Graduation Photo Shoot FAQ
A graduation photo shoot is for a lot of people their first professional shoot. It is an incredible experience but can also be daunting. As your photographer, I see my role as more than just editing and taking photos. When you hire me, I am here to help you capture the spectacular journey you have completed. My goal is to make this photoshoot as seamless and fun as possible, so you can have the best graduation experience possible! With that in mind, here are answers to the most common questions I get asked.
How do I book a graduation shoot?
Once you are ready you can DM me on Instagram or send me an email to get a quote! You can check my availability with link below!
Instagram: @g.sosaphotography
Do you have any general advice of what I can do to prepare for the shoot?
I have three main pieces of advice I give most of my clients!
1) Make sure to iron, steam or send your gown to the dry cleaners. Most of the time the vendors that sale the cap and gown attire have them stored for long periods of time. When you remove them from their packaging, they will have large, deep wrinkles that are near impossible for me to remove in editing.
2) Try to book as early as possible. Some people borrow the cap and gown attire from people that graduated on previous years so that they can do their photoshoot even earlier. As commencement gets closer things tend to get more stressful with finals and family coming into town. By doing your shoot earlier, it won’t add to the stress, and you’ll be sure to have your photos ready by commencement. It also gives me time to edit more of your photos if you want additional edits or have specific requests.
3) Last piece of advice and most important! Have fun and be creative! This is your moment, shine as much as you want! I will be your biggest hype person! If you want to hop into the fountain let’s do it! If you want to climb that statue, go for it! Bring champagne, tequila, ballons, confetti, etc!! However, you want to celebrate your moment, let’s do it! Check out my graduation gallery if you would like some inspiration on how others have gone about this!
Can I change outfits during the photo shoot?
Of course! you are welcome to change outfits during the photo shoot. In the past I have had clients switch between different suits/dresses to more casual quarter zips and athletic wear. Some clients have even switched from professional attire to more ethnic traditional attire. I encourage my clients to express themselves! We will typically already be switching between your formal attire and cap/gown, so the only thing to keep in mind is that switching outfits will cut into your shooting time. For this reason, if you will be switching between multiple outfits, I recommended either limiting the number of sub-locations during your shoot or booking additional time though the more comprehensive package or as an add on. That way you don’t feel rushed during your shoot.
Can we try to shoot at different locations during the photo shoot?
Yes! I encourage moving around so we can get a wide variety of shots! All my packages include multiple sub-locations. I define a sub-location as anywhere within 15mins walking distance from the main location we start at. For example, this can look like walking to the other side of your campus to get a particular statute or building in the background. If you want to shoot at multiple locations that are further away from each other we can still do that, however there would be an additional fee.
Additionally, if you know that you would like to shoot at many sub-locations, I recommend either limiting the number of outfit changes during your shoot or booking additional time though the comprehensive package or as an add on. That way you don’t feel rushed during your shoot.
How long will it take to get my graduation photos back?
My typical delivery time for both the standard and comprehensive packages is 1-2 weeks after you select the photos you want me to edit. This delivery time may change if you purchase additional edits. You will be able to select your edits in your gallery. I typically have your gallery ready so that you can select your edits within 1-3 days of your photo shoot date. If you want your photos sooner, I offer an express preview add on for an additional fee. This add on will expedite the process so that you receive your first 5 edits within 1-3 days of your photoshoot. You will receive your remaining edits in the standard delivery time mentioned above.
Can I get individual photos during a group photo shoot?
Definitely! Both the standard and comprehensive group packages are intended for groups that only want to take group photos. However, if you are looking to also get some individual photos, I offer multiple ways of doing that. Some people choose to book an additional individual session because they prefer to have more one on one time with me. While others prefer to take individual photos during the group shoot because they enjoy the atmosphere of having their friends present. If you want the latter, you can indicate on your quote the number of people that are interested in getting individual portraits.