center) Take Kingshighway North about 1.5 miles to McPherson. (There’s a light) Turn right on McPherson and go 1 block to Euclid. Turn left on Euclid.

Soulard is St. Louis’ oldest neighborhood known for its brick row houses, blues music clubs, corner taverns and the oldest operating farmers market in America. Did you know there are more working blues musicians in St. Louis than any other place in the world and most can be heard in Soulard? Stop by BB’s Jazz Blues and Soups nightclub showcasing local and national jazz and blues acts. Directions to BB’s: Head south on Broadway, just pass Busch Stadium to 700 South Broadway. Contact: Mark O’Shaughnessy or John May, 314/436-5222.

Just a block south from BB’s step inside Broadway Oyster Bar for a peek at St. Louis style blues and R&B live music. Directions to Broadway Oyster Bar: Head south on Broadway, just pass Busch Stadium to 736 South Broadway. Contact: 314/621-8811

To capture visitors having a great time and listening to some of the hottest sounds in town head to 1860s Hard Shell Café & Bar. Directions to 1860s: Head south on Broadway, make a right onto Geyer St. and another right onto South 9th St. End at 1860 S 9th St. Contact: 314/231-1860.

Miscellaneous

The Gateway Arch. If you would like to photograph the interior at the Arch or conduct your stand-up on the grounds, you will need to apply for a park permit. Contact: Rose Hoots, 314-655-1613

Citygarden. The landscaping features diverse plantings, native plants and six rain gardens, and there are two dozen works of modern and contemporary sculptures sprinkled throughout. Directions to Citygarden: Between eighth and 10th, with a boarder of Chestnut and Market streets.

Meeting of the Waters Fountain/St. Louis Union Station is located in Aloe Plaza, which is located outside Union Station. It is the site of one of St. Louis’ favorite works of public art, a grand fountain featuring allegorical representations of mythical female and male figures that represent the coming together of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Directions: Head west on Market Street to 1820 Market, which is across the street from St. Louis Union Station/Marriott Hotel.

The world-famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales can be found at Grant’s Farm. Grant’s Farm is one of two breeding facilities operated by the Anheuser Busch brewery and at any given time is home to about 35 Clydesdales producing as many as 15 foals per year. Contact: Andy Elmore, 314/525-0817. Directions to Grant’s Farm: Take 55 South and exit Gravois. Follow Gravois to Grant’s Farm.

Praised in National Geographic for its unparalleled efforts to catalog plants from the world’s rain forests, the 79-acre Missouri Botanical Garden has been a St. Louis institution since it was founded by a British emigrant in 1859. A signature shot of the Garden is the Climatron, which houses a recreated tropical rain forest. Contact: Karen Hagenow 314-577-5141. Directions to the Garden: Take I-64/40 west to Kingshighway. Head south on Kingshighway, make a left onto Shaw Blvd. Follow Shaw to the entrance of the Garden on your right.

The Saint Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium is one of the nation’s leading space education facilities. The unique hyperboloid architecture has been a St. Louis icon for more than 30 years. Contact: Beth McClure, Saint Louis Science Center, 314.267.9916, bmcclure@slsc.org. Directions to the Science Center’s McDonnell Planetarium: I-64/40 west to Kingshighway South, right on Oakland Avenue.

The Jewel Box was built in 1936 and serves as an art deco floral conservation house which exhibits flowers and plants. Directions to the Jewel Box: I-64/40 west to Kingshighway North. Turn left on Hospital Drive and a slight right on Clayton Road.

The Saint Louis Zoo has been named the #1 Zoo in the nation by Zagat’s Survey and Parents Magazine. It is noted for its naturalistic animal displays/living areas. Signature areas perfect for stand-ups or b-roll are the River’s Edge area, bear pits or penguin and puffin coast. A monumental sculpture titled “Animals Always” greets visitors at the Hampton Avenue (Hampton at I-64) entry to the Zoo. Contact: Janet Powell, (314) 781-0900. Directions to the Zoo: I-44 west take the Hampton exit (206), right onto Hampton Avenue, left onto Berthold Avenue, right on Tamm and right on Wells.

