Graduation Photos

Lornamower

Lornamower

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Lorna
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Hello there,

My cousin has asked me if I would be able to take some photos of her wearing her graduation robes and cap this Sunday because she unfortunately missed her graduation ceremony due to sudden family illness.

Does anyone have any experience of taking such photos , and therefore some tips/poses that may be helpful, as I really don't want to get it wrong for her.

I have D7000, 17-70 lens, and a flashgun and reflector I can use.

thanks in advance for any help :)

Lorna
 
so long as the background isn't cluttered you'll be fine. what university is it?
 
Maybe flick through university websites and pick out shots that you like, or go to an agency website such as Alamy, search "graduation" and it will give you loads of ideas for content and composition. The main difference is that a lot of the "pro" pictures will have been taken with longer lenses, or at wider apertures than your kit lens is capable of.
 
the companys that setup shot at uni's don't use long lenses. they are indoor with flash units and standard lenses

fatphotographer said:
Maybe flick through university websites and pick out shots that you like, or go to an agency website such as Alamy, search "graduation" and it will give you loads of ideas for content and composition. The main difference is that a lot of the "pro" pictures will have been taken with longer lenses, or at wider apertures than your kit lens is capable of.
Click to expand...
 
POAH said:
the companys that setup shot at uni's don't use long lenses. they are indoor with flash units and standard lenses
Click to expand...

I was talking about candid shots and portraits around the venue of the graduation. I know they missed the actual graduation, but if it was my home town, I would go to the cathedral where the graduation is held and shoot in the same location rather than set up a backdrop in the front room.

The pictures of graduations used to advertise on uni websites are "lifestyle" shots taken showing atmosphere and enjoyment of the achievement, and not usually the forced portrait.

The original post was asking for posing tips, so I presumed they were looking for something more than just standing in front of a false background at 45 degrees to the camera, the same as every other grad picture shot "indoor with flash units and standard lenses" hence my advice to look for interesting images that they like and emulating them.
 
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When I photographed my brothers graduation I used my 16-45mm and a 50mm prime. The grounds of the university were really nice so finding a nice backdrop wasn't hard and being close up the 16-45mm and 50mm were perfect. He graduated at Birmingham and the main presentation of the scroll etc was in the grand hall where no photography was allowed. They were very strict on that. Again when the official individual portrait pics were taken it was a private affair but! I was able to photograph the class of 2011, firstly all together as a whole year group and then individually as class groups in front of the grand hall steps as this was in the public grounds ;)
 
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