Getting Grad Shoot Ready!

You just booked your graduation shoot… now what?

For many people, graduation shoots are the first time in a while that they have gotten their photos taken professionally. I’d like to go over some important things to think about before your graduation shoot.

Locations

Without a doubt, the most iconic place to take graduation photos is at the Lawn with a view of the beautiful Rotunda. However, if there are any places that were super special to you during college (i.e. Clark Library or McIntire School of Commerce), we can definitely incorporate those locations into the graduation shoot as well. We can also venture into the pavilion gardens or amphitheater if you’re interested.

Outfits

Definitely wear what you’re comfortable with. If you’re wearing something that you can’t freely pose in or feel uncomfortable in, you might end up looking very rigid and unnatural in the pictures.

Girls: You can opt to go for dresses in bright colors- I’ve noticed that colors like red, turquoise, and yellow really pop in pictures. For a more elegant look, I would suggest going with more neutral colors like light pink, white, and blues. I would try to avoid black as they often appear dull in the photos and don’t show contrast when worn with the black graduation robes. Although dresses are most popular, don't feel confined to it by any means- you can always do rompers or dress shirts/pants as well.

For hair, leaving it loose always looks the best. It can give really flattering photos if you’re moving around and spinning. Add some curls or waves to give more dimension to the photos and help you feel special!

Guys: The most standard outfits for guys are dress shirts & pants paired with a tie. I would suggest tie clips to hold the ties in place. You can do bowties and suspenders as well if you wish. White seems to be a super popular color for guys' shirts as you can see in the pictures below. However, any color works really. In general, I would suggest lighter colors as they tend to contrast better with the robe and just appear brighter in all of the pictures. As for hair, just style it the way you normally do! You can use gel if you want to hold your hair in place.

Extras

Don’t forget that small choices can make a big difference. The jewelry that is closest to your face is the most important because they show up the most in pictures. Dangling earrings, shiny hoops, elegant necklaces —they all make a difference.

Bracelets, rings, and anklets (bonus point if they are UVA gear) are all great additions too. For bracelets, it looks really nice if you wear multiple and mix & match several different types like Alex & Ani, friendship bracelets, and thin bangles. You can also go more casual by wearing something as simple as a scrunchie or more classy like a watch.

Also, bring your trendy glasses and cool shades to play around with in the pictures!

Another thing to consider is nails! I have found that neutral nails look the best in pictures. You should opt to go with light pastel colors that complement your outfit, French (if you’re wearing multiple outfits that are different colors), or even natural nails.

Finally, makeup! I definitely suggest doing makeup a little bit heavier than usual. I would say the most important things to incorporate are eyeliner/mascara, blush, and a colorful lipstick (this adds so much color to the pictures). A nice, bronzy highlighter would also be amazing as it really really shows during golden hour and brightens up your face.

Props

Incorporating props into your graduation shoot is a great way to personalize it and showcase the hobbies/activities that meant the most to you during college. They will really make your shoot unique!

If you were on a sports or dance team, you can pick props like basketballs, dance shoes, pom-poms, etc. If you were a part of a choir group or played an instrument, you can bring props like music sheets, guitars, or club gear. If you’re a foodie, you can always opt to bring coffee, doughnuts, ice cream, cotton candy, popcorn, or cupcakes to add some color and add to the aesthetic. You can also bring books, magazines, journals, or paintings that you feel represent you. In the past, some of my clients have even brought along their orgo textbooks to represent classes that were memorable for them. Finally, you could also feature your favorite UVA gear like scarves, beanies, or sports jackets.

The most popular props at my shoots however are champagne (to capture the classic Champagne popping moments) and glitter. I’ve also worked with bubbles, smoke bombs, and flowers.

This should be a great overview for you to get started on brainstorming for your special day. As usual, always feel free to reach out to me with any questions :)