Hannah's Springtime Graduation Photos at Boston University

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for graduation photos, but working with fellow 2023 grads this past year has been extra meaningful, as somebody who can relate to the hard work they’ve put in the past 4 years. I loved chatting with Hannah while taking her Boston University graduation photos, and getting to celebrate all the incredible things she’s accomplished during her time at BU!

Hannah’s Springtime BU Graduation Photos

A round of applause for this 2023 grad

Before we get any further into this, can we just take a moment to clap for everyone who graduated from college in 2023? 👏 During this session with Hannah, we spoke a lot about + connected on just how hard COVID was for our class, and how much it really impacted our time at college. It’s definitely not what any of us would have hoped for heading into our college years, but I truly love getting to celebrate people like Hannah who have worked SO hard to push through it and come out the other end with so much growth! 

Hannah and I originally connected over social media and bonded over both being into copywriting. We instantly became great internet friends (you know, the kind that always shows support when each other makes a new post!), which made this shoot so easy and fun all around. I always find that when I’m able to get to know you a little bit before your shoot, and get a good understanding of who you are as a person + what you value, it makes our shoot so seamless and natural! Plus, Hannah is a super talented lifestyle content creator + is pretty active on Tiktok, so I could tell she absolutely knew what she was doing in front of the camera ;)

Gorgeous graduation photos at Marsh Chapel

We spent our time walking around the gorgeous BU campus right in the city, shooting the majority of Hannah’s photos in front of Marsh Chapel—which is by far one of the best places on the BU campus for graduation photos. The picturesque Gothic-style architecture, the massive archways, and those gorgeous spring flowers blooming around the building? Every photographer’s dream. We made sure to get a variety of different angles and perspectives for Hannah’s gallery, because you always need options when it comes to grad invites and sharing on the ‘gram, no?! 

A celebratory champagne pop for the ages

I know, I know—it might seem a little extra to include an ENTIRE section in this blog post about Hannah’s champagne pop, but when I tell you it was one of the most killer champagne pops I’ve ever seen, I mean it. You’d be surprised at how difficult it can be to get a perfectly aesthetic pop like the ones you see all over Instagram & Pinterest; it takes some practice, even for someone like me who has photographed and helped with a million of ‘em! Hannah was a total pro at shakin’ that bottle and making it pop juuust right for the most fun, celebratory photos of the day 🍾

If you’re loving these celebratory vibes but don’t really feel like potentially getting covered in champagne (I get it!), here are a few equally as fun alternatives!

• Confetti: as long as it’s biodegradable—trust me, confetti is a PAIN to clean up and isn’t good for the environment. Check out Sophia’s Pink Cap & Gown Grad Photos for a great example of how picturesque biodegradable confetti can be!)

• Balloons: Go to your nearest party store and grab a few of those big ol’ number balloons that match your graduation year!

• Bubbles: Because who doesn’t love fun photos with giant bubbles floating in the foreground?

A sweet review from Hannah

Gallery-delivery days are probably my favorite kind of days after actual shoot days, but my next favorite is when I receive a review from the client. They never fail to make me feel so incredibly grateful that I get to call this passion my “job,” and that I have the opportunity to connect with such amazing people! Here’s the sweet review Hannah sent over after our shoot ❤️

"I got my grad photos done with Kayla and she was absolutely AMAZING!!! She was so good at letting me know how to pose and made me feel so comfortable. The photos came out amazing I love every single one so much! Her editing is beautiful, I would highly recommend!"

The biggest congrats to this recent Boston University grad—thanks for letting me share this special moment with you, Hannah! 🎉

3 Things I Loved About This BU Graduation Photoshoot

You know I always love throwing in some bonus tips in my blog posts, so I wanted to give you a few quick pieces of advice for your grad photos before you leave! I could go on and on about what I loved about Hannah’s shoot, but I narrowed it down to 3 things that I think will help you prepare for your own.

1. Hannah’s all-white graduation outfit

While you can wear literally ANYTHING and any color you want for your grad photos, you can never go wrong with white! Hannah’s all-white outfit made it super easy to look amazing at any location on the BU campus, and made the bright red of her gown stand out so well.

What should I wear to my graduation photoshoot?

This is a BIG question to answer and there’s a lot that goes into graduation photo outfits—so I’m going to direct you to a different blog post: Your Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Graduation Photos! In this guide, I go through literally every detail you’ll need to consider when planning your grad shoot, from what props to bring to what to wear, to when to take your photos. 

If you’re just looking for some general portrait outfit advice, such as tips on color schemes, styling, and outfit examples, you can also check out my blog about What to Wear to Your Portrait Photoshoot!

2. The cherry blossoms (duh!)

How could I not be excited that the cherry blossoms were coming out to play just in time for this session? The pink combined with Hannah’s white attire + the colors of the campus was just *chef’s kiss.*

When is the best time to take graduation photos in Boston?

As a Boston graduation photographer who has photographed COUNTLESS grad sessions, I usually recommend scheduling your graduation photos between March and June. Ideally, April is the perfect month (in my opinon) because the weather is amazing, the flowers are starting to bloom, and it’s far enough from a May graduation date that you’ll have plenty of time to get your photos back before the big day. Many photographers to book out pretty far in advance, though, so you should inquire as early as you can (around the first or second month of your last semester of college)!

3. Her supportive guest star

AKA her boyfriend! He came to help out, hold her cap, gown, and accessories, and overall be her hype man the whole time. We made sure to get a few photos with him in it at the end, because having a support system is so crucial to getting through your college years—and that deserves to be honored!

Can I bring a friend to my graduation photoshoot?

Of course you can! It’s totally optional, but you’re more than welcome to bring along a friend, family member, partner, etc. to hang out with during your shoot. I know I always do better in front of the camera when I have somebody there to hype me up, so this is great especially if you’re feeling a little nervous for your shoot! Bring somebody who will make you smile, laugh, an feel like your best self. They can even hop in a couple of shots with you!

Here’s a great example: Janice brought her partner, Fidel, to her graduation shoot with her, and we got a ton of cute couples photos of the two of them, including an adorable one of them kissing behind her grad cap. You can check out their blog post here if you want to take a look at the photos!

My Top Tips for Your Boston Graduation Photos

While I could keep this blog post going forever & continue talking your ear off about grad photos, I decided to go ahead and create a separate guide dedicated to all my top tips + advice to make it easier for ya. If you’re graduating college soon and need help planning your grad shoot, I’ve got everything you need in my Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Graduation Photos—don’t miss out on all the goodness inside!

Boston Graduation Photographer

And when the time comes, you’ll also need a photographer to document the occasion for you. I’ve photographed more Boston graduation photoshoots than I can keep track of, and it would be my absolute honor to collaborate with you on yours, too. Reach out to me here when you’re ready to get your session on the books + start planning your dream session together!