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Graduation Portraits Ideas: The Complete Guide For Your TAMU Senior Pictures

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From unique graduation portraits ideas to prop inspiration to outfits and location selection, this blog post is the complete guide for memorable TAMU senior pictures.

Creative Graduation Portrait Ideas

It isn’t easy to sum up the years of hard work and dedication into a few photos, but these graduation portraits ideas can help you have a fun session and imagery full of meaning.

  1. Champagne pop

What better way to celebrate four years of hard work than with a classic champagne pop! Grab a bottle of your favorite bubbles and bring it along for the session. Your photographer will direct you about the best way to shake and open the bottle. Though, keep in mind that this can get a little messy, so it’s best to save this idea for the end of your session to avoid staining your clothes.

  1. Extracurricular activities

Whether you were the president of your sorority, a member of your school’s honor society, or a star volleyball player, the people you met and experiences you had through your organizations played an important role in your time at TAMU.  Honor your extracurricular activities in your grad photos with props or at a location that encapsulates your involvement.

  1. Include your friends, family or significant other

Your support system is what helped you get through those difficult finals seasons and stressful classes. Including them in your graduation portraits is a beautiful way to honor them too (with your photographer’s permission!). Whether it’s your solid friend group, your college sweetheart or your supportive family, take some time during your session to celebrate with them. I love capturing these special bonds during senior photos!

Photos Props for Graduation

I love encouraging my seniors to bring a few props to add a bit of character and dynamic poses. 

Your cap, gown, stoles and cords

These are a must! Your graduation regalia will be the most important prop needed for your session. Don’t forget these (and make sure they’re ironed and wrinkle-free before your session)!

Class ring

Show off that glittering symbol of your time as an Aggie throughout your session. 

Your dog!

Our furry family members are such an important part of our support system. Bring your pup decked out in Aggie gear for a sweet moment during your session.

12th Man Towel 

This is a great addition to your casual look. Twirl it proudly in front of Kyle Field to honor all the Aggie yells as the 12th man.

Gear from your extracurricular activity or major

Whether it’s a gavel for your time as sorority president, a stethoscope to represent your pre-med studies, or a hard hat for your engineering experience, a prop to symbolize your interests while at TAMU is a great way to add some personality to your photos.

Posing for Graduation Photos

Before your session, let your photographer know the vision you have for your graduation portraits. A good grad photographer will be able to naturally direct and pose you for beautiful results. But if you still need some inspiration, these are some of my favorite poses for graduation photos.

Over the shoulder

Facing away from the camera, take your stole in your left hand and fold it in half. Place the stole over your left shoulder, take a step with your right foot and look back at the camera with your body at a slight angle.

I love styling this pose down scenic walkways or up a grand stairway. It’s a great way to show off your stole and any additional regalia that display your achievements. 

Toss the cap

This one is a classic for a reason! With your dominant hand, hold your cap at the corner down by your waist. In one motion, throw the cap up in the air (with a little bit of force, but not too much) and keep your arm up until the cap falls to the ground. You can either look up at your cap or smile at the camera. 

For a little bit of extra playfulness, you can even pop one of your feet up. The movement and joy that this pose portrays make it an all-time favorite. 

The elegant sit

Seated on either a step or bench, turn your body at a 45-degree angle. With your legs slightly bent in front of you, cross your front ankle in front of the other. Lean back on your front hand and softly place your other hand across your body, on top of your front thigh. Now smile! This pose creates some of the best headshots of your session. 

Pro tip: try to gently point your feet. This will lengthen and add a bit more elegance to the pose!

Find the right location

As a photographer, trust me when I say that the right location can make all the difference in your imagery. From the lighting to backdrops to the atmosphere, where you take your graduation portraits can have a big impact on the results. That’s why it is so important to do your research and collaborate closely with your grad photographer. They will likely know some of the best photo locations on campus, then guide you in the right direction.

Embrace unique locations

Be intentional about the locations you do choose. Don’t just settle on the same location everyone else went to. Think about spots on campus or around town that mean the most to you. Where did you study the most? Which building did you spend the most time in? Which walkway was your favorite place to catch up with friends? Don’t be afraid to recommend these meaningful locations to your photographer — they can help you decide if the setting is right for your photos. 

If you need specific ideas, read my full guide about the best grad photo locations at TAMU.

What to Wear For Senior Pictures

As a grad photographer, I like to recommend choosing at least two outfits for your session. This way, you can have both a classic dressy option, as well as a more casual and personality-filled ensemble. However, depending on your session length, there may be time for more. Talk with your photographer to see their recommendations based on your session length and the locations you choose. 

Silhouettes and styles

Think about both comfort and style. If you choose a dress or skirt, make sure it’s long enough so moving throughout your session is comfortable. But if you prefer a jumpsuit, romper, or trousers, go for it. The best recommendation overall is to wear what feels authentic to you!

What colors to wear for senior photos

When choosing your outfits, consider colors that complement your features and your school’s colors. Ensure that at least one of your outfits coordinates well with your graduation regalia, then have fun with the other! Opt for solid colors or simple patterns — these will photograph best. 

For more inspiration and guidance about grad photo outfits, read this blog!

Get in Touch for More Graduation Portrait Ideas!

There are so many exciting things to consider for your TAMU graduation photos. But choosing the locations, outfits and posing can be a breeze with the right photographer. Get in touch to start planning your grad photos session, and follow along on Instagram for more inspiration.

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welome to my blog

I'm Aurore and I'm so happy you're here. This blog a journal about our lives, travels, weddings, engagements and inspiration. Stay a while and say hello!

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