Both industrial and elegant, Pittsburgh is a city of beautiful contradictions that holds tight to its history while looking ahead to what’s next. It’s an intriguing spot for statement-making engagement photography and wedding photography. Tour around Point State Park, a magnificent site full of impressive architecture that includes a grand fountain and clear views of the cityscape. If you want lush greenery, explore the University of Pittsburgh campus and be sure to capture the gothic architecture of the Cathedral of Learning—a Pittsburgh landmark. Explore Pittsburgh’s Gilded Age sites, including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which speak to the city’s history as an early-20th-century industrial capital. In the North Shore neighborhood, lively settings await at the modern Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz Field football stadium and PNC Park baseball stadium. Discover why this western Pennsylvania city is one of our best engagement locations.
05. UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH CAMPUS
Whether or not you’re a Pitt Panther, the University of Pittsburgh campus is a gorgeous and historic spot for your engagement photography session. Located in downtown Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh embodies the charm of collegiate life right in the heart of the city. Large trees shade open green spaces, blanketing them with vibrant leaves in the fall and pristine snow in the winter. The classic architecture of the campus buildings composes fine focal points for your wedding photography, too. Explore the campus’ more prominent landmarks as well as its hidden gems, nestled among the sprawling 132-acre campus. Don’t miss the gothic revival allure of the Cathedral of Learning and the beaux-arts beauty of the William Pitt Union—once a luxury hotel. It’s easy to see why the University of Pittsburgh is one of the best engagement locations in Pittsburgh.
04. NORTH SHORE
Want to punch up your engagement photography with more personality? Head to the North Shore. Once part of Allegheny City, the North Shore is a separate borough just a short jaunt from Pittsburgh. It consists of 18 smaller neighborhoods overlooking the city and its trifecta of rivers. You’ll capture the distinctive look of Pittsburgh’s bridges and hills, as well as noted hotspots like Heinz Field, PNC Park and the Andy Warhol Museum. We love that the North Shore is in touch with nature, too, which makes it one of our best engagement locations. Go for a stroll or bike along the North Shore trail for a laid-back session that lets you be you. Genuine and historically relevant, sporty and community-minded, diverse and dynamic, the Pittsburgh’s North Shore makes an eclectic and expressive statement in your engagement or wedding photography.
03. HARTWOOD ACRES
Hartwood Acres Park charms Pittsburgh-area couples as a truly picturesque setting for engagement photography. Spanning a scenic stretch of 629 acres, the park is home to one of the largest and most spectacular country estates in the region. The grounds feature a stately 1929 Tudor mansion cottage, stables and gate lodge, all posed in a scenic landscape. Follow the winding paths through secluded wooded areas or walk through the elaborate formal gardens surrounding the mansion. If you want a more interactive session, hop on horseback and trot past the many sculptures on the grounds. The historic charm and beauty of Hartwood Acres make it one of our best engagement locations.
If you want your engagement photography to feature some impressive architecture, you’ll find what you’re looking for at the Cathedral of Learning. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this Pittsburgh landmark is the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh main campus. Fun fact: this 42-story late gothic revival cathedral is the tallest educational building in the western hemisphere and the second tallest university building in the world. It’s also the second-tallest gothic style building in the world. Lucky for Pittsburgh-area couples, it’s right in their backyard as a striking backdrop for engagement and wedding photography. This gorgeous steel-frame structure is overlaid with Indiana limestone and is inlaid with noted pieces of stained glass, stone, wood, and work. No wonder it’s one of our best engagement locations. Surrounding the Cathedral of Learning are the impeccably groomed grounds of the university’s lush green campus. It’s definitely a picture-perfect setting.
01. STATION SQUARE
Next stop: Station Square—a compelling and historic location for your engagement photography or wedding photography session. Located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Station Square is a 52-acre dining and entertainment hotspot on the banks of the Monongahela River. Paying homage to the city’s industrial roots, it originally served as a great railway complex built to service the massive amount of freight and passenger train traffic that supported the city’s bustling commerce. It was redeveloped over the course of 19 years and is now a popular spot for city dwellers to come out and play. Station Square’s railroad history, however, has not been forgotten and is evident no matter where you shoot, from the seven-story Landmarks Building constructed in 1900 to the Freight House Shops, which were once a train shed. Perhaps one of the location’s most famous attractions is the Bessemer Court, which is adorned with a state-of-the-art fountain at its center. Come for the Waltzing Waters Liquid Fireworks Show to watch colorful jets make beautiful displays in the air. One of Pittsburgh’s best engagement locations, Station Square merges rich history with modern energy.
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