Top 5 Engagement Photo Locations at Pittsburgh

Can’t wait to announce your engagement to the world? All you need is the two of you, a gorgeous location, a professional photographer, and romance - and the magic shall unveil! Now, romance would automatically come with you and your sweetheart. And our skilled Pittsburgh engagement photographers would love to bring your romantic dreams to life. So, those things are sorted. Let’s move on to the location. 

Pittsburgh, rather our very own ‘Burgh’, has a lot of options when it comes to scenic locations for engagement photography. They say if you want to witness all the four seasons, come to Pittsburgh. The soothing springs, sultry summers, awesome autumn, and windy winters give a great flavor to this city without any extremities. Did you know that Pittsburgh is home to around 446 bridges, which means, plenty of photo ops! We love the look of bridges in romantic photoshoots - so cinematic and old-school! 

Pittsburgh is known for its steel industry due to its consequential role in the industrial development of the country. The Burgh is a perfect blend of stone, steel, old-world charm of brick row houses, and a glittering cityscape. Contemporary yet old-fashioned.

Your engagement photo shoot location in this city depends on your personality and mood. While some couples opt for romantic scenic locations like the waterfront and hills, many choose warm cozy places like libraries or cafes.

If you are confused about yours, we have all the important info you’ve been looking for. Pittsburgh has a lot of beautiful locations for a romantic engagement photoshoot. You will be amazed at the possibilities. Let’s take a look at our 5 top handpicked engagement session locations in the Steel City, Pittsburgh. So, are yinz ready to explore? Read on!

1. The North Shore

The city’s North Shore boasts lots of photogenic locations. The Pittsburgh yellow-colored Roberto Clemente Bridge is more iconic than you think! The bridge was named after the baseball star, who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Roberto Clemente. Now, how about incorporating them into your engagement photoshoot? The brilliance of the yellows against the contrasting blues is unmatched. Considering that yellow and black are the official colors of Pittsburgh, the bridge perfectly signifies the Pittsburgh-y vibe! The views are spectacular and form a breathtaking backdrop to your city Pittsburgh engagement photoshoot. Whether you get romantic photographs clicked on the bridge or next to it, or even have it as a distant background, the beauty of it stays unparalleled. It would lend a perfect subtle vibrancy to your engagement photos at The North Shore. While in North Shore, you could hop over a lot of places for a great assortment of backgrounds for your spectacular engagement photography. Heinz Field, which is the base of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, provides a sporty background. The Water Steps at the North Shore Riverfront Park are another favorite of ours! If you and your partner are water babies and want to include the water element in a serene engagement photo shoot, then this is the ideal place. The Water Steps comprise around 500 sandstone blocks and the entire look simply looks stunning in photos! It’s where romance meets fun and scenic beauty, a perfect shoreline wedding venue. The North Shore is home to many bigwigs like the PNC Park, The Andy Warhol Museum, and Heinz Field which is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers of NFL, and the Pittsburgh Panthers college football team. The Esplanade is also a great place to use as a backdrop. With a gorgeous look made from bricks, granite, and sandstone, it lends a magnificent look to The North Shore engagement photos. Located about 16 feet above the river, the Esplanade offers some of the most breathtaking views of the water, forming the best of the backgrounds, ever! At the North Shore, you get all - lush greens, cityscape, and water sights, perfectly landscaped by the Pittsburgh hills. 

Website: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/neighborhoods/north-shore-north-side/ 

Address: Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Fees or Permits: None

2. Hartwood Acres

A perfect amalgamation of wooded paradise and stone wonder, Hartwood Acres is a dream come true! If you have always had your heart set on a dreamy sunset photo featuring the two of you, then this is the place you should head to. The wee hours of the day are the best time to come here for your romantic engagement photoshoot. The soft glow all around, the misty vibes, and a rustic barn - few of the things which give your Pittsburgh engagement photography a whimsical touch. Known as the ‘crown jewel of the Allegheny county’, Hartwood Acres is a network of nine scenic parks that comprise beautifully manicured gardens and a gorgeous historic stone mansion that dates back to the 1920s. The Tudor-style mansion serves as a perfect backdrop for a classic Hartwood Acres engagement session and can be toured after a prior reservation. However, the estate grounds comprising 629 acres are free for all. The estate is home to many hiking and biking trails, stable, public pathways, and various sculptures. Needless to mention how promising all these things are when it comes to romantic Hartwood Acres photography! The whole of Hartwood Acres has an unmatched old world charm to it. Venture into the forested area and the rusticity of the woods would make you feel as if you have entered a totally different world. Our Pittsburgh photographers love the magic of this place in the early hours of the day. The sunrise here makes it like no other place in the city. And a foggy morning is the cherry on the cake! The fog creates a dreamy look which adds to the romantic vibes of your photoshoot. Not just Instagram, it’s totally ‘all-grammable!’ The Hartwood Acres is an excellent combination of vintage, industrial, rustic, dreamy, and romantic. Walk a bit more and you’ll reach the Strip District nearby. This neighborhood is a historic market district which has evolved into one helluva capture-worthy place! Here, you will find some spectacular art studios, classic boutiques, antique stores and so much more that can form the perfect surroundings to your timeless Pittsburgh engagement photography. 

