20 Best Pittsburgh Photoshoot Locations: The Ultimate World on Pause Guide
20 Best Locations for a Pittsburgh Photography Session:
North Hills:
North Park
Fern Hollow Nature Center
Sewickley Heights Borough Park
Hartwood Acres
Downtown:
Herr’s Island / Washington’s Landing
Point State Park & General Downtown Pittsburgh
Phipps Conservatory
Schenley Park
Carnegie Mellon University campus
Mellon Park
The Roberto Clemente Bridge
Mellon Institute Library
Bicycle Heaven
Randyland
South Hills:
Peters Lake Park
South Park
Mingo Creek County Park
The Montour Trail
Gilfillan Park
Simmons Farm
Choosing the right location that complements your style, personality, and overall aesthetic is among the most important choices you will make when it comes to booking with World on Pause. Having lived in the greater Pittsburgh area my entire life, I do have some recommendations up my sleeve. Choosing an ideal time and place is a collaborative effort between you and I.
So, I invite you to study some of my traditional, can’t-miss, go-to spots in the area.
North Hills
1. North Park near Allison Park, PA
As South Park’s northern twin, North Park boasts a 75-acre lake as its main selling point. In addition, it displays a vintage boathouse, plenty of trails, and open fields. With 3000 acres of land total, there are endless photogenic opportunities.
2. Fern Hollow Nature Center in Sewickley, PA
The Fern Hollow Nature Center is worn-in white building attached to a small open field that leads to a meadow pathway, bursting with goldenrod if you’re lucky to catch this gem in September. Lost in the beauty of this park and looking over the horizon line of the field, you feel find it hard to believe you are only just a few miles from the city.
3. Sewickley Heights Borough Park in Sewickley, PA
About 100 years ago, this park was known for housing wealthy businessmen in its lavish cottage-style mansions upon its rolling hills, valleys, and stone walls. Today, the nostalgia of this era lives on in the picturesque landscape it holds.
4. Hartwood Acres near Allison Park, PA
If you enjoy feeling like royalty in an sixteenth-century castle among 629 acres of land, gardens, fields of green, and sculptures, (bonus: free music on Sunday nights in the summer!) Hartwood Acres may be everything you’ve been looking for your whole life. Take yourself back in time to walk the cobblestone pathway, sit on the steps of royalty, and take in explore the historic architecture of the renaissance.
Downtown
5. Herr’s Island / Washington’s Landing
There are lots of ways to get creative with a simple walk downtown. Every corner of Pittsburgh has some unique touch (and bridges) to leverage.
6. Point State Park & Downtown Pittsburgh
There are lots of ways to get creative with a simple walk downtown. Every corner of Pittsburgh has some unique touch (and bridges) to leverage.
7. Phipps Conservatory (outdoor area) in Oakland, PA
So long as there is no formal event of wedding in action, the area around Phipps Conservatory is always a treasure for photos. Not to mention, it is always pretty well-groomed year-round, due to the popular nature of the grounds. Since I cannot guarantee access to this space, it’s a good idea to plan Phipps as a “side dish” and choose your “entree” as one of the close locations (#7 and #9) below:
8. Schenley Park in Oakland, PA
Schenley Park packs so much variety in one space! For the price of one, you get gorgeous stone walls, urban horizon lines, glittering bodies of water, iron-rod gates, antique stone pathways, vibrant greens and yellows in the summer, and a myriad of Pittsburgh’s best foliage in the fall.
The brick road next to the Schenley Cafe as well as the pond at the Westinghouse Memorial is especially photogenic!
9. Carnegie Mellon University campus in Oakland
Maybe I am biased towards my alma mater, but CMU does have plenty of hidden gems around campus. Whether you are a graduate looking for senior photos or just hoping to incorporate a lot of variety in one region at once, the CMU area has a lot to offer. Plan your trip to CMU in April to appreciate the cherry blossoms in full form, or in May for peak vibrancy of the numbers garden.
10. Mellon Park in Shadyside, PA
It’s no longer a secret that Mellon Park is every photographer’s dream. This space includes a stone-walled garden, fountain, and no shortage of flora and old-fashioned, vintage energy.
11. Roberto Clemente Bridge
Also known as the Sixth Street Bridge, this iconic landmark is a great option for the die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan…or, anyone who can appreciate a good city skyline. In the past, this bridge had closed vehicle traffic during Pirate games, but it seems this is not the case anymore. For that reason, I recommend only scheduling at this location when the Pirates are not playing at home, when things are a little more settled and peaceful.
12. Mellon Institute Library in Oakland
This is a very classy, refined, elegant location that is versatile and appropriate for a wide range of purposes.
13. Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh’s North Side
Did you know that Pittsburgh is home to the world’s largest bicycle museum and bike shop? This city is truly full of surprises. The free to enter museum is a time machine into an eccentric, colorful, psychedelic landscape.
*Photos below taken by Alex Kean
14. Randyland on Pittsburgh’s North Side
Randyland is a welcoming, vibrant, and spontaneous outdoor art museum located in the Mexican War Streets district of Pittsburgh. It is one of the most unique locations in Pennsylvania, you never know what you will find here! Please note that fees and early scheduling do apply when planning a session at Randyland. Take a virtual tour here before planning!
South Hills
15. Peters Lake Park in McMurray, PA
Peters Lake Park is a popular site for hikers, canoers, boaters, fishers, and photographers alike. It is great for those looking to incorporate a lot of greenery and water in their portraits. When accessed during peak autumn months, the colors are beautiful and vibrant. There is a bit of walking involved to capture all the diverse highlights of the trail. Prepare your shoe choice accordingly :)
16. South Park
South Park is laden with several wide-open fields, a newly implemented wildflower meadow, a gazebo, pond, the Oliver Miller Homestead, as well as a woodland backroad with evergreens. Rustic, natural woodsy…basically, you can’t go wrong with this choice. There is something here for everyone!
17. Mingo Creek County Park in Finleyville, PA
With a gazebo, creeks, wide-open fields, and the renowned red covered bridges, Mingo is a perfect choice for those who love a free-spirited woodland style. It is spacious and great for families. As a bonus, if you catchit in the rightJuly, you will be greeted with a sea of black-eyed susans.
18. The Montour Trail in McMurray, PA
If you are fond of old vintage signposts, rusty transportation relics, and classic red brick, I have good news for you. There is a certain section of this trail near Valley Brook Road that is an absolute treasure for those seeking a grunge aesthetic.
19. Gilfillan Park in Upper Saint Clair, PA
Natural, simple, enchanting, Gilfillan Park (within Gilfillan Farm) is a gem in the South Hills. It can look different throughout the year, but it never disappoints. If you are looking for wildflowers, wheat fields, meadows, and a green stretch of land, this is the place for you.
20. Simmons Farm in McMurray, PA
Simmons Farm is bursting with rows of flowers through the warmer months and pumpkins when the nights get colder. it also includes a greenhouse, large produce and flower display areas, and rolling fields. Be mindful that portrait photography sessions will require a fee and are only permissible on certain days of the week, so will require planning ahead.
Last but not least, make it your own! This is certainly not an exhaustive list of all location possibilities. I am more than happy to keep an open mind and explore further options. We might even find something worth adding to this list. With that being said, I will use this post as an ongoing resource of options. Be sure to check back here again next time you book a session with me!
