81 Creative Graduation Photo Ideas You'll 100% Be Obsessed With

Take a close up of your grad holding their tassel

Capture the moments as your grad puts their regalia on (and later on, when they take it off to officially become an alum)

Have your grad write something on the soles of their shoes, like Class of 2023, and take a photo of them kicking back

Hold onto your senior’s gown while they pose in their graduation outfit, cap and stoles

Pile up all your grad’s textbooks in front of the library and have them sit next to the pile (or lean if the stack is tall enough!)

Prompt your grad to look off into the distance with a serious face, diploma under their arm

Choose a building for your senior to pose in front of with their arms crossed

Have your grad climb into the driver’s seat of the car and capture them sticking their head out the window (or the sunroof!) while tipping their cap

Shoot a close up of your grad holding out their fist with a class ring

Put glitter on top of your grad’s hat for some falling sparkles as they put it on

Encourage your grad to make some funny faces while in full regalia

Have your grad shake a bottle of bubbly or apple cider for a splashy picture

Give your graduate paper and pen, or a sign, to hold during their photo (they can write words of thanks or a cute phrase like “I did it!”)

Take a behind-the-back photo of your grad in their cap and gown, hands lifted in the air

Bring balloons for your senior to hold along with their diploma

Get ready to snap your grad when they cross the stage and are handed their diploma for the first time

Find a sturdy tree for your senior to climb and take their shot from below to signify your grad climbing to new heights

If your grad had an extracurricular or passion, like frisbee or guitar, snap a photo of them doing that activity in full cap and gown

Place your camera low to the ground and capture your grad’s upturned face as they throw their cap in the air

If you’re outside during the golden hour, take a photo of your graduate with the sun directly behind their head, giving them a golden halo

When your senior leans forward, snap a close up their face as the tassel falls in front of their eyes

Have your graduate write their school initials and class year on their fingers or palm and hold it up to the camera, smiling in the background

Capture candids throughout the day: your grad putting on their cap, zipping up their gown, hugging friends, throwing their cap, moving their tassel, and genuine reactions throughout the day

Snap a photo of your grad waving goodbye to campus, leaving as a senior for the last time

Encourage your senior to toss their cap toward the camera, which makes for candid smiles and fun photos as the tassel flies through the air

Before you leave, take a photo of your senior holding up a piece of apparel with the school’s name and the word “alumni” written on it, too

If you can find a lamppost, capture a photo of your grad spinning around and smiling, cap in hand

Ask your grad to pick a pathway or hallway with natural light and snap a photo of their graduation outfit — no cap, gown or stoles (this could double as an opportunity to take a great professional photo)

Before graduation, make a plan with your grad so they know where you’ll be sitting in the stands so you can snap a photo of them smiling at the camera while their peers face forward 

Before graduation, get a confetti cannon (bonus points if it’s school colors) for your senior to open

If your high school senior participated in any varsity sports, snap a pic of them wearing their cap with their letterman jacket hanging in the background (or over their shoulder)

Snap a photo of your grad showing off the outfit underneath their gown — in school colors!