Honest, emotional, & joyful imagery

fine art weddings + portraits midwest-based, available anywhere

A black and white photo of a formal dinner event with multiple tables, where people are seated and engaging in conversations. The tables are decorated with candles, flowers, and tableware.

KATIE FORBIS is a WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER based in St. Louis, Missouri.

I believe that the best images happen when people are simply being themselves. My goal is always to foster a relaxed environment where people feel free to move, laugh, and connect with each other. Instead of over-directing, my work is driven by an ability to observe, anticipate, and document moments as they naturally unfold.

I love that every interaction that takes place in front of my camera is innately unique, and I view each wedding and portrait session as a creative collaboration between myself and my subjects.

Let’s create something beautiful together.

About Katie
A family with two young children sitting on the grass under a large, leafless tree in a park during sunlight.
Close-up of a man in a tuxedo with a bow tie, wearing a wedding ring, holding his hands together in front of him.
People celebrating at a dinner party with candles and flowers, including a woman giving a toast and a man smiling with a glass of wine.
A bride and groom holding hands and smiling at each other outdoors near a lake, with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
Two people embracing in a hug, with a woman resting her head on a man's shoulder, in a black and white photograph. A third person is seen in the background.
Nighttime cityscape with streets and buildings, seen through a window, with a large chandelier and framed artwork inside a luxurious room in the foreground.
A woman lying on the ground in a wedding dress with a veil and holding a bouquet, accompanied by a man kneeling beside her, outdoors on grass in black and white.
A bride wearing a white wedding dress with floral embroidery walking on green grass in a yard, with trees and a house in the background.
A white decorative pedestal with a floral arrangement on top, featuring pink roses, blue delphiniums, red and pink flowers, and greenery, set against a smooth brick wall background.
A man in a suit and glasses leaning against a wall, with a curtain partially covering him.
Sunset over a green lawn with trees in the background, decorated tables with blue floral tablecloths and small flower arrangements, string lights along the edge of the gravel area.
A young girl in a light blue dress holding a bouquet of mixed flowers, including dahlias, daisies, and greenery.
People attending an outdoor event seated on white chairs in a green park with tall trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Two men in tuxedos sitting on a leather sofa in a library with tall bookshelves filled with books behind them.
People dressed in formal black attire at a social gathering, some holding or near a trumpet.
People dancing in a ballroom during a formal event or wedding celebration.
People sitting at a dinner table in an elegant room with patterned wallpaper, candles, wine glasses, and a framed picture on the wall.
A group of people seated around a long table with partially eaten food, flowers, and candles.
A black-and-white photo of a wedding reception dance floor with people dancing in a circle under hanging light bulbs.

Nostalgic & sophisticated photography that celebrates you just as you are.

kind

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testimonials

“The beauty of Katie's photos speak for themselves--they are emotional, artistic, and eye-catching.  But what you can't see in the photos is what an amazing person Katie is.  She's exactly who you want to have around you on your wedding day.  She is calm, easygoing, and confident, and her photos strike the perfect balance between artistic vision and candid spontaneity.  It was amazing how she captured our day while still allowing us to be fully present with each other and our guests.  We just can't recommend Vein & Vessel enough.”

-Nick, 2024 Groom

“Vein and Vessel was the perfect photographer for our wedding. Katie's communication style and presence is so warm, putting us at ease from our first interaction. The quality of her work is incredible - the photos she captured were both emotional and beautifully composed. She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and was able to capture amazing, authentic moments throughout our day. We loved that she captured photos of us and our guests that felt natural, in the moment, and not posed. Vein and Vessel exceeded all of our expectations, and we highly recommend her to any couple looking for a talented, personable photographer to document their wedding.”

-Tessa, 2024 Bride

“Katie is an incredibly talented, warm, and kind human. She has worked with our family on mini sessions for four years now. We look forward to our sessions with her each year because of her genuine spirit and incredible talent. Sessions with Katie are captured actively and intentionally. My kids are able to have fun, and be themselves. She doesn’t ask us to pose in a certain way, but will deliver fun prompts to our kiddos when needed. She always has high-quality images to us within a a set timeline and knocks it out of the park every single time. We would recommend her highly to any family looking for this style of photography. We cherish the images she has shared with our family and will continue to come back to her year after year.”

-Hannah, family client

“We’ve had the privilege of Katie taking our family photos for 7 years now and every year, they somehow get more and more breathtakingly beautiful! I didn’t understand the appeal of family photos before but Katie is so incredible at her craft that she somehow turns teary toddlers and meltdowns into incredible works of art. You would never know the chaos that’s happening in real time when you see her final product! She makes every session feel like a fun hangout for our whole family. I am so thankful she continues to document our family every year as our kids grow and cherish the memories she’s given us!”

-Brynna, family client