You did it! Let's celebrate YOU!


What an exciting time this is! You have worked hard to accomplish your goals and we definitely need to celebrate this moment. A Cap & Gown Session or Graduation Portraits is the perfect way to document the end of this chapter of your life.

Here are 5 tips to help you prepare for the perfect session!

Blonde graduate in blue cap and gown smiling over her shoulder in an outdoor setting.

# 1 - Get Inspired


Pinterest is my go-to for inspiration for so many things... home decor, craft ideas and even photography. You can create a board of graduation portraits that you love. Share your board with me or send me your ideas. Think about what you like in graduation photos, but also what you don't like. Maybe props are not really your thing. What kind of vibe are you drawn to? Pinterest is a great place to start when planning your graduation portrait session.


Here is a link to my PINTEREST: Graduation Portraits


Smiling blonde graduate standing in blue cap and gown on a tree-lined campus walkway.

#2 - Include Friends & Family


Including someone special is a great way to make your graduation portraits more memorable. Have a parent, grandparent or sibling included in your session. What about your besties? Is there anything as important to high school and college graduates as their friends? You can include friends in your session by making it a group session. All you have to do is schedule a Cap & Gown Mini Session for them at the same time as yours! I will photograph each senior separately and then everyone together as a group. Doing your portraits together is sooooo much fun and your images will be unforgettable!

Graduate in cap and gown smiles with older woman at outdoor graduation ceremony.
Graduate in white cap and gown smiling in front of a grand historic building outdoors.

# 3 - Plan your Outfit


Think about the style you want your photos to be. Do you want a formal look? A dress and heels or a button up shirt and tie will look great under your gown. Do you want a more casual look? Consider wearing a romper or a t-shirt with your college logo and jeans. Whatever style you lean towards, try to make sure your clothes go well with your gown color. When in doubt, go with black or white. We will be shooting images with your gown open, zipped up, over the shoulder and we will also get some without your gown.

Smiling blonde graduate in white cap and gown posing near bright windows in natural light.

#4 - Choose a Location YOU Love


Your graduation portraits will have a much greater significance to you if you choose a location that is meaningful. You don’t have to look far; it could be your school or university, home, or church. Maybe a favorite place that you hang out at, a park, lake or theater, are all great choices.

Nothing coming to mind? No problem. Choose a location that fits your style. Urban or Country? Floral or Architectural? My Location Guide can help you narrow down your choices.

Smiling graduate with short blonde hair and glasses wearing a black gown near a chain-link fence.
Smiling graduate holds gold tassel outdoors after graduation ceremony.

# 5 - Props of Fun


I am not a big fan of props generally, EXCEPT when doing graduation portraits! This is the perfect opportunity to really go all out. So take a moment to think about props- do you want them? Your cap, gown, and sashes are a great start. There are so many fun props to consider. Do you want to decorate your cap? Do you want to do a shot of you tossing pages in the air? Can we celebrate with some glitter or champagne popping? Let's get creative!



Curly-haired graduate smiles in black cap and gown outdoors.
Blonde graduate in blue cap holds heart-shaped sunglasses outdoors.

Are You Ready?

I hope these 5 tips are helpful when planning your session. The most important thing to remember is to be yourself and just have fun! If you want to learn more about booking Graduation Portraits contact me here: Contact Page