Today, I’m breaking down the most popular locations my seniors choose for their Pittsburgh senior pictures! Over the last 9 years of taking senior portraits, I’ve found that there a few locations that stand above the rest in the Pittsburgh area when it comes to senior photos - locations that both me and my clients love!

Each of these spots listed below are popular in my opinion because for a few specific reasons. They each:

Have wide variety of backgrounds within a short walking distance (more backgrounds to work with = a higher amount of unique photos to choose from, and less walking means more shooting time, meaning more photos!)
Allow for lots of different types of posing - sitting, standing, leaning, etc. on those background elements (giving you a wider gallery of options to choose from!)
Have beautiful, natural light that’s easy to work with (not all light is created equal - some locations have better light than others!)

So without further ado, let me introduce you to my favorite locations for Pittsburgh senior photos! First up…

1. Hartwood Acres Mansion

Hartwood Acres Mansion is known primarily for its historic gray stone architecture… and it’s a HUGE space, which makes it easy to get lots of variety! In addition to the mansion itself, there is a large gated garden on property, as well as lots of foresty areas, and white cobblestone pathways. There are arches, doorways, balconies, a courtyard, storybook-esque glass windows, as well as many other attributes that help make this location a popular choice for seniors.

Hartwood Acres Mansion easily crosses off all three of these items, plus more! You do not need any special license or permit to take photos on Hartwood Acres’s property, either. It is open to the public! The only time they close the area around the mansion is for weddings or private events, so it’s always best to call their office ahead of time to check (they are very kind about people checking to see if there are any events!)

zelienople senior photographer, cranberry township senior photographer, pittsburgh senior photographer, best places to take senior pictures in pittsburgh

2. Mellon Park

Much like Hartwood Acres, Mellon Park has lots of variety in terms of architecture! It features large, gray stone architecture, balconies, black iron gates, staircases, a historic ornate fountain, and pathways lined with benches and florals in the spring & summer. It is a short drive from Oakland, nestled into Shadyside, close to Bakery Square.

Much like Hartwood, Mellon Park is open to the public, but they do shut down the park to the general public for the occasional wedding or community event. I believe Mellon Park has an online calendar for community events, but it is not always updated, and (in my experience), they aren’t very good with returning phone calls.

3. Historic Harmony

Historic Harmony is unique from Hartwood Acres and Mellon Park. While it features historic buildings, they have more “small town” feels (brick, bright colors, etc.) rather than historic stone architecture. Historic Harmony is, after all, a restored German town just North of Pittsburgh!

Historic Harmony is a small German town established in the 1800’s that has been updated with brightly colored walls and the most adorable shops and restaurants (if you have a chance to visit, my favorite spots are Wunderbar and Two Fraus Bakery!). There are an UNLIMITED number of locations for photos here! Buildings, fences, bridges, nature, a barn, a field - you name it, it’s probably here!

The one caveat with Historic Harmony is that you have to know where you are allowed to shoot, and where you are not allowed to shoot. Many of the buildings are owned privately and don’t take kindly to people shooting on their property, so it’s best to check with them beforehand if you have specific spots in mind that you want to use. You can also contact the Harmony Museum, who owns some of the buildings in town (including the barn) to retrieve a day pass photo permit (currently priced at $20 per shoot/day as of January 2022). This is a fee I take care of for my clients who want to shoot there because I love the location so much!

Thanks for reading, friend! I hope you found this blog post helpful in your search for the perfect spot for senior photos. If you are in need of a senior photographer in the Pittsburgh area, I’d love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out via my Contact form (click here!), or email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you!