Senior Portrait locations

where should we go?

It can be overwhelming trying to decide where to go for your senior portrait session. Should we go into town? Should we look for the best spot with fall leaves or summer flowers? Should we go to the place that everyone goes to or find something unique?

There's a lot to consider, but don't worry. This page is a great place to start! Below you'll find a list of possible locations that all work wonderfully for senior portraits as you'll see from the examples shown. With each specific location (or general area) I give a short description of the space and what I love about it. You'll also find some pros and cons to consider as you make your decisions, as well as recommendations for what time of day to plan your session in that location.

Keep in mind that the Pros and Cons are just observations of the space. We can make just about any location work at just about any time but I like to provide as much information as possible as you make your plans.

I also recommend that you make plans to visit the location you're considering before your session.

city or nature?

The first question I have all of my clients consider is whether they want their session in the city or out in nature. Do you prefer being off on your own or do you love the attention and crowds in town? There are many ways to decide and I'm happy to help you make the best choice.

And if you're hoping to have both city and nature with your portraits, there are ways we can get a bit of both in your session.

Phipps Conservatory, October Afternoon

How to Choose

some tips to guide your location choice

city or nature?

choose what you love

I know I mentioned this at the top - think about the space where you feel the most comfortable, where you like to be.

Are you outdoorsy? Do you love the idea of climbing on rocks or being around wildflowers?

Do you love Pittsburgh and all parts of downtown?

city or nature?

think about what you don't like

Do you hate bugs? That's a big factor to consider in the city/nature decision. There will be bugs in nature. I will remind you frequently to check for ticks when your session is done.

Are you comfortable with people around you? That's another question to consider in the city/nature decision. Downtown, there are always people around. How many will depend on what events are happening but there are always people. Now that being said, people have always been wonderful to anyone I've been photographing, shouting out compliments and encouragement. But if you're a bit shy, a session downtown might be a more challenging location.

city or nature?

what are you thinking of wearing

Your clothing choices can actually help in deciding on a location for your session. I recently talked with a senior who was trying to make this decision. She described her style as grunge and was eager to wear her Doc Martins for her session. The Strip District fit her style perfectly- the industrial bits, the graffiti, the train tracks- it all fit with the look she was going for.

So think about what clothing pieces you're planning on wearing (it doesn't have to be exact but can be general, like jeans and a big bulky sweater), and use that as you consider your location options.

city or nature?

what time of year are you thinking of scheduling

This is another point to consider when you're deciding on a location. If you are set on having wildflowers, you want to plan for summer. If you want fall leaves, mid-October is the best time.

in and around Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a vibrant city full of great spaces and locations for senior portrait sessions. You can find all kinds of styles and moods in these neighborhoods- from bright and colorful to moody and grungy.

Sessions in the city can be scheduled throughout the year. Summer, fall, winter, spring- these locations always provide a beautiful backdrop but some do shine more at different times. For example, Phipps and Mellon Park are best from late spring to early fall and the Strip District is a good location for late fall and winter.

But remember, the focus is YOU so we'll work together to create beautiful portraits in whatever location and time of year you schedule.

downtown

Cultural District

the areas around The Benedum Center, The Byham, and Heinz Hall

This bustling downtown spot is perfect for the senior that loves the theater district and being in the middle of everything! Gorgeous light, colorful buildings, and grungy alleys provide a variety of backdrops for your session.

Pros:

variety - color, twinkly lights, art

Cons:

can have lots of crowds depending on events in the area

Best Time to Schedule:
midday or early afternoon

Sunday mornings or Monday evenings

Point State Park

Nothing says Pittsburgh better than Point State Park. The fountain is one of those iconic symbols that everyone associates with Pittsburgh and it's a perfect spot for portraits.

Pros:

an iconic Pittsburgh spot

a great way to mix city with nature

Cons:

sometimes crowded

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

North Shore

Allegheny landing, the water steps, and more between PNC Park and the science center

The North Shore is the perfect location if you want to have the city skyline in your portraits. This is the area along the Allegheny River between PNC Park down to the science center. In addition to views of downtown and the bridges, you'll also find pretty spots that have flowers in the spring and summer and colorful leaves in the fall. It's one of my most popular locations year round.

