Graduation Photography & Senior Portrait Session

You can book your photos all the way up to and past graduation but keep in mind that availability will be limited.

For regalia sessions (Senior Week and Graduation Week), I recommend booking as soon as you know when works for your group — these two weeks fill up fast since everyone wants the same window. Some students even book a semester ahead to lock in the best time slots. For Senior & Thesis sessions earlier in the spring, 2–3 weeks notice is usually fine.

If you have access to regalia or stoles (e.g. yours arrived early or you were able to borrow a friends), you can bring and wear your regalia or stoles at any session including the senior / thesis sessions.

Senior Week tends to be calmer and less crowded, which is great for friends groups or students who don’t want to fight for photo spots around campus. Graduation Week is when families are in town and when you may have your stoles. Both work well and it comes down to your group’s schedule.

Gown, cap, and hood pickup is historically the Monday morning of Senior Week. Stoles and cords vary by organization — check with your specific org or look for emails from Harvard AAPI, Lavender, FGLI, etc..

Sessions are either 50 minutes (1 location) or 110 minutes (multiple locations and outfit changes). Thesis sessions and senior photos before Senior Week also have 25 min sessions. Group size, number of locations, and whether you're doing outfit changes all factor into which makes more sense for you.

I don't put a cap on deliverables. I cull the bad frames and deliver the best photos from the session. All delivered photos will be edited and you won’t have a limit on the number of downloads.

Yes! Friends and family are welcome for part or all of the session. Keep in mind they count toward group size for pricing — for example, 1 student + 2 friends = a 3-person group. The group size is based on the number of people across the photographs.

Totally. As long as there's time in the session we can work in solo shots — just let me know upfront so I can plan for it.

Whatever feels like you. White or floral dresses and suits are classic, but there are no rules. Layering pieces like jackets or blazers are great for a quick wardrobe change. Props are welcome too — thesis binders, books, stuffed animals, a gavel, a camera, flowers, scrubs, whatever reflects who you are.

No — your university provides regalia. I'd recommend unwrapping it at least it the day before and steaming or hanging in the shower, and bringing a lint roller on the day of.

Anything that feels like you! Some ideas: your thesis binder, a favorite book, flowers, a stuffed animal, scrubs or a stethoscope, a gavel, a camera, a sport or instrument. Props are a great way to add personality to a few shots and make the gallery feel more like you. That said, props are totally optional. Plenty of people don't bring any and still walk away with a great gallery.

Some people have their poses on lock, and many other people have no idea to pose. For those who want it, I can help guide you through how to pose. But at the end of the day, my goal is for you to feel natural and have fun, not to perform for the camera.

If it helps you feel more ready, you can save some references or put together a Pinterest board and send it to me or bring it to your session as inspiration.

Golden hour (the hour before sunset) is the most popular and gives the warmest, most flattering light. In late May, sunset is around 8pm, so I'd aim for around 6-7pm for Widener steps and the Yard, and 7-8pm for open spots like Weeks Bridge. Overcast days are also great. The cloud cover gives really even, flattering light all day.

I have indoor backup locations ready, including covered areas and beautiful spots inside buildings. We can also reschedule within the same schedule window if slots are available.

Via an online gallery with full-resolution downloads. You can share the link with friends, family, or anyone you want to include. Typical turnaround is 3–6 weeks.

Graduation season is a busy time; I often photograph hundreds of students in those two days and I want to make sure to delivery high quality work to everyone.

Professional color correction, lighting, white balance, straightening, and cropping. Not included: skin retouching, object removal, or body alteration.

Payment is due upfront to secure your time slot. The booking form allows you to choose your session duration, group size, select and reserve your time slot, and pay. Everything is finalized and reserved when you finish the payment. You can pay with credit card or debit card.

Feel free to reach out at daniel@excitollc.com.