College Grad FAQs

Kyla Phillips • April 9, 2021

Grad season is upon us – which means many of my clients are prepping for their college grad portraits. Over the past few years, I have noticed many reoccurring questions about the grad photo process and experience, so I wanted to create a helpful resource for all my 2021 grads. Below are some of my most frequently asked questions when it comes to grad photos!

  • WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY SESSION?

    Great question! You can bring anything you want to your grad session. If you want the moral support you can bring a friend or a parent. For extra-adorable photos let your pet tag along for the ride! After a few requests last year, I am now offering the option to purchase champagne and confetti as add-ons so you don't have to worry about finding it beforehand. However, if you want to you always have the option to bring your own instead. In fact, bring whatever props best represent you! I have had clients bring signs, donuts, pizza, burritos (college students love their food, right?) Other than that, make sure you bring your gown, grad cap, tassel, cords and stoles! 

  • DO YOU HELP POSE GRADS?

    Absolutely! One of my favorite things about grad photos is making you feel beautiful and comfortable in front of the camera. I have go-to poses and prompts for all around campus! My goal is to make these photos you will cherish and feel great about for years to come!

  • WHAT CAN I DO TO BEST PREPARE FOR MY SESSION?

    Plan ahead! Make sure that all of your grad garb is ready the night before, as well as your outfit and anything else you want to bring! Prepare enough time before your session to do your hair and makeup. Make sure that you make an extra effort to be there at the start of your session (or arrive 5-10 minutes early). This will allow us to start right on time! Unfortunately, I cannot run sessions later than the time frame allotted because of the back-to-back scheduling. So, if you are running 20 minutes late, your one hour session will only be 40 minutes.

  • WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

    This might be my most asked question when it comes to grad photos. Many people prefer to wear white dresses, and you will see many of the photos that I share reflect that! But, don't be afraid to wear colors or patterns. Ultimately, you want to wear something that you feel 100% confident in from all angles. If you feel confident, your photos will reflect that!

  • WHAT IF IT RAINS OR I NEED TO CANCEL?

    April showers are a very real thing. If it is raining during your scheduled time, I will reach out to reschedule with you! Clients often ask to reschedule because of overcast, but this is actually one of the best options for photos because it offers beautiful and flattering lighting from every angle. If for any reason you need to cancel your session completely, you will only lose your $10 deposit. 

  • HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY IMAGES?

    Grad photos are delivered via a link to an online gallery. From here, you can download the high-resolution, professionally edited photos to print or share. You can share the link so that your family can do the same. Grads can either pay for a one or two day turnaround, or wait for the week turnaround.

  • DARK OR LIGHT & AIRY MAKEUP?

    Totally depends on what you want! My grads have done it all and always look great! My advice is to choose something that feels most like yourself. If you don't usually wear dark makeup, you might not feel natural for your photos wearing it. On the other hand, if you love all the glam, you might feel most confident fuly done up! Make it fun & keep it reflective of who YOU are!

  • FOR AN HOUR SESSION, HOW MANY LOCATIONS CAN WE PICK ON CAMPUS?

    As many as we can fit! The only requirement is that we start and end at the columns since sessions are set up back to back. For an hour session, people typically like to hit all the spots around the quad, and maybe travel a bit to Tiger Hotel, Memorial, or their favorite downtown bar for some different shots!

Have More Questions? Contact Kyla!

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