Ready for your close-up? UVA experts share graduation photo advice

Student Experience

Ready for your close-up? UVA experts share graduation photo advice

It will only take three days for the University of Virginia’s Class of 2026 to get through Valediction, walk the Lawn and wear the honors of Honor. Their graduation photos, however, will last decades.

You don’t have to hire a professional photographer to commemorate the special occasion. UVA Today talked to three University Communications photographers for their advice on taking great photos.

Illustration of steaming a graduation gown

(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

Preparation is key

Before you do anything else, make sure your gown is steamed, and the outfit you plan to wear is wrinkle-free, said Erin Edgerton, �鶹�ƽ�� social media manager.

“Make sure you have a hairbrush, lip gloss if you’re wearing any, and a towel if you plan to pop champagne,” Edgerton, who doubles as a photographer in University Communications, said.

And ensure you have all your cords, stoles and any other regalia before you pull out the camera. She added that graduates who want to wear heels in their photos should bring an extra pair of comfortable shoes, since it may take time to get the right shot.

Illustration of a cellphone and a point and shoot camera

(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

No equipment necessary

“The best camera is the one you have available,” senior photographer Matt Riley said. “So, an iPhone is a perfectly good camera for taking graduation pictures, in my opinion.”

That goes for any smartphone camera. You can play with different settings, like switching to portrait mode or adjusting the exposure by tapping your phone screen and moving a slider up or down.

“You can turn on a camera grid to help with composition as well,” photographer Lathan Goumas added. He issued one caution, however.

“While portrait mode can create a pleasing lens effect, if someone has a lot of hair, it often misses that, or it just generally can create a weird focus,” Goumas said.

Your phone camera’s default settings will do most of the heavy lifting, most of the time. Just make sure to clean the lens first.

(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

Show yourself in the best light

The best time of day to take photos, all three agreed, is early morning or in the hour before sunset.

“Don’t take photos when the sun is right overhead, because you’re going to get funky shadows on people’s faces,” Riley said.

Cloudy days offer a little more flexibility, since the light will be less harsh. Photographers can also find a shadier spot to avoid unflattering lighting for their photo subjects.

(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

Scope out alternate locations

The Rotunda, designed by UVA founder Thomas Jefferson, is iconic. It makes UVA the only university in the United States with a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. This time of year, it is also cluttered with graduates and their loved ones trying to get a good photo.

Fortunately, there are plenty of other beautiful spots on Grounds to take pictures.

“Since it’s UVA, bricks and columns are iconic, and there are a lot of those around. I like Lambeth Field for that, since you can pull in behind and park and take a few quick photos there,” Riley said.

Minor Hall and the McIntire Amphitheatre are good spots, too, especially since students walk past the amphitheater almost daily on their way to class. South Lawn is also picturesque and generally less crowded than the area immediately surrounding the Rotunda.

Goumas recommends the pavilion gardens.

“There’s some absolute beauty there, and they’re a little more secluded, so you can take your time,” Goumas said.

The Contemplative Commons and the East Range are also lovely, Goumas said. If you want to take photos at the Commons, try to get there on the earlier side – the Dell looks freshest in the morning. Shannon Library boasts large windows that let in gorgeous natural light, making it a great indoor photo location.

Edgerton said The Fralin Museum of Art, and the garden behind it, can make for a nice background for any graduation photo.

Illustration of two students in graduation gowns leaning on a column

(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

Strike a pose

Posing for a photo can feel awkward, especially if you’re not used to having your pictures taken. When in doubt, Riley said, you can always lean against one of the many brick walls and columns across Grounds.

For pictures with an unzipped gown, Edgerton suggested placing your hands on your hips or in your pockets, keeping the movement inside the gown.

“It just creates a really flattering picture,” Edgerton said.

If you aren’t sure what to do with your hands, pretending to wash them can help, or simply put them in your pockets. Graduates with longer hair can try playing with it in a photo. It helps to bring a friend along who can make you laugh for a more candid picture.

Edgerton offered a silver bullet for getting a good group photo.

“By the end of the shoot, your cheeks are going to hurt from smiling, and it’s hard to get a group of people to be ready for the camera all at the same time. So, I tell graduates to say ‘yeah’ at the same time instead,” Edgerton said.

She also encourages graduates to get at least one photo with their gowns zipped and caps on toward the end of their photo session to avoid hat hair.

“You’re doing this for the people who helped get you here, so go ahead and pose in that really hot gown on a 90-degree day,” she said.

Illustration of recycling and trash bins

(Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

Leave Grounds better than you found it

Once you’ve gotten your photos, make sure to clean up after yourself. Pack up any props you brought with you and dispose of any trash. If you decide to spray champagne in a photo, keep it on the grass and avoid the steps of the Rotunda.

“The marble and the sugar do not go well together, so pick up after yourself,” Edgerton said.