A signature St. Louis beauty shot is with a photographer standing at the Grand Basin (fountains operating) with Art Hill and the Saint Louis Art Museum in the background. The beautiful Saint Louis Art Museum is housed within the only permanent exhibit facility built for the 1904 “Meet Me in St. Louis” World’s Fair. Being one of the leading art museums with more than 100 galleries, it now dedicates it space to masterpieces. Directions to Art Hill in Forest Park: I-64/40 west to Forest Park Parkway, left onto Skinker Blvd., make a left onto Forsyth and veer slightly to the left and continue on Lagoon Drive. You will see the Grand Basin on the right.

Media should note “Apotheosis of St. Louis,” the statue of Saint Louis, King Louis IX of France. This statue was the original symbol of the City of St. Louis. Directions to the King Louis IX statue: I-64/40 west to Forest Park Parkway, left onto Skinker Blvd., make a left onto Forsyth and veer slightly to the left and continue on Lagoon Drive. You will see the Grand Basin on the right. At the top of the hill, you will see the statue on your left.

In 1927, a St. Louis airmail pilot named Charles Lindbergh brought the world together to celebrate his triumphant solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris. The Missouri Historical Society acquired the replica of The Spirit of St. Louis in 1962. The plane has been fully restored and now hangs in the center of the Grand Hall. The replica was used in the movie “The Spirit of St. Louis” starring Jimmy Stewart. Contact: Everett Dietle, (314) 454-3178. Directions to the Missouri History Museum: I-64/40 west to Kingshighway north. Make a left onto West Pine Drive and another left onto Lindell Blvd. Head west on Lindell. On your left, the Missouri History Museum is located at DeBaliviere and Lindell.

The 50-acre Museum of Transportation displays an enormous collection of transportation vehicles including passenger and freight locomotives, automobiles, boats and airplanes. Directions to the Museum of Transportation: I-44-west to 270 north. Take 270 to Dougherty Ferry Road, go west about one mile to Barrett Station Road and turn left. The Museum will be on the right, one-half mile up the road.

Ted Drewes is one of the oldest attractions on Route 66 — they’ve been selling frozen custard treats there since 1929. Drewes is best known for their invention of “concretes,” frozen custard milkshakes so thick they’re served to you upside down. Contact: Travis Dillon, 314/481-2652. Directions to Ted Drewes: Take 44 west to Hampton exit south. Follow Hampton south to Chippewa. Make a right on Chippewa and travel nine blocks west on Chippewa. End at 6726 Chippewa with Ted Drewes to the left.

The Lewis & Clark Statue on the St. Louis Riverfront depicts the famous captains proud return to St. Louis in 1806. Titled “The Captains’ Return,” the 23-foot-high sculpture by world-renowned artist Harry Weber, looms large on the banks of the Mississippi just south of the historic Eads Bridge and downhill from the Gateway Arch. The bronze depiction of Lewis, Clark and Lewis’ dog Seaman weighs more than three-and-a-half tons. Directions: From Downtown St. Louis, take Washington Avenue east to the Mississippi River levee. The impossible to miss statue sits just east of the historic Eads Bridge.

The St. Louis Cardinals showcase their many Hall of Fame players with “action” sculptures of stars including Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean, Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Rogers Hornsby and more at Hall of Fame Plaza. The statues are located in front of the large Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium’s 7th and Clark Street corner. A larger sculpture of Stan Musial graces the Third Base entry to the ballpark along 7th Street. Directions: Busch Stadium is located in Downtown St. Louis. The statues are set up at the northwest corner of 7th and Clark streets. The Musial statue sits at the Third Base entry to the ballpark along 7th Street, just steps south of the Hall of Famers.

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Should you have any questions or need assistance regarding these locales, contact Donna Andrews, Director of Public Relations, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at dandrews@explorestlouis.com or phone direct, 314-992-0654.