Are you looking for a great location for a family photo session in Pittsburgh? As a Pittsburgh family photographer, I have probably done a couple of dozen photo sessions at Mellon Park and Walled Gardens in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
In this post, I will share more details about the park and I will share images of my most recent family photo session there with a couple and their super adorable daughter!
This sweet little one loved exploring the park, smelling the flowers, and getting down and dirty in the dirt and grass! I love that her parents encouraged her to explore and get dirty while I photographed them!
Scroll to the bottom of this post to see links to more sessions that I have done at Mellon Park!
History:
This part of Mellon Park was donated to the city of Pittsburgh and was the backyard of the Mellon Estate and mansion in the 1920s (the mansion no longer exists.) It is a very well-maintained garden with so many beautiful plants and flowers in the Spring and Summer. You can read more about the restoration of this park here and more about the history of the park in this article.
The walled gardens in Mellon Park have brick walls and a few black wrought iron gates as well as decorative concrete walls and stairs. There is a stone pathway within the perimeter and a beautiful fountain that was recently restored.
With all of these man-made features, the park is still a great location in the late fall, winter, and early Spring when there are no flowers, greenery, or leaves on the trees.
During the most recent renovation of the park in 2009, they embedded 150 lights into the lawn in the center of the walled garden that lights up at night to represent the stars and planets over Pittsburgh the night Annie Seamans was born. The Seamans donated part of the money for the restoration. Read more about that here.
Just beyond the gardens is another grassy area and brick steps that descend into another flower and herb garden. So if you go there be sure to make the time to explore and scout the whole park before your photo session! And if you do go for a photo session, the light is pretty amazing around golden hour!
While I definitely do not encourage picking anything in the park, sometimes quick little hands like to get to the flowers and leaves… otherwise, please be mindful and respectful of the park and the people that work hard to maintain it!
You do not need a permit or permission to shoot here but please note that it is a well-known and favorite location for many local photographers! Be warned that it can be busy, especially on a weekend close to sunset!
You will most likely be sharing this location with other photographers and their clients so please be friendly and try to not get in each other’s way or in each other’s shots. And also take note that many Pittsburgh residents also love to visit the park. There are often many dog walkers and families at play!
Please check the calendar of events to see what other events are held here. There are often weddings held within the walled gardens as well as other events like yoga in the mornings. However, these types of events will most likely not be on their calendar of events!
There are no bathrooms within this area of the park, but there is a porta-potty on the other side of Phipps Garden Center (the brick building next to the walled gardens) or you can walk down across the street to the playground to use the restrooms.
Location:
1047 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 1523
Here is the exact location of Mellon Park, (not to be confused with the playground, spray park, and basketball courts that are across the street on the other side of 5th Avenue).
Parking:
I tell families they can park here (remember to pay the meter, however, it is free after 6pm and on Sundays!) or you can park here on Beechwood Boulevard for free (which is located on the other side of the park).
Hours:
The hours of operation are from 6:00 am until 11:00 pm every day of the week.
I loved meeting and photographing this family of three and I hope to work with them again in the future!
“Awesome, thank you so much! We enjoyed the experience from start to finish!“
If you’re looking for a newborn or family photographer in Pittsburgh, please get in touch to inquire about a session! I’d love to plan a photo session for your family!
Here are some other blog posts from photo sessions at Mellon Park that you might want to check out!
Are you on Instagram? I’d love to connect with you there!
All images by Mary Beth Miller Photography
Mary Beth Miller Photography specializes in family and newborn photography in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and many of the surrounding areas. Mary Beth has over thirteen years of experience photographing families, newborns and babies in Pittsburgh including Shadyside, Highland Park, Oakland, Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze. Her style is very relaxed and natural and your family session will feel like a stress-free Sunday afternoon with your family!
What a smart blog post, Mary Beth! I bet clients love the detailed description of a possible shoot location, and so easy to pass on to future clients. Great, clean and consistent photos as always!
Oh my goodness, this is SO helpful! Gorgeous photos, but I love reading about the history of the location as well.
It’s the perfect spot for family photos! Such a sweet family!
Gorgeous location and session! Love the flower picking it was so sweet ;)