Pros:

great spots on the river

twinkle lights at Allegheny landing

Warhol's mural wall

Cons:

can't schedule during Pirate and Steeler games because parking is impossible

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or
late afternoon/sunset

The Strip District

I love the Strip District! It's creative! It's industrial! It's colorful! And depending on the time of day, it smells delicious! The northern part is perfect for a grungy, more industrial look with- alleys, fences, tires, and train trestles. The Terminal building on Smallman St is colorful, trendy, and very cool.

Pros:

lots of interesting spots

colorful

Cons:

avoid on Saturdays because of the crowds

Best Time to Schedule:
mornings or
late afternoon/sunset

overcast days are nice here

South Side & Color Park

The South Side is a beautiful area with a number of different spaces that are both pretty and creative for portraits. At one end you have the Hot Metal Bridge. Along Carson St you'll find all kinds of interesting shops and restaurants- a cool mix of new and old. Then at the end closest to downtown, you have the color park- a mix of graffiti art, nature, walking trail and skate park. It's a truly unique space.

Pros:

perfect for creatives

Cons:

might be a busy area but hard to predict

Best Time to Schedule:
mornings or
late afternoon/sunset

overcast days are nice here

West End Overlook

If you're looking for the Pittsburgh skyline, this is the spot for senior pictures! Throughout the year, the West End Overlook has gorgeous views of the city. There is also enough of a park that you can have plenty of images without the city view. It's also close enough to the Northshore that you can combine both locations to get even more variety in your portraits.

Pros:

the perfect Pittsburgh skyline

Cons:

sometimes the sky and clouds don't cooperate with the view and it ends up hazy

Best Time to Schedule:
perfect for sunset

areas further out

Mellon Columns

The columns at Mellon Institute are one of the most popular photography spots in Pittsburgh. Located on Fifth Ave just past Pitt campus, the columns are perfect for formal or casual portraits. It's also close to other great locations like the Carnegie Museum and Library, Schenley Park, Phipps, and Mellon Park.

Pros:

so many great locations in such a small area

nature, city, bridges, and architecture

Cons:

Saturday afternoons are very busy often with lines of bridal parties.

Best Time to Schedule:
pretty much anytime except Saturday afternoon

Phipps Conservatory

Phipps Conservatory is another beautiful spot in Pittsburgh, especially if you're hoping for colorful flowers. The gardens are especially beautiful in spring, summer, and early fall. And while it's gorgeous inside, you don't have to go inside for beautiful portraits. There are plenty of pretty spots outside.

Pros:

architecture and nature

the place to go for flowers

Cons:

weekends can be very busy

Best Time to Schedule:
early mornings or late afternoon/evenings when the light is best

Mellon Park

This is a cute little park nestled between Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. It's known for its walled gardens filled with flowers of all kinds but also has some beautiful open areas with huge old trees. This is another spot that is beautiful all year but it's completely magical in spring and summer when things are in bloom.

Pros:

beautiful gardens, stone and brick structures perfect for dressy dresses or more casual

Cons:

can be very crowded. I try to avoid scheduling on weekends here

Best Time to Schedule:
evening sunset is lovely and perfect if you want the center garden area

the bridges

I can't create a location guide without a section on the bridges. Pittsburgh is sometimes known as the "city of bridges" with 446. Just like the rivers, the bridges are part of our town and a great backdrop for portraits that are distinctly Pittsburgh.

One thing to keep in mind if choosing a bridge for your portrait location is lighting. It's best to schedule in the early morning or late afternoon/evening because of how bright it can be. Very little to no shade can lead to squinty eyes on bright, sunny days.

the sister bridges

The Sisters are the 3 golden bridges spanning the Allegheny River and connecting the North Side to downtown. They're probably the most popular of the Pittsburgh bridges and work as a great location not only on the bridges but also on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail that runs along the river. And finally, after several years of closures for renovations and repainting, all three are open for use!

You'll find that the information about the sister bridges is very similar. They tend to be busy during Pirate/Steeler games. It's a bright location so early morning or late afternoon/evening light is best.

For many of my sessions, I have found that it works best to start at one end of one bridge, cross, then walk along the trail to the next bridge and cross back. The loop fits perfectly into a senior mini session time frame. The bridge can also be combined with other nearby locations like Point State Park, the Cultural District, or even Herrs Island.

