Beginner Photography: First Grad Session

I am so excited to share my FIRST EVER graduation photoshoot with a client! The following photos were taken during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, so I wore a mask and remained 6 feet apart from my client. In this post, I break down the concepts and “plan of action” I had in mind for my first graduation photoshoot. I was nervous to be behind the camera, capturing photos of such an important milestone in someone’s life but these turned out to be some of my favorite portraits I ever have taken! If there is any advice I can give to another beginner photographer, it is: 1) Shoot at the times and locations that make your client feel the most comfortable! 2) Research! Ask your client to provide images or words as a kind of “mood board” for the photoshoot. In addition, do your own research, studying images, articles, and videos so you can produce the look you desire. 3) Reach out to other photographers! I texted my photographer friend from my hometown as well as asked for help from a classmate from my PHTO 200 course on Flickr before the shoot. People who share your same interests are usually willing to help others/discuss what they are passionate about and, at this time, staying connected and forming communities is more important than ever!

Use Reflections

Beginning on an image without the cap and gown, I have always loved reflections in images. I used a mirror in my own senior portraits in high school, so I used reflections in my first graduation photoshoot with a client! The Burge Union on the University of Kansas (KU) campus worked well here, showing you don’t have to buy a fancy mirror to capture an interesting image (although that’s great, too!) There is something so interesting about seeing the same person at one or more angles in the same image. On a metaphorical level, reflections works well for graduation photoshoots, symbolizing the transition from one stage of life, one representation of the self, into a new stage, where the person has grown overtime.

Shoot with a shallow depth of field

Shooting with a shallow depth of field allows the subject to stay in focus and really shine. To achieve a shallow depth of field, choose a low f-stop. (Here, my f-stop was set to 2.2.) In this image, the flowers and leaves of the trees are blurred, evoking softness and springtime.The setting and subject look so serence—The colors are soft and the nature looks so beautiful, still growing through these strange times.

Find Shadows

We started shooting around 9AM—so shadows were our friend that sunny day! The colors of KU’s famous tulips in the background and the pools of light on the ground help the subject stand out.

Keep Lines in Mind

Watson Library, the largest library on KU campus, has wonderful stairs leading up to the entrance. The railings, the stairs themselves, and the architecture of the library create interesting lines that the subject breaks apart.

always Think of Color

If you aren’t shooting in strictly black and white, always think of how color will affect your image! The structure in the background, the bell tower, or campanile, is an important KU campus landmark. The campanile bells chime every fifteen minutes during the school day and, during graduation ceremonies, graduates walk through the walkway. The pastel colors in the background representing spring contrasted with the dark graduation gown allows the spectator to focus on the subject as the point of interest yet enjoy the background colors and campus landmark.

Capture the In-Between Moments

The quick moments of adjusting a piece of hair or a clothing item captures natural human motion. The pensive look on the subject’s face and the color grading here capture an honest moment of how it feels to be a senior in the middle of a global pandemic. This photo is one of my personal favorites from the shoot, reading as honest because the image was captured “unplanned.”

Class of 2020

As one of my instructors pointed out, we are definitely a class to be remembered! Although we have no concept of when we will actually walk across that stage and get that piece of paper, be proud of your accomplishments. You have worked so hard for this moment and it will come, eventually. Stay as positive as possible, stay 6 feet apart, and stay connected. At my particular university, we have a tradition of “walking the hill” for graduation. Class of 2020, we will all walk down the hill someday. If we can get through this, we can get through anything!

Shot on Canon EOS Rebel T6i & Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens