The Graduation Session Prep Guide
Everything you need to know to prep and plan for your photo session.
While this guide is made with UCF students and UCF main campus in mind, a majority of the info and guidance will still apply to the graduates of other schools and campuses.
The Process and What to Expect
01.
Communication and Planning
I’ll reach out a few days before your session to go over location choices, meeting spot, details, and start time, if we haven’t already confirmed. We’ll also touch base about the weather if needed. I’ll confirm day-of when I’m on campus and any other details. You can always reach out before hand to further plan ahead!
02.
Session Day
During your shoot, we’ll have a great time! I like to keep things light and fun so the experience feels enjoyable and relaxed. At the same time, I’m very detail oriented so I’m always checking for stray hairs, adjusting cords and stoles, and making sure every little detail looks right.
03.
Session Day
We’ll likely be doing a good bit of walking, so comfort and prep go a long way so that we move efficiently and make the most of our time. Being ready with everything you need, having an extra set of hands if you’re carrying a lot, and having walking shoes will help things run smoothly. You can expect to spend about 15–25 minutes at each campus location.
04.
After
After our shoot, I’ll send you 4–6 sneak peeks within 3 days. These are a few of my favorite shots to give you an early preview! Once all your photos are ready, I’ll upload them to an online gallery and email you the download link. Your full gallery will be delivered within 3 weeks of your session, so be sure to keep an eye on your email around this time.
Location Suggestions – UCF Main Campus
The Reflecting Pond
The reflecting pond is an iconic UCF backdrop! It offers a ton of variety because of it’s size, which makes for a lot of unique posing and backdrop possibilities. One thing to keep in mind is that because the pond is a large open space, the change in sunlight throughout the day here will have a big impact on the look of the photos. In my opinion, I think the lighting is best earliest in the morning and latest in the evening. So, morning sessions will start at the pond, whereas evening sessions will end at the pond, in most cases.
Student Union Pathway
A more scenic backdrop with a nature vibe. The sun shines through the trees beautifully and is an opportunity for brightness and greenery in your images. This spot is best for solo photos and groups of 2-3, and I recommend saving larger group photos for other locations. Something to keep in mind is that if our session takes place while classes are happening, the pathway can get very busy and we’ll have to work around students passing through.
Alumni Knights Statue
The Knight Statue is a well known iconic spot that represents the excitement of becoming an alumni! It’s always fun to climb up on top for a few fun shots too! This is a smaller and quicker spot but is extremely popular among grads for photos. Since this is a small but very popular spot, it can get pretty crowded here. So I would be prepared for the possibility of waiting in line, especially in the evenings a week or two before graduation.
Football Stadium
The football stadium is such a fun spot for photos! Campus typically opens a short window of time, usually about a week before commencement, for grads to take pictures while a “Congratulations Grads” graphic is displayed on the scoreboard. If your session falls outside that timeframe, no worries! The stadium gates are almost always open, so we can still take photos inside. However, please note that on rare occasions, we might be restricted if we’re outside the official UCF photo window due to construction, events, etc. Also keep in mind that photos are limited to the stands and surrounding areas, as access to the field is closed. Since the stadium is a bit farther from other popular photo spots, I recommend parking there and driving between locations to save time and energy.
Burnett Honors College Garden
This is one of my favorite spots on campus for photos! It’s a small garden located outside the Honors College Building near the Student Union. The variety of plants and flowers is incredible, offering plenty of beautiful backdrops and colors. If you’re looking to add a natural, colorful vibe to your gallery, this is a perfect choice. I recommend this location for solo portraits or groups of 2-3, as larger group shots can be a bit tight in this space.
Your College Building
Photos outside your college building, sorority or fraternity house, or any other meaningful spot on campus are always a great idea! They add a personal touch to your images and help capture the places that made your college experience special.
The Library
The glass walls of the library add such a fun and unique look to your gallery, with plenty of interesting angles to shoot from. It’s a great way to add variety to the images. However, this spot can get pretty busy with students coming and going, especially during finals week or weekday mornings, so I usually recommend scheduling this location for a weekend session or after finals to avoid heavy foot traffic in the background.
Other Locations
A few additional honorable mentions! Outside Addition Financial Arena, along the palm tree pathway near the Engineering buildings, at the Charging Knight Statue outside of the Stadium, and Knight’s Logo outside the Welcome Center!
Outfit Suggestions and Recommendations
Choose an outfit that allows you to move freely without discomfort or constant adjustments. Avoid pieces that require frequent fixing, tugging, or careful placement, and steer clear of styles that heavily restrict movement, such as tight mermaid dresses that are tight around the legs or anything with restrictive sleeves. Try on your outfit a few times to make sure you like it from all angles and that it fits well. You don’t want to feel restricted by something too tight or worry about something slipping if it’s too loose. Keep in mind that if you don’t love it in the mirror, you’ll likely feel the same way in your photos. Wear something that reflects your personality. While a pretty dress always looks great, don’t feel pressured to dress up if that’s not your style! A nice blouse and dress pants, or even a school branded t-shirt and jeans, can be perfect. And the same thing applies to guys! Some guys want to wear a suit jacket and tie, others just a polo or dress shirt. If you choose jeans, pants, or a floor length dress, keep in mind that they will still be visible when your gown is zipped up and you will have to roll or secure it up if you choose to go into the pond. You can also wear scrubs, a lab coat, or any attire related to your field for some photos. The key is to wear something that truly feels like YOU! The photos above are all great outfit examples!
