College graduation pictures with friends: the guide
Graduating from college is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone, and what better way to celebrate than by capturing those memories with your besties? College graduation pictures with friends are more than just some photos—they’re a way to honor the inside jokes, the late-night study sessions, and the friendships that shaped your college experience.
In this post, I’m diving into everything you need to know about doing college graduation pictures with friends, including the perks of teaming up for a group session (and the challenges too)! Whether you’re looking to save on costs, make the session feel more fun and relaxed, or simply walk away with meaningful portraits of you and your crew, I’ve got you covered.



The pros of doing your college graduation pictures with friends
You get tangible, beautiful reminders of your shared memories with your besties. When you take the time for college graduation pictures with friends, you’re actually in the small minority of the graduating crowd. Most will snap some selfies and call it a day, or hand their iPhone to a friend or parent for some quick pics. But intentionally setting aside a couple hours for professional pictures with your closest college friends is such a meaningful way to pay homage to the bonds that have literally changed your life for the better.
You can split the cost between you, making professional photos much more affordable. You know the saying “you get what you pay for?” Well it’s really no different with photography. Price-shopping for portraits might seem like a good idea at first, but the final pictures might disappoint. Or maybe the pictures are OK, but the experience is awful. So why settle? Rally up your friends to book that dream photographer and get the experience you all deserve. After all, you only have one chance to do it right!
You’ll get a unique variety of individual portraits and group shots. Now, if you’re somebody who really wants the spotlight, then by all means, go ahead and book a session for yourself! But, the benefit of a group session is the artistic balance between you and the people who have impacted your life the most. It’s a deeper storytelling experience vs. an individual portrait session alone, and will produce candid moments that honor the best parts of your friendship.
The session itself can feel more comfortable, allowing each person to let their true personality shine. There is a reason why I tell all grads – even solo sessions – to bring a friend or partner for moral support. It just helps you warm up faster. This means you’ll be more comfortable in front of the camera, and your photos will ultimately be better. Friend sessions have the best energy because you all have your inside jokes and things that make you laugh, and you can do it in front of the camera while I snap away, which makes for the most heartwarming photos.



The (few) cons of doing college graduation photos with friends
“The more the merrier” doesn’t always apply. It’s totally understandable to not want to leave anyone out, but the more people you include, the harder it’s going to be to make everyone happy! It’s a better idea to ask just 1 or 2 best friends to join you for a professional portrait session, that way you’re each getting a premium experience and it’ll be a lot easier to manage photo goals.
Scheduling can be more tricky. Maybe you have that one friend who isn’t a morning person or you all work different schedules. I get it – sometimes those things are hard to juggle, but I promise the priceless photos with your friends are absolutely worth it.
Balancing time for individual vs. group shots. If you have particular tastes or a long wishlist of things you want to do for your photos, an individual session might be better suited to your needs. But if you’re willing to share the spotlight, a group photo session can be divided up to 3 ways and each grad still gets amazing portraits… of course with the added bonus of photos of all of you together!



Tips for planning your college graduation pictures with friends
Find ways to reduce stress & build excitement around the session. Don’t let photos be just another task on your to-do list! Turn photo day into a whole event! If your session is in the morning, go out for a boozy brunch or plan a fun outing right afterwards. If your session is in the afternoon/evening, plan a fun dinner or night out to celebrate rocking your photos! Session day in itself is an opportunity to make amazing memories with your friends at the end of your college era.
Vote on 2-3 favorite locations. Start with your absolute favorites, and then tack on more adventures if there is still time during your session. I know, I know… there are probably a hundred spots on campus with great memories, but keeping the locations simple means nobody feels rushed, your photos look consistent, and you have enough time at each to get stunning portraits before moving onto the next!
Decide beforehand what you’d like to do for your group shots. You might want a photo of you all laughing candidly, or tossing your caps into the air. Maybe you want to line up and do a champagne explosion shot together. Maybe you have something else in mind, like an inside joke! Think about what activities or moments would be most important to capture together, and provide this to your photographer beforehand. Photo sessions tend to fly by when everyone’s having fun, and this will ensure nothing important is missed.
Bring a dedicated helper. Ask one of your moms (or two!) to tag along, help carry accessories and adjust caps or hair between shots. I promise they’ll be so stoked you asked for their help, and you’ll feel more relaxed with the extra support. Win/win!
Choose the right photographer. I know this one seems like a no-brainer, but you’ll definitely want to make sure you choose a photographer who has the right dynamic for your friend group. An experienced college graduation photographer will be able to take charge of the session and keep things on track while also keeping the mood light and fun for everybody. Check portfolios and ask about their experience with individual and group shots, and ask about how they’ll balance the time for your session.



Planning college graduation pictures with friends requires some thoughtful coordination, but is worth its weight in gold! I offer group sessions at The Ohio State University for individuals and groups of up to 3 people, and would love to help you plan something unforgettable with your friends that puts real, fun memories at the forefront! Click here for all the details and to get started.