Website: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/hartwood/index.aspx

Address: 200 Hartwood Acres Pittsburgh, PA, 15238

Fees or Permits: None 

3. Mellon Park

The spectacular Walled Garden in Mellon Park is everything beautiful! The park is known to be rich in history and is located in the Shadyside neighborhood. The walls are beautifully made of brick and limestone and ooze the old-world charm to the hilt! The gothic design of the walls is a plus in case you have a photoshoot that’s on the gothic-theme in mind. Well, people do it for weddings! The iron gates make for a classic prop, lending vintage vibes to your Mellon Park photos. And the stairs are another spot where you can have cozy photos clicked, with fallen leaves behind adding to the depth. Did you know that Mellon Park is home to a 60-room mansion which was an erstwhile property of Richard Beatty Mellon? Although the house was brought down during World War 2, the gardens remain treasured. It was believed to be the largest house in the whole of Pittsburgh at that time. The fountains are simply breathtaking as a backdrop for some romantic Pittsburg engagement photography. Mellon Park is a beautiful blend of historic vibes and contemporary charm. The floor of the Walled Garden is a treat for the eyes as it has been designed in such a way that it mirrors the sky of Pittsburgh. The stone walkways are a perfect spot to indulge in romantic Mellon Park engagement photography, walking along amidst lush shrubberies on the sides. The whole look and feel of the park are much like the Great Gatsby. The Park is also home to the Phipps Garden Center and Pittsburgh Center for Arts. 

Website: https://www.pittsburghparks.org/mellon-park

Address: Mellon Park, 6300 5th Ave, Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA 15232-2922

Fees or Permits: None 

4. Grandview Overlook

How about encompassing the whole of Burgh for your romantic engagement photography? Let us tell you, it doesn’t get any more romantic than this! What we are talking about is Mount Washington which is located at an elevation of 367 feet. The top of Mt. Washington offers a breathtaking view of the city and the three rivers. Reach the Grandview Avenue 25 minutes before witnessing some of the most breathtaking sunrises you might have ever seen! As the sun glows up, right behind the skyline of downtown, indulge in some magnificent Grandview Overlook photography by our Pittsburgh engagement photographer. The landscape at this hour is such a sight! You could walk along Grandview Ave for a walk of your dreams! As you take a walk from the first overlook towards the incline, the scenic beauty of the entire city will leave you both spellbound. It’s as if the city and the sunrise have been specially made for this day. As if the entire Pittsburgh bows down to your love! The confluence of rivers is a treat for the eyes. However, make sure you reach there at the right time - an hour earlier than sunrise, to capture the most stunning shots of the sky. You could hop on to the cable car for some fun with your Grandview Overlook engagement photoshoot. We love the idea of including a little bit of fun to your romantic photoshoot! A cloudy day is totally recommended for a photoshoot here as there is not much shade. Evenings are great too, as you can have an intimate photoshoot while the city of Burgh shimmers behind you! The place, at night, is a superb combination of glamor, romance, and beauty.

Website: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/neighborhoods/mt-washington/

Address: 136-160 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211

Fees or Permits: Cable car ride is priced at USD 5 for a round trip.

5. Downtown Pittsburgh

If you and your fiance are true Pittsburghers, then it can’t get any more Pittsburgh-y than the downtown! Bustling with all sorts of stores and restaurants, the downtown is anything but boring. No other place in the city can match the energy of downtown! There is no dearth of photo ops here, given the architectural marvels found in the downtown. The photoshoots during the days capture the hustle-bustle all around. Imagine all the surrounding life coming to standstill as you both get captured in a romantic moment by our Pittsburgh engagement photographer! Isn’t the image forming in your mind right now pretty lively, vibrant, subtle, and romantic, all at once? The evenings are a great time to indulge in a romantic photoshoot as well. As the sun goes down, the glimmering busy lights of the downtown provide an unparalleled background to your dreamy Downtown Pittsburgh photo session. The downtown resides somewhere in the heart of the meeting point of rivers Allegheny and Monongahela. The Point State Park area provides you with some spectacular sights of the hills and the rivers - a brilliant spot for taking jaw-dropping Downtown Pittsburgh engagement photos. The fountains play the role of a dreamy background to your dreamier photos. Late evenings are equally beautiful for your unique Pittsburgh engagement photography. The well-lit bridges of the Steel City form one of the most fascinating sights behind as you and your sweetheart pose romantically. The result is totally magical and swoon-worthy! Another favorite of ours is the Cultural District which shines like a diamond at night! Typical Pittsburgh! 

Website: https://downtownpittsburgh.com/

Address: 23 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

6. Fees or Permits: None

These were our top handpicked locations for an amazing engagement photo shoot in Pittsburgh. Having said that, there are still plenty of options available for engagement photography. As we mentioned before, it entirely depends on the personalities and moods of the two of you. If you are animal-friendly, you could head to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, or the PNC Park for a sporty kind of photoshoot. Randyland is another hot choice for engagement photoshoots - fun and Instagrammable as heck! The Burgh is definitely full of options for great photo ops for your Pittsburgh engagement photography.