5 Quick Tips for Graduation Photos – Dallas Frisco Family Photographer – Me Ra Koh
I started out writing a blog post about our youngest, Blaze, graduating this week. It became so emotional that I decided to switch gears and write 5 Quick Tips for Graduation Photos. LOL!
If you’re like me this week…wait, it’s more like this whole MONTH (Maycember), you’ve been in a whirlwind of planning the graduation BBQ, ordering and mailing announcements, helping your son rent his tux for prom or finding her prom dress, making sure all the boxes are checked for them to graduate, cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning. That doesn’t even include all the waves of grief that hit you out of nowhere as you think about them moving on to college in the fall.
Who has time to think about graduation photos until they’re standing right in front of you with their cap and gown on?
Cue this blog post and 5 Quick Tips to Graduation Photos. I got you, friend!
1. Leave Yourself a Few Extra Minutes to Steam the Gown
I know this one sounds obvious, but if you’re feeling as cross eyed as I am right now, you appreciate the obvious just spelled out. LOL!
2. Take Them When the Cap and Gown First Arrive
If possible, schedule a Saturday morning to take graduation photos with their friends right after they get their cap and gown. Their excitement to give the whole outfit a trial run is high when it first arrives!
3. Make Your Own Diploma for Photos
Since we did these graduation photos before the actual day, we took regular paper and red ribbon to make our own diplomas. Worked great! You never would have guessed, right?!
4. Look for Open Shade to Avoid Squinting
Notice how bright the sun was when we took these graduation photos. Whether it was having them stand in the shade of trees making sure there weren’t any splotchy shadows on them or having them stand under these arches, the open shade gave us a nice even light. The bright sun behind them added fun drama to the photos too!
5. Have Friends Cheering in the Background to Add More Energy
6. Turn Your Face Out so You’re More Cheek to Cheek
I couldn’t leave the moms hanging. And if you’ve been reading my photo tips for the last twenty years, you know I often think of more as I go! But changing the title to eight or nine photos tips for graduation just felt overwhelming with everything we’re trying to remember! LOL
So, mamas, this one is for you! Lots of times we can squeeze our kids and unknowingly squish our faces in a way we don’t end up liking for photos. Instead, get your feet real close together to close up any gaps between your bodies. Then lean into each other and turn your faces/head out so you’re more centered with the camera. This looks intimate and flattering for both of you!
7. Have Fun Revisiting Photos You Did When They were Little
I love how this beautiful mama wanted one last twirl with her girl. Cue tears. Congratulations Vanessa! Your daughter is so beautiful both inside and out! (Vanessa is also a wonderful photographer, see her work here.)
8. Look for Fun Details!
Have fun taking photos of the details that don’t necessarily need to include any faces. (Side tip: Have the girls wear heels and the guys wear nice slacks with dress shoes. Dressier looks so much better for photos.)
Or take a detail shot with faces but focused on their diplomas.
9. Put Your Camera in Eye Auto Focus mode (Eye-AF)
The Eye Auto Focus mode in my Sony cameras is EVERYTHING! The camera’s focus stays locked on the subject’s eyes (I usually pick whose in the middle), and I can just focus on emotion and connection while the camera does everything else. Back in 2007, I became one of the first two women to become a Sony sponsored photographer, and I have only come to appreciate their camera gear more and more.
For these graduation photos, I used the Sony a7riii camera body and the 24-70 f/2.8 GM lens, the 85mm f/1.4 GM and 70-200 f/2.8 GM lens.
10. Watch for Those Sweet Candid Moments of Joy
Big congratulations ladies!
I had so much fun with you! So excited for your next chapter! There is so much good ahead!
still we rise,
Me Ra
Are You Looking for a Meaningful and Unique Way to Celebrate Your Graduate? Learn about Our FIORIA Senior Portrait Experience
Are you looking for a meaningful way to celebrate your graduating senior as a family? Our FIORIA Senior Portrait Experience was created to help the family celebrate in an unforgettable way.
See this young man’s story and experience; https://fioria.us/photoshoots/senior-portraits-of-a-basketball-state-champ/
Before the photo shoot, we do phone calls to discover what is most meaningful about this season. When your son or daughter goes to college, what do you want them to never forget about who they are? What challenges has your senior overcome? What resilience lives within them and your family? That is what FIORIA captures–the Rising Phoenix within. This is unlike any other type of senior portraits you’ve heard of. This is a sacred, meaningful experience that starts with a Discovery Call.
Schedule Your First Discovery Call by Filling Out Our Contact Form. We are so excited to take you on an unforgettable journey.
still we rise, Me Ra
*CLICK HERE to see another inspiring Senior Portrait Experience with FIORIA!
GEAR USED
(Amazon affiliate links included)
Camera: Sony a7riii: https://amzn.to/3wDz6mV
Lens: Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM: https://amzn.to/2VvyexL
