20 Location Ideas for Your Pittsburgh Engagement Session
Having engagement photos taken of you and your fiance’ allows you to capture this season of life, documenting the two of you before marriage and everything that follows after.
An engagement session is also the perfect test run before the big day. It's so important for us to get to know each other+work together prior to your wedding day, which is the main reason I encourage all of our couples to book an engagement session. Your session eases any stress you may have around getting your photos taken and acts as a trial run before the wedding. We learn more about how you two interact, it shows you what you can expect while working with us and works out any stressors. After engagement sessions, we often hear couples say they feel so much better about having their photos taken and are even more excited for their wedding day knowing that having their photos taken will not be stressful.
But finding the perfect location for your engagement session can be overwhelming. Both the scenery you want and the time of year you schedule your session, will play a role in choosing a location. You may even want your engagement photos to carry a similar vibe or theme as the wedding you’re planning. These are all things to consider when choosing the perfect engagement session location.
When you work with us I work with you one on one to find the perfect location based on your preferences. We chat about timing, scenery and your vision. Coming up with the perfect location for you!
But a little inspo can be so helpful, so I have put together a list containing 20 of our favorite spots for engagement sessions in and around Pittsburgh. From natural parks within the city, rural state parks, industrial backdrops and downtown city vibes, there is a location for everyone on this list!
Pittsburgh City Park Engagement Session Locations
A 456 acre park with views of the Pittsburgh skyline, located in the midst of the university community of Oakland. An easily accessible park with large trees and open green space. Perfect location to pair with a session at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
Covering 644 acres, Frick Park is the largest municipal park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It has several different areas that offer unique scenery, including man made architecture and natural wooded spaces. Our favorite locations within the park are near the Frick Environmental Center and The Frick Pittsburgh.
What was once part of the original Mellon Estate, The Mellon Park Walled Garden allows you to step back in time. Located in Pittsburgh’s beautiful Shadyside neighborhood, it includes beautiful landscaped grounds and stone walls, this park offers an elevated natural backdrop perfect for couples looking for a formal yet natural space.
Offering one of our favorite views of the city and Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle, The Overlook, as it is called by local Pittsburghers, is located on Mount Washington. It is known for its breathtaking views of the three rivers and city skyline in the distance. With the green trees below you and the cascading sky and city skyline behind you, you can count on some amazing engagement photos.
This scenic overlook gives a romantic feel if your session is during the golden hour, when the skyscrapers are lit up, dotting the background. Grandview Park also has some incredible stone-lined trails with urban graffiti art that adds a playful element to the romantic vibe!
This spot also makes the perfect place for a proposal since it tends to be a little more secluded than the Mount Washington Overlook (just down the street) but still has the fantastic views of the Burgh!
Scenic Park Engagement Session Options Outside of Pittsburgh
Located 30 minutes south of downtown Pittsburgh, this 1,999-acre park offers a variety of location ideas including hiking trails, a skate park, game preserve, and a historic farmhouse (Oliver Miller Homestead). This large park offers us the opportunity to explore while avoiding crowded areas. Making your session a bit more relaxed.
This park located just 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh, encompasses 3,094 acres and features a 65-acre lake with fishing and kayaking. The wide variety of trails, green space and lakeside scenery makes it the perfect place for an engagement session. In the spring there are even several spots within the park that feature beautiful pink blossoming trees! To start your session, grab a beer at OTB at the North Park Boathouse!
A 629 acre park, located just 20 minutes outside of Pittsburgh, featuring open fields, thick forestry, a lush garden, and a beautiful stone mansion with manicured surrounding grounds, this location has it all. This park offers the best of nature paired with the timeless upscale look of the historic mansion. This location is perfect for couples looking for a more formal session!
McConnell’s Mill (And Cleland Rock)
McConnell’s Mill State Park covers 2,546 acres of the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge, and is an easy 40 minute drive from the city of Pittsburgh. McConnell’s Mill has a large creek, multiple waterfalls, hiking trails, bridges, large moss covered rocks, fields and thick forests full of tall trees. Nearby Cleland Rock offers a scenic overview where you can enjoy an amazing view of the forest below. Perfect for a sunset ending to your session!
If you want to feature water in your session, nearby Moraine State Park is the perfect addition to your session. Offering many trails and 3,225-acre Lake Arthur with 42 miles of shoreline. We love ending our sessions at sunset with the lake in the background!
Urban Focused Engagement Session Locations
The Highline located in the South Side of Pittsburgh sits next to the Monongahela River. It is one of our top locations for engagement sessions in the city. The architectural colors and textures make for a unique backdrop in one direction. Turn around and you can enjoy a unique view of the Pittsburgh skyline and bridges. Add in how good golden hour hits here and you have the perfect combination for effortless engagement photos!
Mellon Square and Downtown Pittsburgh Parking Garage Rooftops
Mellon Square located in downtown Pittsburgh features some green space but what we love about it most is that it’s often quite even in the bustling downtown area. Making it the perfect spot to start your engagement session. There is plenty of space to move around and enjoy the architecture of the nearby Omni William Penn Hotel and other iconic Pittsburgh buildings.
While downtown if you want a staple Pittsburgh engagement location we can make our way to one of the many nearby bridges. Such as the Roberto Clemente Bridge, Hot Metal Bridge in Southside, Andy Warhol Bridge, and Rachel Carson Bridge.
Keeping things city chic, we will venture around near PPG Place, the City County building and end our session at sunset on one of our favorite parking garage rooftops! Be sure to bring a bottle of champagne to share a fun pop at the end of your session!
Mexican War Streets + Allegheny Commons Park
The Mexican War Streets are part of the historic district in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Historic row houses, tree lined streets and photogenic alley ways makes for a location that is full of character. After we wander the Mexican War streets we can end our session with sunset in Allegheny Commons Park. Featuring mature trees, walking paths, green space and a beautiful stone bridge over Lake Elizabeth.
The strip district is a prime location to get industrial, urban style engagement photos taken. With so many older and historic buildings, this area can offer you a lot of options for a Pittsburgh engagement session. Some of the more popular areas include the tire yard featuring huge, tall stacks of tires. The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, which makes for a perfect stop to sample some unique cheeses and meats. Two other favorite spots include Penn Ave with a view of downtown and the Cork Factory Garage rooftop at sunset. With all of the unique backdrops you can’t go wrong with this area!
Personalized Engagement Session Locations
Your home, what could be more special than the place you spend the most time together? We love documenting couples within the walls they have made into a home. Include your furbabies and we have the perfect session!
Your favorite neighborhood café, coffeehouse or ice-cream shop. Neighborhood spots are a perfect add-on to in-home engagement sessions!
A brewery you both love to frequent for date nights, some of our faves include - Threadbare Ciderhouse, Allegheny City Brewing, and Cinderlands
Do you both love to read? Why not use a library for your engagement session? The historical Laughlin Memorial Free Library in Ambridge PA is a beautiful space for book lovers!
Maybe you share a love for all things music? A fun session at a record store such as Jerry’s Records or The Government Center might be perfect for you!
Do you both enjoy a good farmer’s market and thrifting day? Choose to book a morning session and include these two crunchy activities for the perfect summer engagement session!
Feeling inspired and ready to book your engagement session?
Hi, I’m Liz, I specialize in Pennsylvania elopement photography and planning. I couples create an elopement day that’s intentional and stress-free by offering a supportive, knowledgeable and kind experience that includes vendor and location research, a comprehensive elopement guide and custom timeline curation, ensuring couples get beautiful photos while having an incredible time.