When it comes to color, neutrals and pastels always look best. White is a very popular choice and always photographs beautifully. Beige, tan, and off-white are also excellent options. If you want to go more colorful, light blue, light green, light purple, and yellow/gold work well. Black looks great on it’s own, but can blend in with your gown. Patterns can be fun too, but try to keep them minimal because busy patterns can be distracting in photos. The photos above are great examples of this! I’d personally avoid wearing red, orange, dark brown, navy, or anything super bright or neon. Very bright colors can be distracting and may contrast sharply with your gown. Red and orange are beautiful on their own, but it can clash with the surroundings and buildings of campus, as well as reflect back into your skin. I work to achieve true to color images with accurate skin tones and sometimes red/orange clothing can make that a bit difficult in the editing process. Dark brown and navy can also clash with the black gown. That said, if you love any of these colors, feel free to wear them, it’s all about what makes you feel confident!
When including friends or family in your photos, it is best to coordinate outfits so the group looks polished and cohesive without everyone exactly matching. Choose colors for everyone that complement your own outfit. Avoid loud patterns, logos, or overly bright colors that can draw attention. The goal is to have everyone’s outfits blend seamlessly so you remain the focus of the photos while still looking unified as a group. A lot of grads choose to wear one color, while their friends all wear another which can be fun, whereas most families will choose a general color pallet. Below are examples of great group outfit coordination! One tip (this really just applies to family photos) is to avoid having yourself and the whole group wearing entirely black. Outfits will blend in with your gown and it can just look very dark and heavy overall. Some exceptions are when you wear white or another color and your friend group where’s black, this is usually a fun and popular look!
And then I don’t recommend bringing an outfit change if you’ve only booked the 60-minute session. Changing outfits can be time consuming and means carrying extra items around. With a 90-minute session, we’ll have more time but I still suggest only bringing something that is easy and quick to change into. That said, this is just my suggestion and the choice is ultimately yours!
What to bring (props)
Hairbrush, hairspray, and makeup bag – Bring these for any touch-ups, especially if it’s going to be hot or windy.
Small towel – If you plan to go into the pond this is helpful for afterwards. Also, if it’s hot out it can help you to freshen up if needed.
Extra pair of walking shoes – During a typical UCF grad shoot, we can walk up to or even more than a mile. If you plan to wear heels, bring sandals or flats to change into between locations.
Water bottle – Staying hydrated is important since we’ll be walking and moving around a lot, and you’ll feel the heat even more when wearing your gown. It always ends up feeling hotter and more humid (in the spring/summer) than most people are anticipating so it’s best to be prepared.
A friend – Having a familiar face can help hype you up, carry items, and assist with efficiency. I’ll always help fix stray hairs or adjust your tassel or stole, but an extra pair of hands can keep things moving smoothly. That said, if you prefer to come alone, that’s perfectly fine too!
Champagne – I will provide a bottle of champagne for you to pop! If you’d like to pop at multiple locations or more than once, than please bring your own additional bottles. If you don’t want to pop champagne, no worries at all that is totally ok! Please note that it can’t be swapped for any other prop. Confetti – Please note that UCF has mostly banned the use of confetti on campus, other than what they provide in the student union. That being said, if you really want to bring it anyways please make sure it’s biodegradable and understand that we can’t pop or toss in the pond. Even biodegradable confetti gets stuck in the drains at the pond and I’ve seen sudden closures happen so that it can be cleaned because of it.
Graduation accessories – Bring any additional cords, tassels, stoles, medals, or pins, or even your degree if you have it.
Athletic items, school clothing, degree related items – Such as a soccer ball, cheerleading outfit, team jersey, stethoscope, lab coat, etc.
Calligraphy boards or flowers – Great for adding a personal touch and color.
Inflatables for the pond – If you bring a large inflatable, please have it ready to use or have an efficient way to set it up.
Pets – If you want to bring your dog, please have someone else available to watch your pet while you’re taking solo photos.
Posing Guidance
I completely understand that not everyone feels comfortable in front of the camera — and that’s totally fine! We’ll start with simple poses, like smiling at the camera or looking off into the distance, to help you ease into the session. I give very specific posing instructions, telling you where to place your hands, how to tilt your head, and which direction to face, so you’ll always know what to do. I also demonstrate poses visually so you can simply mimic me.
As you get more comfortable, we’ll move into more fun poses, including walking shots, celebratory poses, and using props. I like to keep you moving to avoid stiffness and ensure a variety of angles and looks. To help me capture you best, I will likely ask about any specific you prefer, such as a “good side,” favorite angles, or how you like your hair. If you have preferences or things you’re self-conscious about, I totally get it so just let me know and I’ll do my best to pose you in ways that make you feel confident. If you have no preferences, that’s great too! My goal is always for you to LOVE your photos so communication is key here.
Timing and Punctuality
Please plan to arrive on time! Give yourself extra time to get ready, deal with traffic, and walk from your car to our meeting spot. If you plan to do any last-minute hair or makeup touch-ups, please arrive early — any prep after we meet will take away from our shooting time. If you’re running late, your session will be shortened by that amount of time. For example, a 6–7:30 pm session will still end at 7:30 pm. This is especially important for evening sessions timed with sunset, since the sun won’t wait! I’ll do my best to make the most of the remaining time, but I can’t be responsible for missed photos due to lateness or the sunset. If you’d like to make up lost time, sessions can be extended in 30-minute increments if daylight allows and I don’t have another booking immediately after. These will be billed as a “30-minute add-on” at the rate listed on my website. I understand that unexpected situations happen, and I’m happy to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis or extreme circumstances. If you’re running late, please text me as soon as you can so I know!