The 9th St Bridge

"The Rachel Carson Bridge"

The 9th St Bridge is the bridge furthest north of the sisters and closest to the convention center. It's an easy walk from Allegheny Landing.

Pros:

perfect if you're planning to be on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail or near the convention center

Cons:

can be very busy during Pirate and Steeler games

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

The 7th St Bridge

"The Andy Warhol Bridge"

The 7th St Bridge is the middle sister and perfect if you're also planning your senior session at Allegheny Landing.

Pros:

it's the middle bridge so you can get views of both of the other bridges

Cons:

can be very busy during Pirate and Steeler games

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

The 6th St Bridge

"The Roberto Clemente Bridge"

The 6th St Bridge is probably the most popular and photographed because it's the closest to PNC Park. This bridge can work if you also would like to include Point State Park in your session.

Pros:

open for foot traffic during Pirate games

Cons:

can be very busy during Pirate and Steeler games

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

other popular bridges

Schenley Park Bridge

Schenley Bridge is located in Schenley Park in Oakland. The bridge connects Phipps Conservatory and Flagstaff Hill with the Carnegie Library and Pitt. It's a wide bridge with little outset areas to look out over Panther Hollow.

Pros:

an iconic Pittsburgh spot

a great way to mix the city with nature

Cons:

the potential of lots of people walking around

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

Herrs Island Bridge

Herrs Island Bridge connects the southern tip of the small island neighborhood in the middle of the Allegheny River to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. It's a beautiful spot with distant views of the downtown skyline and a great mix of urban and nature.

Pros:

rusty bridge color and beautiful views of downtown in the distance

Cons:

it can be busy with bikes sometimes

parking also can be tricky

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

Hot Metal Bridge

Hot Metal Bridge connects Oakland to the South Side spanning the Monongahela River. The Three Rivers Heritage Park is right near the bridge with some pretty views of the river.

Pros:

one of the few black-railing bridges in the city

Cons:

very busy in the afternoon/evenings with commuters and others heading to Carson St.

parking can be a challenge

Best Time to Schedule:
early morning or late afternoon

In Nature

Western Pennsylvania is known for its beautiful woods and fields. For the senior who prefers quieter spaces, I have a number of parks that work wonderfully for Senior Portraits.

You might think that for portraits in a park or natural space, you need to plan for summer or fall to get all the color but that's not the case. These locations can look beautiful all year round- from the bright greens of early spring to the mixture of cool grays and warm golds of winter. There is beauty throughout the year.

Schenley Park

Schenley Park is located in Oakland and includes both a bridge (Schenley Bridge) and Phipps Conservatory, but is a beautiful park on its own. You can find wildflowers, stone walls, trails, and fields, all right in town. There's a cute cobblestone road across the street from Phipps that will take you down into Panther Hollow where you'll find stone bridges that crisscross creeks. Facing Phipps you'll see Flagstaff Hill which has more stone walls and huge, old trees that make it worth the hike up the hill. And if you're willing to explore further away from Phipps, you can find grassy fields and views of downtown from Schenley Park Overlook.

Pros:

lots of nature and stone

Cons:

be ready to walk

Best Time to Schedule:
because this park is so big, different areas are better at different times of day but generally midday is better for going down into Panther Hollow, and morning/evening are best for Flagstaff Hill and other spots up at street level

Frick Park

Frick Park is another park right in town. Frick is located between Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze. The stone gate entrances at Reynolds Street is another favorite spot for portraits. And it's possibly one of the prettiest locations for fall leaves in the area.

Pros:

paved paths in the main park area near the entrances

open grassy spaces with huge, old trees

Cons:

can be dark on overcast days

trails can be muddy

Best Time to Schedule:
late morning or early afternoon are better

all the trees can make the area dark

North Park

North Park is located north of Pittsburgh in the Wexford/McCandless area. It’s a big park with areas of trails through woods and fields, and by lakes and creeks. It also has beautiful portrait spots all year round. North Park is the perfect spot for your nature-loving senior!

Pros:

beautiful with lots of different options

WILDFLOWERS!

Cons:

some areas can be busier than others

Best Time to Schedule:
there are great places around the park that work throughout the day

Hartwood Acres

Hartwood Acres Mansion and Park is a favorite location for many local photographers and their clients. It's another expansive park located north of Pittsburgh near Hampton. In addition to the area around the mansion, there are trails through woods and fields of tall grasses and flowers.

