Best Places to Take Family Pictures in Pittsburgh

Here is a list of the best locations for a family photoshoot in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas!

"Where's the perfect location for a family unit photograph session around Pittsburgh?"

I often become asked this question then I created this listing that tin be used for choosing a location for a family photo session, an appointment session, a senior session, wedding photos, etc..

After photographing hundreds of families in the greater Pittsburgh area for the last twelve years, I've shot at dozens of places and I'k always happy to share these locations with other photographers.

This is non even close to being a complete list but I'll go on to add together to information technology as I call back of more places. I've included Google Map links to all of the locations equally well as photos of most of them. I also added blog links to the places that I have a blog post for, so click on the links to encounter more images!

Delight feel free to ship me a message to ask me well-nigh whatever specific details about any of these locations, I'm happy to help!

If you're interested in a Family photo session with me, here are the details, I'd dearest to plan a session with y'all and assistance yous choice the perfect location for your family unit!
Simply shoot me a bulletin!

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Mary Beth Miller Photography was chosen equally one of the all-time Pittsburgh Family Photographers and best Pittsburgh Newborn Photographers!

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Pittsburgh | Allegheny County

one. Schenley Plaza | Oakland

Google Maps
Hither you lot can hang out on the grassy lawn, ride the whimsical carousel with the animals, go over and visit Dippy the Diplodocus past the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and hang out by the Mary Schenley Memorial fountain. Check out my blog post from a family session there, and hither's some other one!

two. Mellon Institute Columns | Oakland

Google Maps
The stone columns here are a popular spot for wedding photographers and a neat spot for a rainy twenty-four hour period!

3. Phipps Conservatory | Oakland

Google Maps
You are allowed to photograph outside of Phipps, but not inside the gated outdoor garden areas. You must ask permission and pay a fee to photograph in that location and within. Cheque out my family photoshoot from in that location and this ane! Please note the ponds/fountains do not always have water in them in the off season.

4. Schenley Park Visitor Center and Cafe | Oakland

Google Maps
Just across the street from Phipps is a brick edifice, the Schenley Visitor Centre. Just backside that is a beautiful cobblestone path with a blackness metallic railing that leads to a stone entrance below. You can employ the street parking all along Schenley Drive, just think to pay the meters (except on Sundays!)

5. Flagstaff Hill – Oakland

Google Maps
While you lot are at Phipps and the cobblestone path, just beyond from Phipps is Flagstaff Hill. There you will find stone walls and stairs and a lot of lovely copse that are covered in colorful leaf in the autumn.

6. Westinghouse Memorial | Schenley Park Oakland

Google Maps
And before you leave Oakland, have a short walk downwards Schenley Drive to the Westinghouse Memorial. There you will detect a nice petty pond/fountain and a walking path backside it. There'south gorgeous fall foliage here in the fall.

7. Schenley Park | Oakland/Squirrel Hill

Google Maps
Schenley Park is large with playgrounds and paths into the woods where you tin can find beautiful stone walking bridges and if you head up on the colina you can catch a view of the city from the Park Overlook.
Exist sure to bank check out Panther Hollow and the Westinghouse Memorial.

8. The Bowling Green surface area of Frick Park | Bespeak Breeze

Google Maps
Here y'all will discover trails leading into the forest of Frick Park and a beautiful rock archway that is a pop spot for photo sessions at the Reynolds Street Gatehouse. Hither is a Maternity session, and some other maternity/family session. Walk towards the Bowling Dark-green area to encounter some other curved stone wall with stone steps backside information technology.

nine. Frick Park and Frick Nature Heart

This is a huge park with many locations to choose from! I suggest taking a mean solar day to explore before planning a session hither. Information technology is mostly wooded with miles of trails throughout. There is a brand new building at Frick Nature Center.

10. Bespeak State Park | Downtown Pittsburgh

Google Maps
In that location is a gorgeous grassy backyard, walkways and trees that are total of blossoms in the Spring. It is correct next to the rivers (take caution with small children), views of the stadiums, bridges, the cityscape and don't forget the iconic fountain on the Signal! Hither is a postal service from one of my sessions there and this i.

xi. Mt. Washington

An iconic location to see a gorgeous view of the city from the overlooks! There are a few platforms to see the views, hither is the Grandview Overlook.

12. West End Overlook Park

Google Maps
Just a short distance from Mt. Washington, information technology'southward another peachy place to get a view of Pittsburgh! Hither'southward a blog post from a family unit session there!

thirteen. South Side

Take some time to explore the Due south Side to watch great spots for photo sessions! Start at i stop down by the 3 Rivers Heritage Park and check out the Hot Metal Bridge! Walk over to the South Shore Riverfront Park to get close to the river and run into the boats on the docks and go on onto the Three Rivers Heritage trail to find the Color Park, a unique and fun spot for photos! Be sure to discover the brightly painted edifice nearby!

