RACHEL LINDER
ATLANTA & SAVANNAH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

You did it. You have made it to senior year. It is time to celebrate! Here are 8 tips to get the most out of your graduation photos.

 

1. Pick a meaningful location

Whether it’s under the arch or on the steps of your last clinical building, pick a place that is sentimental towards you. You probably spent many hours at certain areas on campus, make a list of your favorite spots, and don’t forget to visit those (even if it is Blackbird Coffee)! These photos will spark memories of your favorite spots for years to come. For my Milledgeville friends wanting another location besides campus, try Lockerly Arboretum, The Rockwell House, Andalusia, Bartram Forest, or Lake Sinclair.

 

2. Grab your friends

Capturing the joy of friends who leaned on each other and supported each other for the past four years never gets old. Whether it’s your girl gang, the boys, or your sweetheart, make sure to get photos of those who helped you through it all. Even if you don’t bring your friends, your mom might want a nice photo of you and her in your gown!

 

3. Pop the champagne

Grab a cheap bottle of champagne and shake away when you are ready! Don’t forget to keep smiling as you pop it open. Welch’s sparkling grape juice works just as well, and it’s less expensive than champagne. A towel and wet wipes will come in handy after your graduation photo session!

 

4. Cue the confetti 

Confetti adds a colorful and fun aspect to any graduation photos. You don’t want to leave your campus a mess, so here are two biodegradable options: 6 pack for you and your friends and a single option. Make sure to get medium to large size confetti for the perfect floating and tossing pictures. Other alternative options to confetti include bubbles, smoke bombs, balloons, or sparklers.

 

5. Get full cap and gown portraits 

You know your mom and grandma will be asking for the full cap and gown photo to print out and hang on the wall. Take a few formal photos looking straight at the camera and smiling big. Make sure to ask your parents if there are any specific graduation photos they might want.

 

6. Pick a cute outfit & steam your gown

I would recommend one formal and one casual outfit. If you wear a dress, I would choose a short dress under your gown. Neutrals such as blush, tans, link pinks, faint blues and teals, creams, grays, and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look to your images. Guys, I recommend that you avoid patterns that are smaller than a dime. These small patterns can create strange visual effects on a digital camera. Close-toed shoes photograph well, and we recommend avoiding graphic tees and tennis shoes. Gals, I recommend that you wear something that flatters the parts of you that you love the most and also allows you to be extremely confident.

Don’t forget to steam your gown! Colleges usually give you your gown straight out of the shipping box. Take some time to steam your gown so the wrinkles are not in every photo.

 

7. Print your images & graduation cards

Physical images wrapped in a bow are the perfect gift for parents or loved ones on your graduation day to thank them for their support. Use these photos as an opportunity to announce your plans after graduation. We use a professional printing service so that the color of your images are not distorted or blurred.

 

8. Trust your photographer

Overall, rest easy, and trust your photographer. After years of doing everything from graduation, to family to wedding photos, I have seen it all! I am here to give you the encouragement and confidence you might need to celebrate your big accomplishment. (We have done the Pinterest pose hunting for you and have tried and tested them all). I hope these tips give you the confidence to celebrate this huge milestone! I would love to capture these memories for you. Check out my previous senior sessions below and inquire here!