Pros:

the flowers in the garden and around the mansion are absolutely lovely

Cons:

not available most Saturdays during summer and fall due to weddings

Best Time to Schedule:
weekday afternoons/evenings are best

Herr's Island

Herrs Island (aka Washington's Landing) is a hidden gem of a spot just across the river from Lawrenceville. It has views of the river, fields of tall grasses and wildflowers, stone walls, and stairs, and views of downtown from the Herrs Island Bridge!

Pros:

beautiful space with a mix of nature and stone structures and steel train trestles

Cons:

the spotted lantern flies and stinging nettle

Best Time to Schedule:
late afternoon/sunset

Boyce Park

image of a senior girl in a white sundress. She's standing in a field of wildflowers with the edge of a wood behind her.

Boyce Park is on the eastern side of Pittsburgh, near Monroeville. It's full of hills and woods with trails but also has some beautiful wildflower fields that bloom at the end of summer.

Pros:

the spot for wildflowers

Cons:

be ready to hike - the wildflower hill is steep

Best Time to Schedule:
late afternoon for a perfect sunset with wildflowers

Crouse Run Park

image of a senior girl wearing a white top and jeans sitting on a rock in a shallow creek bed.

Crouse Run is a hidden gem just beyond North Park going towards Gibsonia. It's a creek through the woods with stone walls and tall grasses and is just magical.

Pros:

perfect for creek walking!

Cons:

can be muddy

the small parking lot can be crowded at times due to the pizza place next door.
the smell of pizza can be both a pro or a con depending on how hungry you are 😁

Best Time to Schedule:
midday is best

Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens

Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens is located west of Pittsburgh near Oakdale. There are gardens full of flowers, ponds with water lilies, as well as wooden and stone fences, bridges, trees, rocks, etc. It's easy to spend a whole morning just enjoying the park.

Pros:

beautiful all year round but summer and spring are especially perfect for the flowers

Cons:

lots of walking

best to schedule during the week

there is a fee for this location

Best Time to Schedule:
an overcast day is ideal because areas can be very bright

senior girl wearing a blue sundress at the Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens. She's standing on a wooden bridge and sitting on a stone wall with flowers behind her.

other options

Collection prices are from $400-$950

contact Jodi for more detailed information.

Your High School

When you spend 4 years of your life in one building, you can become attached. That's especially true for the athletes and marching band members who spend even more of their lives on the field, in the gym, or on the track. Your high school can be another great location option to add to your session.

South Fayette High School

College Campus

Have you already committed to your local college? Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas have some great colleges with beautiful campuses. If you know where you're going to go, have your portraits on campuses!

Fisher Auditorium, IUP

Inside

Your senior portrait session doesn't have to be outside. We can certainly plan for some indoor spots during your session. A building downtown where a parent works, a movie theater, a bookstore, or a favorite coffee shop. There are many options we can look at. We can even rent a studio.

Small Town

There is something really fun and sweet about taking portraits in a small town and Sewickley is a beautiful small town. But what's great about a small town session is that it can be done in any small town.

Sewickley

what else?

Maple Bottom Farms, Scottdale

A farm with flower fields?

A waterfall near a creek?

The possibilities are endless and I'm happy to work with you to make them happen. I'm happy to talk with you and make a plan so that you can have the session that captures all of the qualities that make you, you!

Cucumber Falls, Ohiopyle

destination session?

Edmonton, Alberta

Do you travel?

Yes! I'm happy to travel to more distant locations for senior portrait sessions as my schedule allows. Whether it's just up to Erie for a session on the lake or a trip to New York City, I'm happy to talk over how to make your senior portrait session a memorable trip too.

Collection prices are from $400-$950

contact Jodi for more detailed information.

The spots highlighted on this page are just a few of the places that I've been with some of my senior clients. There are so many other great potential locations out there and I'm always willing to explore more places.

senior inspiration

Sometimes we need a little bit of inspiration. Check Pinterest and Instagram for images you love. Check out magazines or even catalogs that are in your style. And you can check out some of my past sessions for ideas as well.

Collection prices are from $400-$950

contact Jodi for more detailed information.