Head down Carson Street with all the shops, bars, and restaurants to notice something that catches your centre. And so yous can head downward to Station Square for a view of the city and go a little further down to ride the Duquesne Incline up to Mt. Washington.

14. Mellon Park and walled garden | Shadyside

This is a gorgeous park with a multifariousness of architectural features and beautiful gardens! During the summer in that location is also a working fountain. Here are a few blog posts from there: This one, this one, and another one and a beautiful Female parent-Daughter Session and a mother-son session! There is costless parking hither on Beechwood Blvd. and a paid parking right next to the walled garden.

Delight notation that this is a hot spot for photo sessions and it is extra decorated at present that Hartwood Mansion is airtight for the remainder of 2021. Expect to see quite a few other photographers there with their clients, specially on weekend evenings before sunset.

15. North Shore trail by PNC Park

The North Shore trail is a riverfront walkway that goes right by the stadiums with a view of the city across the river! Yous'll pass under the Clemente, the Warhol, and the Carson Street bridges. Between the Warhol and Carson Steet bridges, there is a cute willow tree past the river. Check out the photos in this web log post from a family unit session there! You lot can find street parking on or nearly Isabella Street or detect a nearby parking lot. During Pirate games, they sometimes close the Clemente Bridge to cars and open it to pedestrians to walk on the road! This is a peachy opportunity to go photos on the span!

16. Allegheny Commons Park | N

Google Maps
Located adjacent to the National Asylum, you will find this beautiful park where you can find Lake Elizabeth with a bridge as well as red blossoms in the Leap! Perfect for a photo session!

17. RandyLand | Due north Shore

Google Maps
Delight call ahead to brand reservations for a photo session, in that location is a lensman'southward session fee. Here's one web log postal service and another. Parking can be a little difficult but just bulldoze around Randyland and the Mexican War Streets until you find a spot.

xviii. The Pittsburgh Zoo | Highland Park

Google Maps
Please be certain to inquire permission first and purchase a ticket for entry. Here'due south one of my sessions from the zoo!

xix. Highland Park

Google Maps
This park has a big fountain with maintained flower gardens in the summer and early fall as well as a rock arch bridge with a path under it.

20. Aspinwall Riverfront Park

Google Maps
This small park is right on the river and has a winding path through a maintained park. There is also an open simply covered area which is keen if it rains.

21. Riverview Park | North Side

Google Maps
This is a large park with a winding road throughout. Hither is a Female parent and daughter session I photographed there.

23. Hartwood Acres Mansion | North

Google Maps

*Please NOTE that Hartwood mansion is closed for the remainder of 2021 for construction/renovations.

This is a hot spot for photographers but for a good reason, the mansion is cute and in that location is a beautiful fenced-in flower garden next to it. Take circumspection as it will have lots of photograph sessions going on most weekends. You are likewise non permitted effectually the mansion if at that place is a wedding or event taking identify. Y'all may want to call ahead to make sure. Here's a family session, some other ane, and a maternity session in the wintertime.

23. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve | Northward

Google Maps
I dearest shooting here! There is this forest deck overlook, a pond, a small boardwalk, trails, fields, an old befouled, etc! During the late Bound/early Summer, yous may be lucky to observe wildflowers just below the barn! Check out this post, and this i and some other one in the fall, oh, and 1 more!

24. Due north Park | Wexford

Google Maps
This park is huge and has a lake and a boathouse. You will detect pretty white blossoming trees by the boathouse in the Spring! There are and then many spots to choose from! I suggest taking a drive through the park to find a perfect spot for your session! (according to the employees, you are not supposed to shoot in/around the Latodami Nature Center. they are known to ask people to exit)

25. Falls Run Park | Glenshaw

Google Maps
This park has a nice trail with bridges that cross over and adjacent to a creek leading to a alpine waterfall. Caution, information technology can be muddied here, peculiarly in the Spring.

26. O'Hara Township Community Park | Fox Chapel

Google Maps
This park has a pond, playground and a creek. Hither is a fun family session from there.

27. Washington's Landing / Herr's Isle

Google Maps

28. Seldom Seen Greenway | Beechview

29. Boyce Mayview Park |South Hills

Google Maps
Head over to the nature surface area for photos. Hither is a summer family session and a maternity/family unit session from there.

thirty. South Park | South Hills

This is a huge park with many locations to choose from! There is a corking spot with a pond and the Maple Springs Gazebo. Y'all can also ask permission and pay a donation to shoot at the Oliver Miller Homestead! Here is a session by the gazebo and pond. I suggest taking a drive through the park to find your perfect location.

