SENIOR PICTURES IN PITTSBURGH
SENIOR PICTURES IN PITTSBURGH
Your graduation is a huge milestone. You, and those who helped you get here, deserve to have memories of this moment to last a lifetime. That’s where MKB Photography comes in. I’m here to walk you through every step of the process so that your senior pictures in Pittsburgh are ones you just can’t wait to send to everyone you know!
If you played sports or did any activities, you’re welcome (and encouraged) to include representation of them in your senior pictures; you can bring along props (think: a soccer ball), wear a jersey or uniform, or anything your heart desires! We want to showcase who you are and what you’ve embodied during your school years.
PACKAGES FOR SENIOR PICTURES IN PITTSBURGH
HOW SENIOR PICTURES IN PITTSBURGH WORK
INQUIRE
Send me a quick inquiry through my quote request form so that I can get back to you with more details about your senior pictures in Pittsburgh!
BOOK
After we’ve settled on the details for your senior pictures in Pittsburgh, including your session date, time, and location, you’ll be able to finalize your booking.
PREPARE
Being prepared for your session is key. Beforehand, you’ll want to choose your outfits, hair styles, makeup, jewelry, props, and anything else you’ll need for your senior pictures in Pittsburgh.
shoot
While we’re taking your Pittsburgh senior pictures, my goal is to make you feel completely at ease and help you to just have fun! This should be an exciting experience, not a nerve-racking one.
VIEW
Once all your edited photos are ready, you’ll receive a link to a private, password-protected online gallery. Here, you can view, download, and share your photos with all your loved ones!
beautiful LOCATIONS FOR YOUR PITTSBURGH SENIOR PICTURES
Choosing a location for your senior pictures in Pittsburgh doesn’t have to be stressful. There are so many locations that work great for senior sessions, but narrowing it down to the type of background you want helps immensely! Below, I’ve listed out nature, urban, and blended locations that can offer you the best backdrops for your session based on what you’re looking to get out of your photos.
Nature
Urban
Other
WHERE DO MKB SENIORS GO TO SCHOOL?
COMMON SCHOOLS
ALIQUIPPA
AVONWORTH
BETHEL PARK
CHARTIERS VALLEY
FORT CHERRY
HAMPTON
MARS
MOON
NORTH ALLEGHENY
NORTHGATE
PINE RICHLAND
QUAKER VALLEY
SENECA VALLEY
SHALER
UPPER ST. CLAIR
WOODLAND HILLS
AMBRIDGE
BEAVER
BUTLER
DEER LAKES
FOX CHAPEL
KEYSTONE OAKS
MONTOUR
MT. LEBANON
NORTH HILLS
PETERS TOWNSHIP
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
RIVERVIEW
SHADYSIDE ACADEMY
SOUTH PARK
WEST MIFFLIN
AND MORE!
Add Your Heading Text Here
WHERE DO MKB SENIORS GO TO SCHOOL?
COMMON SCHOOLS
ALIQUIPPA
BETHEL PARK
FORT CHERRY
MARS
NORTH ALLEGHENY
PINE RICHLAND
SENECA VALLEY
UPPER ST. CLAIR
AMBRIDGE
BUTLER
FOX CHAPEL
MONTOUR
NORTH HILLS
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SHADYSIDE ACADEMY
WEST MIFFLIN
AVONWORTH
CHARTIERS VALLEY
HAMPTON
MOON
NORTHGATE
QUAKER VALLEY
SHALER
WOODLAND HILLS
BEAVER
DEER LAKES
KEYSTONE OAKS
MT. LEBANON
PETERS TOWNSHIP
RIVERVIEW
SOUTH PARK
AND MORE!
The cost of senior pictures in Pittsburgh depends on the session length, number of final photos, location(s), and a few other factors. My four most popular senior portrait packages have different features, which you can view above, and are priced as follows:
- The Elite: $625
- The Deluxe: $550
- The Classic: $425
- The Basics: $300
To book your senior pictures in Pittsburgh, simply send me your contact information and session ideas via my quote request form. I’ll get back to you with details and how you can solidify your booking as soon as possible!
Choosing a location for your senior pictures in Pittsburgh can feel daunting since there are so many beautiful places in the area. If you scroll up, you can view the lists of popular nature, urban, and other locations to help make your decision a breeze!
The best season for your senior pictures in Pittsburgh is typically your favorite one and the one you love most when you look at inspiration photos! If you feel too uncomfortable with weather that’s too cold or hot, I would recommend avoiding winter and summer. The season you choose also depends on what colors you love – for example, if you love deep oranges and reds in your photos, fall would be a great time for your senior pictures!
The best time of day for your senior pictures in Pittsburgh is golden hour. Golden hour is either the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset each day. Keep in mind that sunrise and sunset times vary depending on the particular season and day, but the lighting is almost always best during golden hour.
Sessions can typically continue as planned in light rain. However, your safety, my safety, and the safety of my equipment is of utmost importance, so if I deem that the rain, or any weather, is too unsafe for us to hold your session, you will be allowed one reschedule free of charge.
During your session, I always want you to look and feel your very best, and well-chosen outfits are a huge part of that. So, plan outfits that make you feel your best and represent you well.
Below, I’ve listed few tips I always recommend when it comes to choosing outfits for your senior pictures:
- Keep it simple. When you wear too many different elements or complicated accessories, you might fidget or need many adjustments. This can slow your session down and make it so that you don’t get the shots you wanted. Therefore, keep your outfit choices simple and straightforward for your senior pictures.
- Stray from patterns. Solid colors tend to photograph better, so when in doubt, opt for those for your senior pictures.
- Keep the weather and location in mind. If we’re shooting your Pittsburgh senior pictures in nature, maybe leave the high heels at home! Always check the weather when you’re planning your outfits and again before your session. Weather can change on a dime, and you should make sure you’re dressed adequately for it!
- Take the lenses out of your glasses, especially if they have transition lenses. However, if you can’t see adequately without your lenses in, then keep them in. The last thing I want is for you to injure yourself during your session! If you’re able to wear contacts during your session, that is always a great route to take.’
- Dress comfortably. I’m not saying you should wear your favorite pair of sweatpants, but I do want to avoid having you be uncomfortable or in pain during your session. That pain would come across in your senior pictures, and none of us wants that. Pick outfits you’ll be comfortable in for the duration of your session (think: wearing a pair of heels for an hour-long session is much different from wearing a pair of heels for a 2-hour session). If any of your outfit components are new or have never been worn (especially shoes), please break them in prior to your session.
- Avoid ripped jeans and clothing. Ripped clothing makes some poses look awkward, unnatural, and/or unflattering, so your best bet is to avoid them for your senior pictures.
- Stick to short- or long-sleeved clothes. We’ve all been there – hating the way our arms look. Even if you don’t (I’m jealous!), wearing clothing with sleeves helps to photograph your arms in a flattering way.
- Opt for clothing that extends past your knees and elbows. Similar to shirts with sleeves, skirts and pants that reach past your knees help your poses, and therefore your senior pictures, to look more natural.
- Don’t forget about your undergarments! You definitely don’t want to wear undergarments that will be visible (via colors, lines, etc.) under your outfits… And yes, I said outfits PLURAL – check your undergarments for each outfit you plan to wear during your session!
- Add a layer of protection, such as a jacket, so that you can easily adjust to weather surprises during your session! An added bonus is that layers typically photograph very well.
- Go easy on the jewelry. Any jewelry you choose to wear for your senior pictures should be a simple finishing touch to your outfit. Don’t wear jewelry that’s super flashy. Remember, a main focus of the shoot will be your graduation cap, if you choose to wear it, and that’s already one big accessory!
- We’ve all seen it – the bulging pockets in professional photos. If you empty your pockets before your session, you’ll avoid having the awkward pockets showing in your senior pictures forever.
- Pack backups. This pertains to your clothing, shoes, undergarments, accessories, makeup, and anything crucial to your senior pictures. That way, you won’t miss out on getting the best possible photos, even if you have a stain, spill, or rip.
If the senior picture package you purchased includes multiple outfits, then you can absolutely bring and wear multiple outfits! Even if your package only includes one outfit, I always recommend bringing a backup in case of emergency.
If you’re wearing multiple outfits during your senior picture session, a public restroom is typically a great place for you to change. This could be at the location of your session or a nearby coffee shop or store. However, keep in mind that some locations don’t have public restrooms (especially outdoor locations). In this case, you might want to plan to change in your car – just plan to have visors or sheets to cover your windows for privacy! If you do plan to use a public restroom to change in, remember that they may require you to purchase something in order to use their restrooms.
