Photography: College Graduation Photoshoot
Brief
When two clients approached me about photographing their college graduation, I was thrilled. They did not want a traditional campus photoshoot; they wanted something personal, something that felt like them. They chose Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, PA, a location they knew well from their years running through it as members of the cross country and track and field teams at Elizabethtown College. This project held a special place in my heart because I attended the same college and ran on the same teams alongside them. Getting to capture this milestone in a place that meant so much to all of us made this photoshoot truly one of a kind.
Process
Before the shoot, I met with my clients to learn their goals, discuss the location, and get a feel for what they were looking for. I wanted them to feel prepared and comfortable from the very start. To help spark ideas, I researched and printed out a variety of graduation poses to share with them at the beginning of the session, giving them a starting point and something to react to.
On the day of the shoot, I arrived at Masonic Village with my Canon DSLR camera ready to go. The session included a mix of solo shots and shots together, giving each client their own set of memories while also capturing their friendship and shared journey. From the start, the most important thing was making sure my clients felt comfortable and at ease. We laughed, had fun, and let the shoot flow naturally, and that energy showed up in every frame. We shot for about two hours, covering a variety of locations and poses throughout the grounds.
In post-production, I uploaded all of the photos into Adobe Lightroom and applied a consistent warm, light, and airy filter across every image to give the full gallery a cohesive and polished look. I edited and delivered 60 final photos: 20 of both clients together, 20 of one client, and 20 of the other — all within one week, making sure the photos were in their hands well before their graduation day.
"Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for in my graduation photoshoot. You were fun, approachable, and made us feel comfortable during the shoot. It was a blast!"
Outcome and Takeaways
The clients were ecstatic with their final gallery. Delivering 60 edited photos - 20 of both clients together, 20 of one client, and 20 of the other - all within one week ensured they had their memories in hand well before graduation day. Capturing such a meaningful milestone in a location that held so much history for all of us made this project incredibly rewarding, and the joy they felt when they received their photos made every moment of it worthwhile.
This project reinforced that great photography starts long before you pick up a camera. Preparation, connection, and communication are everything. Meeting with clients ahead of time, coming prepared with ideas, and creating an environment where they feel comfortable and can be themselves makes all the difference. Paired with efficient post-production editing to meet the deadline, this project was a reminder that the best photos come from a place of trust, and a little bit of fun!