Your Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Graduation Photos
Are you graduating college this year? I’m a Boston-based graduation photographer here to offer you my expertise on how to have the perfect graduation photoshoot. This guide has everything you’ll need to know before you take your college graduation photos, including what to wear, what to bring, and why you should even bother taking grad photos in the first place– so let’s get into it!
These are the most frequently asked questions about college graduation photos that I’m going to cover– feel free to use this table of contents to skip ahead!
Why should you take college graduation photos?
Graduating college is a HUGE accomplishment– and it should be celebrated! Taking college graduation photos gives you the chance to really take in the achievement of graduation, and allows you to capture photos that will help you remember the moment forever. These are the photos that your parents are going to frame on their walls; the photos your grandparents will use to brag to their friends; the photos you’ll look back on after graduation to remember exactly how things felt in your last semester of school; the photos you’ll probably show your kids someday!
A graduation photoshoot is a special event that helps mark the transition from college to post-grad. it’s a marker for the end of your time at college, and a way that celebrates all that’s to come! There are so many great memories associated with college and a photoshoot will help you remember them whenever you return to the photos.
Additionally, in a more practical sense, taking college graduation photos will provide you with great photos to send to your friends and family to share the amazing news of your graduation with them! You’ll also get professional-quality grad photos to share on Instagram or your social media platform of choice so all your friends can congratulate you. And, for one more practical reason, you can use your grad photos to put on save-the-date cards for your upcoming grad party!
Are college graduation photos worth it?
This is a question that comes up a lot from upcoming college graduates. I’m here to tell you that the answer is definitely YES! And I’m not just saying that because I’m a graduation photographer.
As a soon-to-be college graduate, I know the emotions that 2023 graduates are experiencing— I’m feeling them myself! As I reflect on my college journey ending, I’m nervous to leave all of it behind… but I’m also so proud of what I’ve accomplished and the memories I’ve made.
A graduation photoshoot is the perfect way to freeze this feeling in time, and also to celebrate the amazing accomplishment that is graduating. These are the photos you’re going to look back on years from your graduation, and even weeks from it when you start to miss your life in college. Having photos taken of this incredible milestone is a way to commemorate the time you’ve spent at your university. You should be so proud of yourself for making to the end of your college journey– and a professional photoshoot is an amazing opportunity to congratulate and celebrate yourself.
Long story short, graduation photos are so worth it— so don’t look back and regret not taking them!
When should you take your college graduation photos?
Speaking from my experience as a Boston graduation photographer, I typically book the most graduation photos between March and June— and any of these months work great for senior photos. March is early enough that you’ll probably be the only one at your favorite spots, June avoids campus crowds, May drums up thy hype for graduation even more, or allows you to celebrate with photos right after…
That being said, when there’s availability I always recommend people to take their graduation photos in APRIL! April is the perfect month for senior photos because the weather is gorgeous, and it’s far enough away from a May graduation date that you’ll have your photos back in time before your officially graduate. Plus, you get to beat the rush of people taking their photos in May right around their actual graduation date.
But like I said, each month has its own benefits!
However, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to book your graduation photos. Most photographers are fully booked by March or April, so make sure to contact your photographer of choice as soon as possible! I recommend reaching out during the first or second month of your last semester of college to get your photoshoot on the books. This way you’ll have the date marked in your own calendar before things get chaotic during the month of your graduation, and you’ll ensure a spot in your favorite photographer’s calendar before they book up.
What should you bring to college graduation photos?
Your cap and gown
Probably the most important thing to remember to pack for your graduation photoshoot! You can grab a variety of shots wearing and holding the cap and gown in your school colors.
Cords, stoles, or medals
Definitely bring any special cords, stoles, or medals that you want to show off in your photos! These little items can be incorporated into so many poses for your photos, and they also allow you to demonstrate the accomplishments and accolades you’ve acquired during your time at school.
