Graduation is more than a cap and gown-it's a celebration of late nights, early mornings, and everything you've overcome to get to this point. Whether you're a high school senior counting down the days or a collage grad ready to walk that stage, your graduation deserves to be documented in a way that's uniquely you.
Here's everything you need to know about when and how to book the ultimate graduation photo session here in Washington State!
When to Book Your Grad Session
The Sweet Spot: We recommend booking your graduation session 2-4 months before your ceremony or graduation party. This gives us time to plan your session, pick the perfect location, and get your photos back in time for announcements, graduation invitations, social media posts, or printed keepsakes. Bonus: You'll beat the end-of-year rush and secure your ideal date.
Spring Graduates: Book between February and April for peak wildflower season, soft golden light, and lush greenery.
Fall/Winter Graduates: Book September- early September for cozy, rich autumn tones or a bold urban vibe before the weather shifts. December grads can opt for a festive winter shoot-think snow, evergreens, and soft warm layers! Not into the festive vibes? Studios are a great alternative that don't have to be holiday themed and allow for less layers to keep warm!
But What If You Graduate During a Season You Don't Like? Sometimes we have our hearts set on a location that isn't as pretty or accessible the months approaching your graduation? What can be done? Easy! There's no rule stating you have to do your graduations session in the months leading up. We can do them far before your graduation ( for example; you graduate in the fall but your dream session is with the spring lupines or cherry blossoms, we would simply do your portraits during the spring!) While you most likely won't have your cap and gown that far in advance, if you know your school colors or what color the cap and gown will be, we can simply order one in the correct color online! (Amazon to the rescue!). Your graduation portraits should be a celebration of the amazing accomplishments you have made, and that deserves dream locations and outfits!
Best Times of Day for Graduation Photos
Trust us when we say this: Lighting makes all the difference in your photos. Here's what we recommend:
- Golden Hour- This is just after the sunrises or sunsets. Ideal for the dreamiest, most flattering light
- Blue Hour- This is the hour before the sunrises or an hour after the sunsets. Ideal for moody, texture heavy vibes. Think more melancholy aesthetics
- Mid-Day/Direct Lighting- For most of the day the lighting can be pretty harsh, but not necessarily undoable. The key is finding some shade (for example, five mile drive is a location best used mid day as the trees block out most light).
- Overcast Light- Thankfully, the PNW excels in overcast days, which are our favorite to shoot in. This is ideal for sessions at locations that offer very little shade (Think beaches, fields, etc). The light isn't too harsh and allows for more locations
- For city or campus sessions, we find that weekday evenings (or midday if during the summer) works best to avoid crowds
- For studio sessions, lighting is less of a concern but should be kept in mind still. Mid-day tends to work best for studio sessions for a mix of natural and artificial lighting!
Where to Take Your Grad Photos in Washington
Whether you're dreaming of a moody mountain backdrop or a load back session on your campus, Washington has endless options. Here's some of our favs! And to those who can't pick between just one location, don't fret! We have packages that includes multiple outfits and locations! The sky is the limit when it comes to what we can do for your graduation sessions!
- Your college or high school campus- Timeless and sentimental
- Discovery Park, Seattle- Open fields, forest trails, and water views
- Point Defiance Park, Tacoma- Lush gardens and classic architecture
- UW Quad, Seattle- Cherry blossoms in spring, ivy covered walls year round, and a library that Belle herself would be jealous of
- Downtown Tacoma or Seattle- For bold, modern city vibes. Think rooftop cityscapes and dashing across streets
- Mount Rainier- For the bold and adventurous vibes. Trails such as Paradise, Sunrise, and Myrtle Falls has a timeless, yet breathtaking energy
- Wright Park Arboretum- Cozy tropical vibes in a well maintained greenhouse brings the vibe all the time
Looking for something extra unique? We're always down to brainstorm a location that reflects your personality, hobbies, or future goals!
What to Wear for Your Grad Session
- Cap & Gown- A classic must and the most desired outfit for moms. Bring it with you, even if you just use it for a few shots to appease the parents!
- One Dressy Outfit- Think something that makes you feel confident and camera-ready.
- One Casual Outfit- Jeans and a tee or something true to your everyday style.
- School Gear- Letterman jackets, class rings, college sweatshirts, basketballs/athletic equipment etc. Bring it on!
- Hobbies- Have a hobby that's near and dear to you? Let's incorporate it! Whether its baking, horseback riding, gardening, painting, playing a sport, tell us all about it and let's include it!
Bonus Tip: Bring a friend, parent, or sibling if you want a couple candid shots with someone special!
How to Book Your Grad Session
We've made sure to make the booking process as easy and pain free as possible! Here's how it works:
- Reach out early to secure your spot-we only take a limited number of grad sessions each season to make sure we have all the time and creative juices flowing to create your dream session! As soon as contracts are signed and deposits are paid we can get started on the planning process! Sessions that are put off until a week before yearbook deadlines and graduations tend to be more "cookie cutter" and not as personalized as you may want simply due to time restrictions in our calendar! We really want you to have images you look at with fondness for years and decades to come, and that requires time to plan! Remember, the early bird gets the worm!
- Choose your vibe-Let's chat about what kind of look and feel you're going for! Don't have one in mind yet? That's absolutely okay! We can figure that out together!
- Pick your location+date- We'll help you find the perfect combo. Already know exactly where and when? That's totally okay too! We love bringing our client's visions to life!
- Show up and shine- We'll guide you every step of the way, so you can relax and enjoy it. We've got you covered. From professional posing guidance, to an extensive client closet boasting sizes from XS-5x, we've got something for everyone. Don't like our client closet options? No Sweat! We also have a personal styling program that not only helps coordinate outfits, but also send you the direct link on where to purchase them!
Ready to Make it Official?
Graduation only happens (well, maybe twice), so let's make it unforgettable. Whether you're the first in your family to graduate, celebrating a comeback story, simply proud of how far you've come, or simply being forced by mom+dad (we get it), you deserve photos that will tell your story. You only have this one life and this one story to tell, let's make it one for the books! Click the button below to be sent to our booking inquiry page, or simply reach out via email or social media messages with any questions-we can't wait to celebrate with you!
