🎓 Your Bay Area Graduation Session Guide

Smiling graduate in cap, gown, and floral lei poses joyfully outdoors, raising one arm and lifting leg in celebration.

First — congratulations, graduate! You survived it all, and now it's time to actually celebratethat. This guide is going to walk you through everything you need to prepare for our session together so you can show up confident, relaxed, and ready to have fun.


Bookmark this, screenshot it, send it to your mom, whatever works. Let's get into it.



📅 Timing & Booking


Bay Area graduation season is April through June, and golden hour slots fill up fast. If you haven't already booked, do that first (seriously, close this tab and do it).


Best light of the day: One hour after sunrise or 1–2 hours before sunset. Midday light is harsh and unflattering — we skip that when we can.


About the Bay Area weather: Karl the Fog is real, but don't panic. Overcast skies actually create beautiful, even light. I'll always monitor weather before our session and communicate if anything needs to shift.


👗 What to Wear


Cap & Gown

  • Steam your gown before the session — wrinkles show up more than you think
  • Wear something polished underneath for when the gown comes off
  • Comfortable shoes for walking, save the brand-new heels for the ceremony


Outfit Change (Highly Recommended)

  • Bringing one additional outfit gives your gallery so much more variety. Think:
  • ✅ Solid colors — navy, cream, sage, burgundy, dusty rose ✅ Classic, well-fitting pieces that make you feel confident ✅ Outfits you'd actually wear again

❌ Busy patterns or small prints ❌ Logos or text ❌ Anything that doesn't feel like you


💄 Hair & Makeup

  • Style your hair the day of or day before
  • Go slightly bolder than your everyday makeup — cameras can wash things out
  • Bring touch-ups: lipstick, powder, hair ties, and bobby pins
  • Coastal locations = wind. Plan accordingly. 😅
  • Guys: fresh haircut 3–5 days before (not the day of), and groom your beard the morning of


🎒 What to Bring

Here's your quick checklist:

  • 📜 Cap & gown (steamed!)
  • 👗 Outfit changes in a garment bag
  • 💄 Touch-up makeup + hair ties/bobby pins
  • 💧 Water and a snack (hangry = not cute in photos)
  • 🎓 Diploma or acceptance letter if you want it in shots
  • 🎵 A playlist — music makes sessions so much better

Props? Totally optional, but meaningful ones are great — your diploma, books from your major, flowers, or anything that tells your story.

📸 The Most Important Part: Just Be Yourself


Here's the thing most people don't realize going in — you don't need to know how to pose.That's my job. I'll guide you through everything.


The best photos from every session are almost never the stiff, formal ones. They're the in-between moments — the real laugh, the relaxed exhale, the genuine smile. My whole approach is built around capturing you, not a performance of you.


It always feels a little awkward at first. That's completely normal. Give it 10 minutes and I promise you'll forget the camera is even there.

Smiling graduate in white dress with black and gold academic hood poses outdoors on a tree-lined path.

✅ Quick Day-Of Checklist

  •  Arrive with your gown steamed and outfits ready
  •  Eat something before — don't show up on an empty stomach
  •  Give yourself buffer time for parking (Bay Area traffic, we know)
  •  Bring your good energy and trust the process
Graduate in floral dress with pink sash poses under ivy arch at Stanford University campus on sunny day.

I'm so excited to celebrate this milestone with you. If you have any questions before our session — about locations, outfits, timing, anything — just reach out. I'm here for all of it.


See you soon! 🎉