Props
Props give us even more things to play around with in the photos and can help us personalize your shoot even more. Celebratory props like a bottle of champagne or confetti poppers are always a favorite. Balloons can also be fun to play around with!
I also love when seniors bring things that are personal to their college careers (for example, things relating to your sport, club, or hobby). If you played a sport, bring your basketball or lacrosse stick to your photos, or even your jersey! Or if you’re an English major, bring a couple of your favorite books. These little details can add a personal touch to your session to help commemorate your time at school.
A friend, partner, or hype person
This one is totally optional, because if you come with just yourself you’ll have me, your new grad photo bestie, to hang out with and hype you up! But if you want to bring your best friend or favorite hype person to your session to help cheer you on and make you laugh, I definitely encourage that. Whatever will make you feel more comfortable!
You can also bring a partner or a best friend who wants to jump in for just a couple of shots with you to help you celebrate and remember this moment with you.
What should you wear to your college graduation photos?
Most girls opt to wear a white dress under their graduation gown. It’s traditional, classy, and there are a variety of possible white dresses so you can make your outfit your own while sticking to the graduation theme! Some of my favorite stores to shop for white graduation dresses are Princess Polly, Lulus, or Nordstrom. You can also check sites like Depop or Poshmark to try and find a lightly used piece!
However, if white’s not your thing, you definitely don’t need to wear white! I’ve photographed plenty of graduations who have chosen a light-colored dress, like pastel pink or sky blue, to stand out and add their personal style to their graduation photos.
I would recommend staying away from anything with super bright colors or with words or crazy patterns on it. Words will get cut off, and crazy patterns can clash with your gown or distract from what’s really important: YOU!
For guys, I recommend wearing a button-down shirt, a tie, and dress pants. This is the simple and formal option, and everyone looks great in it! However, if you want to keep things a little more casual, you can always lose the tie and swap out the dress pants for jeans. Or you can wear an outfit that you feel comfortable and that feels more personal to you. And if you wanna go all out and break out the full suit, go for it!
Of course, none of these are hard and fast rules. Ultimately, what’s most important when deciding what to wear for graduation photos is that you choose an outfit you feel comfortable and confident in. If you don’t feel confident in what you’re wearing, it will be harder to feel confident in yourself in your photos.
How should you pose for graduation photos?
You don’t need to worry about figuring out the poses for your grad photos because a great graduation photographer will guide you through every step of the session and help you nail your posing! As a graduation photographer, I always have plenty of posing ideas on hand for my clients so they don’t have to worry about a thing. Your graduation photographer should provide you with a variety of poses with your cap and gown around your campus.
However, if there are specific poses you need to have, feel free to tell your photographer or bring a reference photo! It’s more than okay to speak up and let your photographer know what your must-have shots are. But don’t feel the need to save every pose you could possibly want to do– your photographer has done lots of grad sessions and will be more than prepared for your shoot!
What are some examples of graduation photos?
For dozens of examples of college graduation photos, you can browse the graduation gallery on my website!
How much do college graduation photos cost?
The price for college graduation photos will differ for every photographer based on their experience level and the market they serve. I can only speak to my own personal pricing. As a Boston graduation photographer serving the New England area, the average graduate booking with me will invest $400-600 on their graduation photoshoot.
I offer three packages for college graduates in New England, ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours long. My most commonly booked collection is my 1-hour session, which is typically the perfect amount of time to hit all of your favorite spots on campus and capture some amazing photos. However, if you want to bring friends to your session or just want some extra time to grab all the amazing photos you need, a 2-hour session might be perfect for you!
For more information on my graduate photoshoot collections, visit my investment page!
So, this is everything you should know before your college graduation photoshoot! I hope this guide helps you feel confident and prepared to nail your grad photos.
If you’re still looking for a photographer to capture your college graduation photos, I’d love to help you out! Read more about what it’s like to work with Kayla Simon Photos on my experience page or reach out directly on my contact page for more information. Happy graduation!