I LOVE when my clients include a meaningful prop in their senior pictures. This could be a baseball bat, pointe shoes, a favorite book, confetti, champagne (for those over the age of 21), and so many other items! Feel free to get creative with it, but keep in mind the location of your session as well as the complexities and legalities of your prop(s). For example, confetti needs to be cleaned up, which can take up a good chunk of your session time.
MKB Photography does not allow including any weapons or hazardous materials in any session. All props must be approved in writing prior to the session. Unless otherwise stated, all props are the client’s responsibility to provide and bring to the session.
Throughout your session, I take BOTH candid and posed portraits. While I typically focus on posed portraits, I love to capture the candid moments in between poses, as those are the times your personality can shine the most!
I lightly retouch every photo that I deliver to you in your online gallery. This light retouching includes large blemish removal, removing the occasional fly-away hair, and typically a light skin smoothing. In all edits, I aim to simply enhance your natural beauty, rather than contort your face or body into something unnatural.
The number of final photos you receive will be specified in the senior picture package that you book. My most popular senior picture packages are listed near the top of this page, and can be tweaked to suit your needs!
Your senior pictures are meant to showcase you and what’s important to you. If your pet is important to you (as it is most of the time), then I would love to include it in your senior pictures! Keep in mind that your location will need to be pet friendly and you must have a caretaker for the pet during the entirety of the session. Your session’s main focus will still be you, but your pet is welcome to hop in for a few shots.
If you’re looking for a solely pet-focused session, my pet portraits could be a great fit for you!
The most straightforward way to showcase your activities or hobbies in your senior pictures is to bring along a prop or two. Think along the lines of your team jersey or uniform, a piece of equipment that’s unique to your sport or hobby, a piece of artwork, or a special award. Don’t limit yourself to just school activities, either! Think through everything you love to do, watch, listen to, or contribute to.
One of the best ways to feel comfortable during your session and enable your senior pictures to come out as best as possible is to be prepared. Prior to your session, I recommend doing the following:
- Plan out your outfit(s), accessories, hair styles, and makeup
- Have your prop(s) ready to go, including your cap and gown, if applicable
- Within a few days before your session, trim your nails and, if you desire, get a manicure and/or pedicure
- About a week before your session, get your hair cut and styled
- If you want your hair and makeup professionally done for your session, make sure to schedule your hair and makeup stylists well in advance
- Shave where desired
- Check and prepare for the weather at your session location
- If you plan to wear your glasses in your photos but can see without them, remove your glasses lenses to avoid awkward glares and reflections in your pictures
- Clean and press your session outfits, including your graduation gown
- If you have a friend or family member coming along to your session, ensure they’re also fully prepared for the date, time, and weather.
When in doubt, if you have any questions regarding how to prepare for your session, reach out to me at mkbphotographyllc@gmail.com!
If you’re under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must accompany you for the duration of your session. If you’re over 18, no need to worry about bringing your parent along! However, it often helps to have an extra person there in case you need hair or makeup touch-ups, to hold your belongings during your photos, and more. This can be a parent, friend, aunt or uncle, etc.
You’re allowed to have up to two people accompany you during your session (remember, if you’re a minor, at least one must be over 18). While I love meeting your family members and loved ones, with any more than two people, session focus tends to be pulled from you to what’s going on with everyone else.
Once all your photos are edited, you’ll receive an email letting you know that your digital gallery is ready to view. From there, you’ll see all your digital files and can download and share them!
It’s completely normal to be a little (or a lot) camera shy. We don’t always look or feel our 100% best. But trust me, when you come to your session prepared with your outfits, hair, and makeup done, you’ll feel much more relaxed. My goal is to always have FUN during your session, rather than to just move you from pose to pose (sounds awkward, right?!)… I want to hear about your life, activities, future plans, nerves and/or excitement for graduation, and anything else you want to talk about. When we do that, your personality will shine through and your worries will dissolve!
If you have a particular part of your body that you’re self-conscious about, let me know ahead of time and I’ll do everything I can to plan poses and shots that will avoid showing that part. The magic of photography is that good camera angles and lighting can go the distance in highlighting only our most favorite aspects!
When you book your senior picture session, you’ll be provided with a contract to sign. The contract will include the details of your session, payment details, terms and conditions, and other policies. This is an important way to protect both of us!
GREAT EXPERIENCE
Great experience taking professional LinkedIn headshots as well as doing casual photo shoots. Highly recommend!!
– Ola L.
I CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU!
