GRADUATION SESSION TIPS
Choosing the time, location, outfit and more!
Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
I am so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait for our time together during your Graduation session! It’s normal to be a little nervous about your session. I always tell people that I still get nervous before having my photos taken— and I do this for a living!
Bold and intense colors work best when highly intentional.
For more of a high-contrast or editorial look, feel free to go bold. Definitely make sure the outfit complements the location, setting, and other elements you may want to include, such as a graduation sash or certain props.
Consider having this as your second outfit! If you are scheduled for a daytime session, you can also consider extending part of it into the night for some ultra-dramatic night portraits.
Have a specific idea or look in mind? Put together a mood board!
Feel free to have a look throughout my previous sessions on my website, instagram, or Pinterest for ideas others have done in the past! You can also fill out my questionnaire prior to the session with any special ideas you might have, and we’ll refer to that during our shoot.
Professional hair and makeup services are highly recommended.
Since you are already investing so much time and energy into a portrait session, I would suggest going the extra mile and getting professional hair and makeup done. I have a few referrals I can make for hair and makeup artists I’ve worked with in the past for any clients who are interested!
Light colored outfits work best for a classic look
For a timeless and classic look, outfits with light colors and tones tend to work well, as they will never go out of fashion. Graduation is a positive and celebratory occasion, so I’d aim for bright and uplifting colors to match!
One reason to go for light colors and tones is to contrast your graduation sash and apparel. Your graduation sash and robes will typically be much darker or feature intense colors – it helps to have a lighter base to contrast and highlight the school colors that you might also be wearing on top.
Keep all graduation apparel (and the rest of your outfit) wrinkle-free!
OUTFITS
Depending on who provides your graduation apparel, you may need to do a bit of steaming to eliminate any wrinkles that might have been present on your outfit. This especially applies if you just got your outfit – do not wait until the night before the shoot to take your sash or robe out from the package. It is highly likely that they will have prominent fold lines from having been in the packaging for so long.
Bring your collegiate apparel.
Bringing a school sweatshirt brings an easy additional look to your graduation portrait session. It provides a more casual, but equally relevant look that can also show off your school spirit.
A great thing about this look is that you don’t necessarily have to do a whole outfit change when you can simply toss it on. Of course, you can still do an outfit change, time permitting, to create a more complete look.
Props
I would highly recommend bringing a few interactive props as they can certainly add quite a bit of fun and variety to the session. Some props that I highly recommend include: Books, custom balloons, confetti poppers (biodegradable), and a bottle of champagne!
Inclement Weather
We will check in the week of your Graduation session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather! I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for a graduation session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. If the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call at least 72 hours in advance. Keep in mind that a lot of times, even if the forecast is only at 30%, it’s likely going to rain!
Posing
When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with poses that are super easy and natural! If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to make the you laugh—and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for!
Throughout your session, I’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
When to Expect Your Images
As soon as possible after your session is complete, you will receive a gallery within 48 hours to pick your best photos to be retouched. My clients are my top priority and I try to keep a quick turnaround time.
THANK YOU
Hopefully this guide covers everything you need to know to prep for your graduation session! However, if there is something I missed or you need a recommendation, email
Info@mesusstudios.com I can't wait to photograph your graduation session soon!