Abby’s Spring Graduation Photos at Belmont University in Nashville
A Late March Nashville Graduation Photoshoot at Belmont University
It’s my absolute favorite time of the year—grad season! I was so happy to kick off the season this year by serving as Abby’s Nashville graduation photographer on the beautiful Belmont University campus.
We met up for Abby’s Belmont graduation photos on a beautiful morning in late March in Freedom Plaza, which is one of my favorite spots at Belmont to take grad pictures. The fountain unfortunately wasn’t running that morning, but we didn’t let that stop us from capturing some of my favorite photos ever!! The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, so Abby and I made sure to take advantage and got lots of graduation photos with pops of pink in the background.
As we kept shooting, Abby and I bonded over our love for Nashville and our love for Taylor Swift—two things I could talk about all day! I was so impressed by Abby, who told me that not only is she graduating a year early with her Music Business degree, but she also had the opportunity to work at the Grammy’s this year where she saw Taylor Swift IN PERSON! I mean, WOW! We definitely had lots to talk about after I learned that fun fact…
We continued to wander the Belmont campus, stopping to take photos in front of a few buildings where Abby spent a lot of her time at Belmont and making our way over to the iconic bell tower. As we walked, I remember telling Abby that the Belmont campus is honestly a Nashville graduation photographer’s dream because there are so many beautiful spots to capture graduation photos, between the blooming trees, picturesque columns, and photogenic landmarks. We even found a fountain that WAS working that morning so we could shoot some photos there too before wrapping up our photoshoot.
I loved everything about Abby’s Belmont graduation photoshoot, from her gorgeous white dress to the opportunity to hear about all the cool experiences she’s had as a Belmont student. I felt so lucky that Nashville even granted us the most perfect spring day, which can be a rarity in March! Abby is the coolest, sweetest grad, and I was so happy to be her Belmont graduation photographer.
The Best Places at Belmont University for Graduation Photos
You honestly can’t go wrong with taking graduation photos at Belmont; there are so many beautiful locations for grad pictures. Like I told Abby, it might be one of my favorite campuses as a Nashville graduation photographer! If you’re planning to take Belmont graduation photos this year, here are a few of my favorite places to stop and snap your pics:
Freedom Plaza
This is usually my first stop for Belmont graduation photos because it’s just gorgeous! The fountain and the buildings in the plaza all make for a gorgeous backdrop, and there’s usually a few beautiful trees blooming in the background during the spring and summer. It’s hard to go wrong with any photos in Freedom Plaza!
The Lawn
From Freedom Plaza, Abby and I made our way over to the lawn. This was the perfect spot to get photos in front of the R. Milton and Denice Johnson Center where Abby took classes, and to grab some shots with Freedom Plaza in the background. A win-win! Plus, the green grass makes photos here nice and bright.
The Bell Tower
The bell tower is such a fun spot for Belmont graduation photos because there’s so many angles to play around with! I love to get at least one wide shot, which I made sure to do with Abby.
The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
I love taking grad photos in front of the Fisher Center because it has all these gorgeous columns right behind the fountain, creating the perfect backdrop. Sitting or standing by the fountain and playing around between the columns is a great recipe for beautiful Belmont graduation photos.
The Gazebos
We finished up Abby’s Belmont grad photoshoot at the gazebos per her request, and I am so glad she suggested this because all of those shots came out soooo gorgeous! The sun was shining in exactly the right spot for us to finish up this Nashville grad photoshoot with the perfect glow.
Tips for Planning Your Nashville Graduation Photoshoot
I wanted to put together some bonus tips for all my Tennessee grads who are preparing for their upcoming Nashville graduation photos. Here’s some of my favorite pieces of planning advice that all TN grads should keep in mind when thinking about their graduation photoshoot!
Book your graduation photoshoot early
If you’re reading this, this is your sign to inquire about graduation photos in Nashville sooner rather than later! And don’t be afraid of booking a session earlier than you initially planned. Shooting graduation photos early in March or April has lots of benefits, like less competition with other grads for the best spots during your shoot and the guarantee of having your final edits photos back before your graduation. Just in time to post them!
Consider shooting in the morning
I love recommending morning photoshoots for my grads when it works for everyone’s schedule. We shot Abby’s photos in the morning while campus was still quiet, and it worked out perfectly. We had our favorite Belmont spots almost completely to ourselves! Plus, then you have the rest of the day to enjoy with all the positive emotions you’ll leave your grad photoshoot with! It’s so worth an early wakeup call to capture photos like these.
Bring a go-bag with all your must-haves
This is something Abby did for her Belmont graduation photos that I loved—she brought along a tote bag that held her cap and gown, phone, and touch-up materials for hair and makeup. I thought this was SO smart! Most of the time, graduation dresses don’t have pockets, so it’s so helpful to bring a giant bag you can throw all your stuff in while we’re walking around to different photo spots. This way, you don’t lose anything, and have easy access to things like props and lip gloss for our photoshoot.
Relax and trust your photographer!
My final piece of advice is to take a deep breath, allow yourself to feel the excitement of graduation, and trust your photographer to guide you through the session! All you have to do is show up with your cap and gown, ready to smile and have a good time :)
If you’re preparing for your own Nashville graduation photoshoot and looking for even more helpful tips from an experienced Nashville graduation photographer, I’ve created a super handy ultimate guide to the perfect grad photos that is perfect to read over before your session! It covers all the must-know details, including what to bring, what to wear, and posing tips. There’s also lots of fun inspiration photos for your own Nashville graduation photos, so if you’re looking for more grad photo advice and ideas, definitely make sure to check it out HERE!
Book Your Nashville Graduation Photographer
I love being a photographer in Nashville because there are so many kind, amazing people here and so many beautiful campuses for graduation photos. If you’re looking for someone to take your Nashville graduation photos, you’ve come to the right place!! As a recent college graduate, I remember all the emotional feelings that come along with graduation—and I’d love to help you remember this incredible time in your life with photos that make you feel beautiful.
If you’re ready to chat, fill out my contact form so we can start planning your dream Nashville graduation photoshoot!
