The Making of a Photo: High School Senior Photography Education

One of the things I’m most passionate about as a Pittsburgh photographer is not just creating beautiful images, but helping others grow in their photography journey too.

Recently, I shared an Instagram post walking through exactly how I got the shot — breaking down the camera I used, lens choice, camera settings, the time of day the photo was taken, and the thought process behind the composition, including elements like framing, leading lines, and working with sunset light.

Why create this kind of content?

Because when I was first starting out in photography back in 2011, right after graduating high school, this is exactly the kind of behind-the-scenes photography education I was searching for. I wanted to know more than just what made a photo “look good.” I wanted to understand the technical decisions behind it: why a photographer chose a certain lens, how they approached natural light photography, how they thought through composition, and what settings helped bring their creative vision to life.

At the time, finding detailed educational content for beginner photographers wasn’t nearly as accessible as it is now. So much of learning photography came through trial and error.

That’s a big part of why I love sharing posts like this now.

If breaking down my process - from camera settings for sunset photography to explaining composition techniques like leading lines and natural framing - helps even one photographer learn something new or feel more confident behind the camera, then it’s worth sharing.

Photography can feel overwhelming when you’re starting out. There are so many moving pieces: understanding your camera, learning light, mastering composition, and developing your own creative eye.

If my behind-the-scenes photography content can help make that learning curve a little easier for someone else, I’m grateful to be able to give back in that way.

Whether you’re a beginner photographer learning manual mode or someone simply curious about the creative process behind an image, I hope these “how I got the shot” posts offer practical insight and encouragement for your own photography journey.

Enjoy!

Hartwood Acres Mansion Maternity Photos

There’s something incredibly special about getting to photograph the same love story through different seasons of life. A few years ago, I had the honor of capturing this sweet couple’s proposal, and recently I met them again at Hartwood Acres Mansion for their maternity session as they celebrate the exciting arrival of their baby on the way.

Nestled just outside of Pittsburgh, Hartwood Acres Mansion is one of the most beautiful locations for photography in Western Pennsylvania. With its timeless architecture, stunning gardens, and elegant estate grounds, it creates the perfect backdrop for both Pittsburgh proposal photography and Pittsburgh maternity photos.

This session felt especially meaningful because it was a full-circle moment - from documenting the beginning of their engagement to now capturing this joyful new chapter as they prepare to become parents. Watching couples grow their families and being invited to preserve these milestones is one of the greatest joys of being a Pittsburgh lifestyle photographer.

Their maternity session was filled with so much excitement and anticipation for the little one they’ll soon meet.

If you’re looking for a beautiful location for maternity photos in Pittsburgh, Hartwood Acres Mansion has so much to offer in a classic setting that photographs beautifully in every season.

It’s such an honor to tell stories like theirs - from surprise proposals to maternity sessions and all the meaningful moments in between. Congratulations, you two!

Tyler R: Downtown Pittsburgh Senior Photos

It was an all-Pittsburgh kind of senior session for Tyler!

From the moment we started planning his senior session, it was clear that Tyler wanted a Pittsburgh-themed senior photo session. We talked about Point State Park (specifically the fountain), the bridges, and the North Shore Riverwalk. As I do with all of my clients who ask for photos downtown, I recommended choosing an evening when there weren’t any sporting events. This year in particular, the NFL Draft was taking plate at the end of April IN Pittsburgh, so I recommended we steer clear of that, too.

We chose a date that was the week after the draft, when things were supposed to be calmed down, and a night when there was note a home sporting event scheduled. But wouldn’t you know it, the evening of Tyler’s session came, and we ran into a few roadblocks pertaining to both of these very events we had tried to avoid!

Upon our arrival, Point State Park was unexpectedly completely fenced off. We could see peering through the fence that the fountain was on and that people were walking around, though. So after talking to one of the security guards, he said we could make the 2 mile walk around the fence to the fountain, and that we would be able to take photos there. We were all so thankful that we could still make our way there, even if we had to walk a bit further than we thought… so, we started the trek.

Wouldn’t you know it, by the time we arrived at the fountain, it had been shut off. We couldn’t believe it! We tried to find someone to ask, but to no avail. So, we decided to make the best of it and get some photos on the fountain steps, with the river in the background, and using the “stillness” of the water as a reflection. And honestly.. those photos of Tyler’s reflection (you’ll see them below) are some of my favorites from his entire gallery. It may be a different look than the usual fountain photos, but still pretty epic!

After finishing up at Point State Park, we began walking towards the Roberto Clemente Bridge and realized that there were lots of people in Pirates gear walking towards PNC Park, which was starting to fill up. To our surprise, we found out that the home game that was supposed to take place the previous night had been rescheduled to this night due to inclement weather the day before. It was hard to believe that the two events we had carefully planned around and tried to avoid had somehow still crept into Tyler’s session!

With all of that being said - all of the hiccups we experienced, the unexpected surprises, the long stretches of walking - we had such a fun time with Tyler and his family. I am so grateful that they were willing to roll with the punches, because it was truly a beautiful night for photos, even if the city was a bit busier than usual. And thankfully, we were able to avoid too many people in the background, even with so much going on!

I love how this Pittsburgh senior session turned out. If you’re interested in having senior photos taken in Pittsburgh, feel free to send me a message via my “Contact” tab in the navigation above. I would love to work with you!

Sophia: Spring Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

As a senior photographer in Pittsburgh, I’ve learned over the last 12 years or so that there are true “seasons” for photography in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Summer and fall are by far the most popular seasons… but Spring is actually one of my favorite times of the year for senior photos! 🌸 And this year, Sophia was my first senior to photograph for the 2026 season!

I’ve had the honor of photographing Sophia’s sisters for their senior photos in past years (click here to see, and here to see!), so it was a joy when Sophia’s mom reached out to me to photograph the final graduating high school senior in their family!

We had a beautiful, sunny day for Sophia’s photos.. and even though it was a bit chilly, Sophia was a champ though the cold temperatures, and I don’t think you can even tell from her photos how cold it really was!

I want to talk about Sophia’s outfits, because they were such a great combination! She started out in a denim mini dress with red heels (love for the pop of color!), and her mom brought a bouquet of flowers that complimented those heels… the perfect touch! Sophia then changed into a long light blue maxi dress with flower detail, which was the perfect choice for photos around the Hartwood Mansion. For her final outfit, she changed into a more structured black vest with jeans - and we walked down to the Hartwood Stables for this last outfit. I love how her outfit complimented the stable backgrounds so perfectly!

Sophia, it was a joy to take your senior photos.. thank you so much for the honor! And a huge congrats to you on your senior year!!

Bethel Park Lifestyle Newborn Family Photos

When two become three!

I've had the privilege of photographing Becca & Nate a few times now - first for their North Park engagement photos, then for their Pittsburgh wedding, and now as they become a family of three (plus their pup, Tucker!)

It is always a joy and an honor to photograph familiar faces as they grow into new seasons. This session was certainly no different!

Becca & Nate, congratulations on your growing family!

Kenzie & Tom: McConnell's Mill Engagement Photos

We had a beautiful afternoon for Kenzie & Tom's engagement session at McConnell's Mill! The sun was shining... and there was still some snow out... which made for some really beautiful backdrops against the water and rocks!

As a Pittsburgh photographer, certain times of year can be “iffy” for photos… March is one of those months! It can be snowy, or it can be sunny and beautiful… or anywhere in between! But really, those In between months are some of the most underrated times for photos. As you’ll see from the photos below, we were still able to get some beautiful images and backdrops during a “not so popular” time of the month for photos. And on top of that, McConnell’s Mill was not busy at ALL! So we had almost the whole space to ourselves.

Interested in having your engagement photos (or any other type of photo!) taken? Click here to inquire!

Congratulations, Kenzie & Tom!

Allison & Bryant: White Barn Wedding Pictures (Prospect, PA)

Allison & Bryant tied the knot in the fall of 2025 at the White Barn in Prospect, PA! ❤️ One of my favorite wedding venues in Pittsburgh, this venue has an endless array of beautiful backdrops for photos. This was my first time taking photos in their new Air b&b, which is right on the property! It made the transition from getting ready to ceremony totally seamless.

I personally have known Allison since she was just a few years old - and over the years, I’ve photographed her senior photos and her engagement photos. To say it was an honor to photograph hers & Bryant’s wedding day would be an understatement. I am so grateful for the opportunity to come alongside this sweet couple as they said their “I do’s.” I just adore their whole family!

Congratulations on your wedding & marriage, Allison & Bryant!

Haley & Jared: Shady Elms Farm Wedding Pictures

Haley & Jared’s wedding day at Shady Elms Farm was a joy to be a part of! Being a Pittsburgh wedding photographer has granted me so many opportunities to visit beautiful locations that I may not have ever gotten to see… including Shady Elms Farm! It is a photographer’s dream, full of beautifully curated spaces that feel like they are made for photos. Not to mention, the staff at the farm is just as incredible!

Though I’ve photographed many weddings at Shady Elms Farm, this was my first with a ceremony under their new (to me) pavillion. And I just have to say… can every venue have a pavillion like this?! The natural light was beautiful, and it is the perfect “rain spot” so that couples and vendors don’t have to worry about having a back up rain plan. Truly… what a great idea!

View Haley & Jared’s Engagement Photos here

Congratulations on your wedding day, Haley & Jared!

Dani & Trevor: Grupp's Christmas Tree Farm Couples Photo Session

If you’ve been following along, you might recognize Dani in these photos below! Dani started assisting me with photo sessions a few years ago, and we have had such a blast getting to work together! I asked if her and her husband Trevor would be willing to be my “test models” to get some images to promote my Christmas mini sessions this year (at Grupp’s Christmas Tree Farm), and I was so excited when they said yes! It was a win-win - photos for them, sample images for me!

The original day of our session, it was dark and rainy… so we rescheduled to the following week. I am so thankful we did, because we had the most beautiful day and glowiest light!

What I loved about photographing these two at Grupp’s was the variety of images we were able to get - some in the Christmas tree area, and some in a small fielded area nearby that looked more fall-ish. Their outfits were the perfect in between for the seasons, too… and they were a blast to photograph!

It also just so happens that these two were celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year, so of course, we had to get some photos commemorating their wedding rings.

I’m so thankful for you both, Dani & Trevor!

Moon Township In-Home Newborn Photos

Welcome to the world, sweet baby girl!

Newborn in-home sessions have definitely grown on me these last few years after becoming a mom myself. I loved getting to photograph Liz and her sweet December baby in Moon Township! And of course, we had to incorporate a little bit of Christmas into the mix with baby girl being born in December!

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl, Liz!