Your graduation is one of the biggest milestones that you will achieve in your life. After years of hard work, late-night studying, and unforgettable high school and/or college memories, it’s finally time to celebrate your achievement. One of the best ways to capture this moment is with a graduation photo session that reflects your personality and accomplishments.
A well-planned photo session helps capture the excitement, pride, and memories of your educational journey. Keep in mind, planning the perfect grad photoshoot takes more than just putting on a cap and gown. From choosing the right location and outfits to timing your session for the best lighting, a little preparation can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out.
It is our hope that this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable graduation photo session.
Choosing the Perfect Location
Often times the setting will shape the entire look of your graduation photos. You could go with whatever pleases you or you can incorporate settings that represent your time at school. Items to consider include:
- High School or College campus landmarks such as the statue of the mascot, the quad area, especially if you spent a lot of time in that area. If you’re an athlete, incorporate the stadiums or arenas. A scholar? Maybe pose in front of the library or a historical/iconic building, or in the case that your school has a sign or large logo, posing next to it would connect you to the school as well.
- Urban city backdrops represent the city you’ve been attending school the way campus landmarks do, but a little more spread out. Maybe there were off-campus locations you often visited, such as a coffee house, diners or museums, as these would be great in your photos to tell your story. A sorority or fraternity house would do the same as well.
- Outside of the campus and urban areas, other areas you might want to consider are nature spots, such as (parks, beaches, or gardens, or something personal to you that is not included in the above.
Something else to consider when selecting your location is the lighting conditions, crowd levels, travel time between spots, photography permits or restrictions and of course, any permissions from the school if your photos are taken on campus.
Planning Out Your Outfits (Cap, Gown & Beyond)
Of course, we will incorporate your Cap and Gown into many of the photos, but a good Graduation photo session is more than those two items. Here are some suggestions you can use to plan out your outfits:
- Traditional Cap and Gown photos are an obvious selection that will truly represent your milestone and achievement. Make sure your gown is steamed and fits properly.
- Outfit ideas that don’t include the Cap and Gown can vary. Take into consideration your style or how you want to be represented during this momentous occasion. Your options can include the Business casual outfit, the Formal outfit or go with the Casual look that reflects your personality. For photography purposes, we recommend avoiding busy patterns or logos, and choosing colors that will complement your school colors. Also, be sure to wear comfortable shoes if walking between locations or that will appear under your gown in full length photos.
- In the event you are planning on a multiple location session, consider bringing 2-3 outfits changes so you have variety in your shots.
Picking the Best Time for Lighting for Your Graduation Photo Session
I think it goes without saying that lighting is everything when it comes to photography. After all, good lighting will dramatically improve your photo quality. A couple things to consider when planning the time of your photoshoot:
- The Golden Hour. Typically, this is at sunrise or sunset which will provide more soft lighting, which in turn, will make your portrait a little more flattering. Besides, if you go with a midday session, the lighting creates more challenges and causes some harsh shadows.
- Planning Around Weather and Seasons is a little easier to do living in Southern California versus living in other parts of the country. Even knowing that, you still have to plan accordingly. If you are going for a more floral theme to your photos and want them vibrant, consider a Spring Session or if warm tones are your preference, let’s plan for the Fall foliage. As said, the chance of rain is low, but you still have to prepare for it and have a backup plan.
Bring Meaningful Props
One of the more popular things that make Grad Photo Sessions popular is the use of Meaningful Props. This makes your photos more personal and memorable to you and to your family. Some examples of props might include:
- Graduation Cap and Gown
- The Diploma Holder
- Sports Gear or Club Items (if you played baseball there, consider your glove or bat. You get the idea)
- School Memorabilia (school pennants, stole, cords, class ring)
- Books from your Major
- Champagne or Confetti for Celebration Photos
Be sure to keep it simple. Your props should be incorporated to enhance your photos, and not distract from them.
Prepare a Shot List with Your Photographer
Often times during your session, you are engaged in the moment, and after all is said and done, you realize there were some shots, some angles or anything else were not included. Whether you didn’t inform the photographer or they never asked, you want to be sure you get what you want out of your session. We encourage you to plan ahead to avoid missing important photos. Example shots you should add to your list could include:
- Close-up Portraits
- Walking Across Campus
- Sitting on Steps or Lawn
- Portrait with Cap and Gown
- Tossing Your Cap into the Air
- Photos with Classmates, Faculty, Friends or Family
- Various Props representing Your Time There (see prop ideas above)
Items to Prepare Before the Day of Your Session
Besides the day of your session, location or even time of day, there are plenty of other things to think about leading up to the day of your photoshoot. Some of which you might want to try before your date, so you are prepared ahead of time. For example:
- Your Hair, Makeup, and Grooming Tips
- Posing Ideas for Natural-looking Photos
- Walking Toward the Camera
- Holding Your Cap
- Looking Over Your Shoulder
- Sitting Casually
Conclusion
Planning your graduation photo session ahead of time ensures you capture this milestone in the best possible way. By choosing the right location, preparing outfits, bringing meaningful props, and working closely with your photographer, you’ll create photos that preserve your graduation memories for years to come.
And remember, graduation photoshoots should be fun, not stressful. Just trust your photographer’s guidance, and remember this is one way to celebrate your accomplishments and let your personality shine.
Congratulations Graduate!
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About the Author:
Jerrick O’Connor is the owner of Three16 Photography and has 15 years of experience in the world of photography. He specializes in Weddings, Engagements, Family and Corporate photography and loves connecting small business owners with other small business owners in hopes they can benefit each other’s production. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife Josie, playing board games or just spending time with his many friends.
