York Graduation photography
Here’s why you should give yourself the day
N O W P L A Y I N G : 'The Scientist’ by Coldplay // Last November I graduated from my MFA. You can read more about my experience of returning to study after a career in teaching here and you can find out how it ended here. It has been on my mind again after recently photographing graduation sessions and having been in there recently, it has a huge impact on my approach.
How often, and certainly when we’re older, do we give ourselves a day? I don’t think I’ve ever really done it before - always thinking about others and what they need. So when it came to my graduation last November, I decided to do just that, and it felt great. Aside from picking lovely clothes and giving myself the time to get ready, I was also incredibly grateful to the amazing Bec Hudson Smith who came to take my photo. I didn’t want to be sat holding a scroll looking like my school photo had levelled up, but I wanted to see myself in the pictures and despite the outright horrendous weather - sideways rain, gale force winds, she gave me just that. This year I’ve been loving paying forward what Bec gave me, and offering personalised photography that involves absolutely no serious scroll face.
Here are a few things to consider when hiring a photographer for your graduation:
Do you like their style? I’ll take you and your guests on a walk around campus, looking for quieter spots to catch you all in the photos. My images are relaxed and full of movement and life.
Do they have a flexible and understanding approach? Like all of my photography sessions, I see your graduation photography as a conversation. Do you have some thing in mind that you’d like, or do you want me to take the lead and walk you through it?
Have you got a good rapport with them from the off? This is your day, it’s important that your photographer adds to the good vibes. Personally, I like to keep things light and fun. You’ve done the serious hard work, now it’s the time to celebrate your achievement with the people you love.
Do you want to stay on campus, or extend your session into the city to catch some shots of you in the place you’ve been living whilst at uni?
If you’d like to learn more about my graduation sessions, pop me a message here
There’s this immense buzz at graduation ceremonies, and such a lot of pride. If you’re there with family or friends, it’s great to have the opportunity to get everyone in the shot. When you have a photographer who takes responsibility for that, you also get more than an iphone selfie. Not only do you get to see the passing moments and close interaction that happens throughout the day, you also get to keep them for the long term. You also have the option to extend your session and head off campus to local spots you love.
