Cap and Gown Photo Session Tips: How to Prepare

If you do not trust the skills of the photographer selected by your school, you can take everything in your hands to ensure that you will get excellent cap and gown photos.

Just choose a suitable location, agree on a time, experiment with different poses, and add some color correction at least.

The average price of such a photoshoot is up to $1000 for 15-20 images, depending on the package you choose and the number of pictures you need to enhance. However, you can also organize a photo session by yourself.

This year, my daughter is finishing her studies, so it’s important for me to organize the perfect cap and gown photo session. I have collected and analyzed tips offered by experienced photographers working in this genre and decided to write about them to help others out.

It may sound banal, but taking the right steps to prepare for a photoshoot is extremely important. Many students discover that it is not easy to find the cap and gown. In some cases, it becomes possible to find these accessories weeks before the important day. This is why it may be challenging to get them delivered in time for a photo shoot that typically takes place 6 weeks before the ceremony.

You may think that six weeks gives you plenty of time. However, keep in mind that it may take a photographer up to 2 weeks to edit your cap and gown photos. Then, you will have to spend 1-2 weeks printing announcements and sending invites and up to 2 weeks for your relatives to receive them by mail.

This is why it makes sense to borrow a cap and gown from recent graduates to get ready for a photoshoot in time. You can also purchase such accessories on Amazon where they are always available.

Depending on the style of your photoshoot, select the most suitable location that will allow you to take a variety of photos. Photographers who often take such photos typically advise their clients to choose between the following options:

• Campus landmarks: Capturing well-known buildings, statues, or gates on your campus will allow you to create the right atmosphere and emphasize that you have completed an impressive academic journey.
• University quad or courtyard: A beautiful-looking quad or courtyard may have attention-grabbing architectural elements that will allow you to capture nice photos.
• Library steps: The steps of the library or another important building will allow you to capture great cap and gown photos against an imposing background.
• University fountain or water feature: A campus fountain or any water body nearby will enable you to take photos with attention-grabbing details and a beautiful background.
• Garden or arboretum: Some campuses have a botanical garden or arboretum. Taking photos at such locations is a great idea if you want to capture greenery in the background.
• Cityscape view: Taking photos with the city skyline visible is a great option for those who have studied at a university located near a large city.
• Historic buildings or archways: Historic buildings with stunning architectural details will always look nice in the frame and allow you to capture classic shots.
• Open field or meadow: Taking photos outside will allow you to leverage natural light to emphasize your subject.

• Classroom or lecture hall: If you prefer to capture how you have spent your university days, take photos in your favorite classroom or lecture hall.
• Park or nature reserve: Finding a park nearby is a great idea for those who want to relax and take pics using natural light.

You may use a variety of outdoor and indoor photo ideas to experiment with different settings for your photoshoot and take unforgettable pictures of this beautiful day.

While the cap and gown will undoubtedly be the main focus of your photosession, you may add a creative touch to it by using other accessories evoking the memories of your student life.

When implementing senior picture ideas, most people use the following accessories:

• Tassel
• Varsity letter
• Bows
• Sashes

Depending on the theme and idea of your photoshoot, you may use confetti and streamers, balloons, flowers, and theme captions made by a piece of chalk on the blackboard to implement a save the date photo idea.

Regardless of whether you have decided to organize a photoshoot by yourself or invite a professional photographer, it’s important to decide on the poses you are going to use and find reference photos to understand what result you want to achieve.

For instance, you can experiment with prom picture ideas to get excellent photos.

Mothers typically want to take a traditional portrait photo of their child in their cap and gown. There is no need to do anything special, just smile at the photographer. Following such cap and gown photo session tips does not require you to do anything special, you can even take a selfie of yourself together with your mom.

If you use your smartphone to capture such a photo, make sure to enhance it later. To save time and get professional results, use the Fix The Photo Editor & Retouch app and try its free version to polish your pic.

This idea is perfectly suitable for those who want to demonstrate not only their cap and gown but also the whole outfit. You can use a relaxed pose and put one hand on the waist and put one leg to the right to show that you are ready to move to the adult life.

It’s important to capture the close relationships with friends. Such pictures will show you surrounded by people who will always be ready to help.

For instance, you can organize the Cap & Gown photo session for 4-5 friends and capture a group photo of them together. The graduates will enjoy spending time together and you will get superb photos that you will cherish for years.

If you do not have advanced skills, it’s recommended to hire a seasoned photographer who can help you during a photoshoot. Read on to learn how to hire a cap and gown photographer and what price you might have to pay for such services.

The first thing you need to do is to learn more about local specialists and discover the one who can take cap and gown photos. Be sure to follow these steps:

• Ask for recommendations: Talk to your friends, acquaintances, or other people who have recent graduates in their family.
• Search for photographers online: Use social media platforms and search engines to discover professionals working in your area. You may also use such services as Yelp, Google Reviews, or Thumbtack.
• Analyze portfolios: Take a closer look at the photographers’ websites and analyze their social media content. Check whether they have taken any cap and gown pics to estimate their experience in this area.

Select a photographer whose style aligns with your vision. Some professionals opt for time-tested methods, while others may prefer more creative solutions. Before a photoshoot, talk to a photographer to see whether you can communicate without experiencing any discomfort. If you like the photographer, it will be easier for you to behave naturally during a photo session.