🎓 What to Bring to Your Graduation Photoshoot: A Simple Checklist for Amazing Shots
Graduation is a major milestone worth celebrating — and capturing it right means coming prepared. At BoomHeadshot Photography, we like to keep things fun, relaxed, and real. Whether you’re posing by the river, on campus, or somewhere totally offbeat (yes, even in a dumpster — it’s happened!), here’s what you should bring to make the most out of your graduation shoot.
🎓 1. Your Cap and Gown (Ironed!)
It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how often people forget the basics. Bring your cap, gown, tassel, cords, sashes — and make sure they’re wrinkle-free. Some people pull their gown out of a backpack. While this is your shoot and you can do what you want, it does look a lot better if it’s not all wrinkled!
Pro tip: Hang everything up the night before and use a steamer if needed. For best results, bring your gown on a hanger!
👟 2. A Pair of Comfortable Shoes
You can bring your fancy heels or dress shoes for the actual shoot, but also pack some comfy walking shoes that are easy to change in and out of. The locations we move may require a bit of walk and no one wants sore feet during a fun shoot!
🎉 3. Fun Props That Show Off Your Personality
This is your moment — make it yours. Some fun prop ideas:
- Degree folder or diploma
- Champagne bottle
- Fireball
- Confetti or glitter (biodegradable preferred)
- College pennants, athletic gear, alumni parent’s jacket
- Something related to your major (e.g. stethoscope, books, etc)
🧥 4. A Backup Outfit
If you want a mix of cap-and-gown shots and casual or formal portraits, bring a second or third outfit. Some grads go for something fun (jeans + school tee), others dress up (blazer, dress). It’s your shoot, have fun with it!
👯 5. A Friend or Family Member
Not only do they help with wardrobe, props, and moral support — they can also jump in a few shots. Just let us know ahead of time if they’ll be joining. I do charge extra for additional graduates!
🚗 6. Plan the Route
We’ll plan a route or location set before the shoot or at the beginning. Think about your favorite campus spots, hidden gems, memory lanes, greek houses, stadiums, statues, etc that you’d like to shoot at and let me know ahead of time so we can plan out the best route!
📸 Ready to Book Your Graduation Session?
At BoomHeadshot Photography, our goal is to capture the real you — no stiff poses, no cheesy setups. Just authentic, fun moments that reflect your personality and journey.
Want to book your shoot or ask questions? Contact us here.