The Redford Legacy

Michael Redford grew up in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from high school and worked early jobs delivering newspapers, loading trucks at a hardware store, Seven Springs. and spending summers as a lifeguard in Ocean City, Maryland. By age 21, he began college at Robert Morris University.

In his late teens and early twenties, Michael toured the country as a rock-and-roll musician while attending college. On September 23, 1977, he co-founded a Dormont-based talent agency called Book-A-Band, representing musicians throughout the region. By 1980, photography entered the mix, and Book-A-Band & Redford Photography was born.

Michael and Peggy married in the 70's — the perfect partner in life and business. Together, they became the heart of the Redford studio, raising their children Nicholas, Kevin, and Jessa along side the business they were building.

In 1989, Michael and Peggy sold Book-A-Band to Ron Richards and opened Redford Photography in McMurray, Pennsylvania.  The business grew quickly, earning a reputation for quality, creativity, and customer care.

By the year 2000, Redford Photography had expanded dramatically. They built a 10,000-square-foot studio at Southpointe.

At 10,000 square feet, the “Redford Building” became the largest portrait and wedding studio in the country. In it, we were able to provide all the specialty styles and services the Tri state area needed,  There were full theater areas, camera rooms, and five indoor/outdoor sets built by master carpenters and craftsmen — plus presentation theaters, makeup rooms, and a large gallery system.

In 2003, the Redfords added dance photography, capturing nearly 2,000 dancers annually. By 2009, they began photographing local school districts.  Canon Mac,  Chartiers-Houston, Trinity, Peters Township, South Fayette, Montour, and others in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

And through all of it, the Redford name stood for the same values that started it all — excellence, integrity, and genuine care for every client.

Today, Redford Photography continues to thrive under the same family values Michael and Peggy established nearly five decades ago. From humble beginnings in 1977 to photographing over 50,000 students and portrait sessions each year, we remain a favored business name in Western Pennsylvania.

Chances are, someone in your family has been photographed by Redford Photography!