UCLA Graduation Photo Tips from a Real Senior Session | Katrina’s Full Circle Moment

UCLA • Los Angeles • California

Stephanie Ip Photography

Posted on April 27, 2025

Helpful Tips

UCLA, California
April 27th 2025 Sunset at 7:33pm
Overcast weather
Start time at 5pm

A Full Circle Moment with the Iguban Family

There’s something incredibly special about getting to photograph a family through the years—and Katrina’s journey is one that really stayed with us. We first met the Iguban family back in 2021 for Katrina’s high school graduation photos and 18th birthday debut (a beautiful Filipino tradition we felt honored to document). Now, three years later, we were back together again—this time for her college graduation from UCLA… and with a job offer from Google already in hand.

Talk about full circle.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by California Proposal, Wedding and Family Photographer (@photography.stephanieip)

Why Book Graduation Photos Early?

If you’re planning your UCLA senior photo session, here’s one piece of advice: don’t wait until the ceremony.

Most graduates schedule their session about a month before graduation day, right after they receive their cap and gown. Here’s why:

Campus is less crowded than graduation weekend
You’ll get your photos back in time for party invites or announcements
You avoid the chaos of trying to shoot around 50 other sessions happening at the same time

For Katrina’s session, we shot in late April, and it was the perfect balance of calm campus energy and great light.

UCLA senior Katrina smiling in cap and gown on campus with her family and friends. — Katrina’s graduation portraits at UCLA—celebrating every step of the journey with friends and family.

How We Planned the Shoot

We hopped on a quick planning call with Katrina and her mom a week before the shoot. We used a shared Pinterest board and dropped pins on a campus map to create a flexible route based on what mattered most to them.

Katrina wanted to include:

Solo portraits (with and without cap & gown)
Family portraits
Fun friend group shots (only 2 of them were graduating early like her)
Classic UCLA backdrops like Jans Steps, Kerckhoff Hall and Royce Hall

What Happens When Plans Change?

On the day of the shoot, things didn’t go exactly to plan (as always with on-location work). There were protests near Royce Hall and a line of campus police vehicles that blocked our intended wide-shot setup. A giant dark cloud was hovering over Royce Hall, threatening to rain – as much as we trust weather forecast, sometimes we can’t predict everything and choose to trust the process. We leaned into flash lighting to brighten the muted tones from the overcast sky. Scouting the different spots an hour early before the session also helped to check light conditions, distractions, and potential crowding. That small prep step made a huge difference.

Top 5 Tips for Your UCLA Graduation Photos

If you’re planning your own senior session at UCLA (or any SoCal campus), here are our top tips:

1. Book Early

As soon as you get your cap & gown, reach out to lock in your photographer. Weekends fill up fast during grad season.

2. Plan Around Your Campus

Think beyond the iconic spots—include buildings, benches, or walkways that were part of your daily life.

3. Build a Flexible Shot List

Have a general plan, but stay open. Weather, crowds, or lighting might cause shifts, and that’s okay.

4. Coordinate Group Outfits

Katrina’s group wore all white—it photographed beautifully and kept the focus on their faces and joy.

5. Trust the Process

Photographers wear many hats—light scout, location wrangler, weather tracker. We’re here to make the shoot smooth and enjoyable, even when the unexpected happens.

A Personal Note

It’s always an honor when families return to us. We don’t just photograph moments—we grow with our clients. Getting to see Katrina go from debutante to college grad, surrounded by the people who’ve cheered her on, reminded us why this work matters.