Congradulations!
You've finally made it- you're graduating college! It's a big deal and should be celebrated as such. This guide will go over everything you should know in preparation with your grad session with me.
Questionnaires
i need all the info!!
These are SO important so I can know everything there is to know before your session. It helps me gather things like your Pinterest board, general info like what spots on campus you want to shoot at. (especially if I've never shot at your campus!) This is even more important if you've booked a group session with me so I can get everyone's names and other important information.
Preparing for your Session
There is a lot to do to prepare for your session coming up! First, please be sure to pay the remaining balance, You can check how much you owe by reviewing your invoice. Also, make sure you've completed the questionnaire if you haven't already (check your email!)
A huge tip I have:
Steam your gown!! - These things are cheaply made and can wrinkle easily, so try on your full grad outfit ahead of time and find any loose threads, etc. It's also helpful to tie all of your cords together if you're super cool and have a ton of cords ;)
Be Prepared
What to Bring to the Session
- First, I recommend bringing a basic reusable tote bag ( think the ones you'll find at the Marshalls checkout aisle)
- If you are wearing heels, bring some slides/sandals to wear while we walk around campus.
- You'll need your cap, gown, stole, cords, and any other college graduation things you want to incorporate.
- A bottle of champagne ( the Andre or Korbel brand pops well!)
- Any lipstick/lipgloss for touch-ups
- Sunglasses for some fun shots
A Fun Tip
Some of my favorite moments and photos from grad sessions lately are when my grads bring their coolest pair of sunglasses. It elevates the photo and really gives off a cool vibe, and the photos are so sick!
What to Wear
The most classic 'grad' look is a white mini dress, which I love! Please make sure it fits you well and that you can walk, sit, and throw your arm up without it riding up too much, etc. It sounds silly now, but I don't want you to be restricted because of your clothing during our shoot.
Headshots
I always offer the option of taking a couple of LinkedIn headshots for you during your grad session. This is great for any profession you're headed to post-grad. I recommend bringing a nice blazer to throw on top of your dress for a more professional look. This will take less than 5 minutes typically against a nice building.
Props & College Memorabilia
Your graduation photos should be a reflection of you—your hard work, passions, and journey. I’ve had grads bring stethoscopes, textbooks, name plaques, sports memorabilia, or even big projects related to their major to make their session more personal. If you want to include something meaningful, let me know! I’m all about bringing your vision to life—whether it’s posing with your textbooks or showcasing something unique to your college experience.
What about the weather?
The weather in New England is constantly changing so I'll be checking the weather app constantly leading up to our session. If the weather app says it'll rain on the day of your session, I'll see if we can work around the rain- either moving your session earlier or later in the day to avoid the rain the best we can. If we really can't move anything around then we will work around it by shooting inside the library, using umbrellas outside, and shoot under coverings around campus if we can. Shooting in the rain may not be ideal, but shooting inside your library or a lecture hall can make for some really cool unique photos!
Let me know what works best for you - but if it looks like it might downpour on your session date, I'll do my best to let you know at least 12 hours or so in advance if we need to reschedule or move it around based on the forecast.
for the mems
Group Grad Photos
I love shooting groups, it can be such a blast and so much fun! When we are shooting with more than 3 people it can get a little chaotic so I recommend sticking to 3+ spots on campus that are all relatively close together. IF you guys have specific vision or ideas in mind, let's discuss it beforehand so we are ready for it on the shoot day!
Other Tips
If you have a decorated cap, I recommend bringing a little extra glue or tape—just in case any details start to loosen! I love capturing fun cap toss shots, whether you're throwing it in the air or toward the camera. If anything shifts or falls off, we’ll be ready to fix it so you can keep celebrating without worry!
Popping the Champagne
I love a good champagne pop, they are so much fun and I always save these until towards the end of the shoot incase you get wet. I recommend getting the Andre brand of champagne you will find them at a liquor store for around $10. Please take off the foil before our session as this actually saves so much time!
I will always guide you through this and it's pretty simple- just try not to make a double chin or hold your arms to stiff while you shake it. All you need to do it hold your thumb over the opened top and shake and spray for a few seconds, leaving yourself just enough for a sip afterwards or a second spray attempt. If you are doing a group session with me, consider bringing a second bottle so you can do a pop all together and a separate pop as well.
after the session- getting your photos
After our session, I'll go home and edit all of the beautiful photos! Depending on my schedule and your package, this can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks but I do my best to keep you updated! You will get your gallery through a online link via email where you will get a step-by-step process on how you should download your photos and access to my print shop linked to your gallery.
To keep your photos forever, I recommend downloading them through the Google Photos option on my site! Keep in mind I will archive galleries as time goes by so please download your photos ASAP, I'll give you a warning email when your gallery will be archived.
photo alteration
Please don't alter your photos in any way ( filters, face tune, etc) If there is a problem, let me know ASAP and I can do my best to help figure it out! Keep in mind this is in the contract that you signed!
photoshop requests
I can photoshop unwanted objects out of photos, acne, etc. I can't make you into Bella Hadid or a Kardashian, I'm here to capture the REAL you!
social media
Please tag me in any social media posts afterward! @kaitlynchabotphoto Social media and referrals are a photographer's best friend and help so much! ( plus I want to hype you up!)
I know getting your photo taken can be scary but I promise to make this as seamless and fun as possible so you are happy and confident and love your photos!