Graduation Photography for UCF Seniors

Memorialize Graduation Day with Photography

The last four years (or so) probably flew by and commencement is around the corner. There is no doubt that graduation is a big deal and one you will definitely want to memorialize. It should be celebrated and remembered! Graduation photos are a big deal too; far bigger than the simple cap and gown pic I remember taking….well, a few years back. Students today often hire photographers to guide them around campus and get all sorts of pictures of them in their black and gold to commemorate the event.

Some students will go to the usual spots for their photos. Others may choose to have some of their senior pictures captured someplace that is specifically special to them. Some want a few of their photos to be with their friends or sorority sisters or brothers too. One of my favorites is of my daughter and her two BFF’s dancing around the stadium.

Many students (particularly photography enthusiasts) will offer their services to take some amazing pictures for a reasonable price, days, and even weeks before graduation. Check Facebook to find your student photographer or see some that students recommend. Students may want to schedule a few weeks early as classic UCF places, including the fountain, the college they graduated from, the library, Memory Mall, Student Union seal, Pegasus Statue, and the football field, tend to get very crowded. I have some amazing photos of my graduates that are beyond Instagram worthy that were taken by a photography major.

Encourage students to book their photo session very early in the morning when it isn’t so hot. And once you get there and want those family pics with your student adorned in cap and gown, be sure not to leave it for right before or after the ceremony, because that is what everyone else will do and you will literally wait in a very long line to snap in all the key places that scream Knight.

And, just in case you haven’t heard, a lot of girls like to blow glitter in a celebratory pic so the Student Union gives out little bags of biodegradable glitter for students to use! Recently we came across a UCF photographer, Marc Blair, that also gives some great ideas for where to take some creative graduation photos. Here are a few more:

• Angela June
• Ashley Ferguson
• Baylee Hogan Photography
• Christina Astore
• Cindy Ros
• Katherine Arćić
• Kim Go
• Kory Billingsley
• Madison Leigh
• Manuel Mejia
• Manuela Mejia-Correa
• Naomi Ramirez
• Sonali Prab

Prices range from $125 to $250 depending on the photographer, the number of people, and how many prints you want. I, personally, prefer to have the rights to the photos for a flat fee and then print as many as you want on your own. Negotiate that prior to booking. Senior pictures are a fabulous way to wrap up your last few weeks at UCF.

For more information about all things leading up to graduation, including where to buy flowers and the ruling on tickets and cap decorating. One of our favorites, Bouqs sends beautiful flowers from eco-friendly farms that use sustainable growing practices which means longer lasting flowers and no middlemen. You can buy individually or start a subscription. We can even help you choose a hotel for that weekend or a restaurant for your big celebration, come up with a few ideas for graduation gifts and suggest a few places to get your hair done for those pics.

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