31. Morrow Pontefract Park | Sewickley

Google Maps
This cute lilliputian park is merely past Sewickley past the Giant Eagle. It has a bridge, trees, a creek and a bench or two. Parking is express so y'all may want to park at Giant Eagle. Check out this blog postal service from a family unit session there.

32. Fern Hollow Nature Park | Sewickley

Google Maps
This beautiful park has tall grasses with mowed paths, trees, fields, all the things a lensman could want. Check out this session from there, and this family unit session. Please exist courteous if there is an event taking identify.

33. Sewickley

Downtown Sewickley is a cute piffling town that could be perfect for a photograph session! In addition to Fen Hollow Nature Center (listed above), be sure to check out the Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park!

34. Pittsburgh Botanic Garden | N Fayette

Google Maps
This is a large and beautifully maintained park however, in that location is an entrance fee and you must pay a photography session fee to shoot here. Hither is a Maternity session that I did there. The dogwoods and the bridge were my favorites!

35. Settlers Cabin Park | Robinson

Google Maps
There are a few spots in this park great for photos, peculiarly for fall foliage. It is mostly pavilions and a couple of playgrounds. People often inquire about the waterfall at Settlers Cabin Park, just know that there's a non so easy downhill hike and information technology is a very pocket-sized waterfall and tin be disappointing, peculiarly in the summertime.

36. Moon Park | Moon Township

Google Maps
This little community park has a dainty pond and tall copse and a path

37. Robin Hill Park – Coraopolis

Google Maps
This park has a beautiful brick building with decorative arches on the side, a gazebo, and a small garden. Definitely worth checking out! You will need to call ahead to brand certain in that location is not a nuptials or other effect taking place.

38. Monroeville Park (West)

Google Maps
This park is mostly known for the recreation fields, nevertheless, there is a gazebo surface area with maintained flower gardens, a dry rock river, and a pocket-size wooded area merely across the street in the middle of the park.

39. Boyce Park – Plum

There are plenty of spots in this big park, including an old log cabin and a skatepark. I suggest driving through the park prior to a session to detect a good spot!

twoscore. White Oak Park | White Oak

Google Maps
This park is large with a lot of wooded areas, pavilions and playgrounds. You can too bank check out the nearby Angora Gardens.

Although this post is for locations for photograph sessions in Pittsburgh, I am including some places in the surrounding counties.

Beaver County

Here is a split up post for xi of the all-time locations for a photo session in Beaver County.

Washington County

–Peters Lake Park | Canonsburg
Google Maps
Large lake with trails into the woods and a boat dock.

-Mingo Creek Park
Google Maps to the covered Span
This large park has 2 iconic covered bridges and a shallow creek and wooded areas throughout the park. A hotspot for photograph sessions. Please not jail cell service tin can be spotty in this park.

Westmoreland County

-Townsend Park | Murrysville
Google Maps
This small park has some trees, a gazebo and a pond.
Check out this autumn leafage session!

-By Park | Trafford
Google Maps
This small park has forest and a swimming with a willow tree.

Butler County

-Succop Nature Park | Butler
Google Maps
Please call ahead to get permission as you are not permitted there if there is a nuptials or other consequence. Goose poop has been a trouble effectually the pond. There is also an quondam befouled on the property.

-Blueberry Colina Park | Cranberry Township
Google Maps
This park has a few small areas that are adept for photos, including this spot by a celebrated cabin.

-Moraine Country Park
Google Maps for parking by the North Shore beach surface area where there is besides and the dainty tall grassy hill for sunset photos. This is a large park with wooded areas and a large lake. You can besides find gunkhole docks by the beach and marina areas.

-McConnells Manufacturing plant
This park is known for the cherry covered Harris bridge, old mill, and the Slippery Rock Creek and big rock features. Please take caution by all rock ledges and stay back from the water when it is running loftier every bit many people take fallen in and drowned or needed to exist rescued. Delight practise not take children close to the edge of the creek.

In that location is too Hell's Hollow waterfall which is a 1-mile easy hike from the parking area. FYI, cell service is very spotty throughout the park.

I hope that my young man Pittsburgh photographers institute this list of locations for photo sessions in the greater Pittsburgh area helpful and useful!

Hither's some other web log posts that you lot might observe helpful!

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Mary Beth Miller Photography specializes in lifestyle and documentary family unit, newborn and Fresh 48 photography in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and many of the surrounding areas. Mary Beth has over 10 years experience photographing families, newborns and babies in the South Hills, South Park, Bethel Park, Squirrel Colina, Shadyside, Greentree, Indicate Breeze and Highland Park.Her way is very relaxed and natural and your family session will feel like a stress costless Sunday afternoon with your family!

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Source: https://marybethmillerphotography.com/locations-photo-sessions-pittsburgh/

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