You’ve booked your college grad photographer and now you are wondering how to prepare for your photoshoot? Where do you get your cap, gown, stole and cords? What outfits should you wear? How do you pose? What spots on campus do you include?

Don’t worry…I’ve got you covered! Staying organized and setting yourself deadlines for each step of the process is key. With a little bit of work ahead of time, you will be confident and ready to enjoy your session day. After almost 10 years of experience working with college grads, I’ve developed this helpful list of tips I share with every client:

Book your hair & makeup professionals early:

I recommend booking hair and makeup professionals for many reasons. First, it allows you to sit back, relax, and be pampered. It’s also one less thing for you to worry about doing on the day of your shoot. Most importantly, professionals are artists and use the highest quality products and techniques to help make your look last during the entire session. In Alabama, we often deal with heat, humidity and breezy conditions throughout the year. When clients do their own hair and makeup, it can be challenging to survive these conditions without their hair getting frizzy or makeup starting to come off. I promise you will be happy you chose to hire pros!

Plan your outfits at least a month in advance of your session day if possible:

Depending on how long your session is, clients will typically prepare 3-6 outfits. First, I recommend choosing outfits that fit you well and make you feel confident. Make sure the outfits are not too tight or too loose and they are easy to move around in. Next, it’s important to think about choosing a variety of looks. For the girls, these could include maxi or shorter dresses, jumpsuits or pants looks, skirt and top looks and jersey with shorts etc. Incorporate interesting textures and color combos. Bama grads often go with white, black and crimson as the main color palette, but you can think outside of the box and mix the colors in unexpected ways. Finally, add fun pops of color with your shoes and jewelry!

For the guys, think about including a suit and a few casual outfits like a golf shirt and khakis or jeans and a Bama jersey. Make sure you try on all parts of each outfit to make sure they fit well. (Some of my guys will wait until the last minute to try on suits they currently have in their closet, only to find out the pants are too short or the shirt is too small. Avoid the stress and try it all on well in advance of shoot day!)

Buy your Cap, Gown & Tassel at the Supestore (UA Bookstore) and secure your stole and cords many weeks ahead of your photoshoot:

At The University of Alabama, students can purchase their cap, gown and tassel combo all year long at the bookstores on campus. Click here for the link to graduation regalia at UA. Many students also wear stole(s) and colorful cords over their gowns. Honors stoles are issued by your individual college and are based on GPA standards. Other stoles available at the bookstore include International, Military and First Generation grads. Many sororities also provide their seniors with stoles. Cords are issued by the colleges and different student organizations on campus (ie. clubs, sororities, fraternities) The most important thing for grads to remember is to contact their academic advisor or club/organization leaders about securing their stole & cords prior to their grad photoshoot.

If you anticipate being a red cap grad (4.0 cumulative GPA throughout college), ask your academic advisor when you will receive your red cap. Masters and PhD grads have different regalia, which is also available at the UA SupeStore.

Start a Pinterest Mood Board (and share with your photographer and makeup & hair pros):

Many of my clients love making and sharing an inspiration board for their shoot on Pinterest. This way, they can show me the places on campus they love and also give me an idea of the type of images and poses they like. Sharing inspiration images with your hair and makeup pros helps them understand your preferences and can ensure you are both on the same page regarding the overall desired look.

Plan your Props:

At The University of Alabama, we have a lot of options for fun photoshoot props. My seniors love to do the champagne spray and confetti pop shots at the Walk of Champions in front of Bryant Denny Stadium. The images we capture are SO fun! Please remember that UA requires biodegradable confetti only. Click here for eco-friendly confetti option. Other prop ideas include decorating your grad cap, bringing items related to your major (ie. stethoscope for nursing majors or picture books for elementary education majors), or even bringing your pet!

The Day Before and Day of your Session:

The night before your session, hang all of your outfits and put them in a garment bag. Put all shoes, accessories and jewelry in a small tote bag. (I bring a wagon with me so clients don’t have to carry their things all over the campus!) Steam your gown to get out wrinkles and make sure you have your cap, gown, tassel and all stoles and cords in one place and ready to go. Most importantly, get enough rest so you are fresh and feel your best at your session. Have a good breakfast or lunch so you have enough energy too! If it’s warm outside, take some water with you. If it’s cold, bring a warm drink …I promise it helps!

What do I do with my hands?? Tips for natural posing:

You are not the only one who worries about looking natural in your photos! Clients frequently say, “I am so awkward and don’t know how to pose! Will you help me?” YES! Of course I will! My goal is always to help you look your best. The KEY to great photos is when clients feel confident and relaxed. Our pre-session prep reduces your overall stress levels. Then, on session day, I love to showcase your personality with natural posing that fits you. We are all different and my approach is customized to each client. Capturing the emotion and joy of this special time in your life is my passion!

Are you Interested in Booking Big Al for your session?

If you love our fabulous UA Mascot Big Al and want to include him in your session, book him early! Click here to fill out the Big Al appearance request form. The UA Spirit Office manages these requests and will let you know if he is available for your date. Check out my blog post to see more Big Al inspiration photos!