Graduation photography is one of the most popular services I offer at Motiontography, but not all graduation sessions are created equal. A high school senior portrait session and a college graduation session may seem similar on the surface, yet they differ in nearly every meaningful way: who books the session, what the graduate wears, where the session takes place, what creative options are available, and how the final images are used. Understanding these differences helps you plan the right session for your milestone.
After photographing graduates across Hampton Roads for over 14 years, from high school seniors at more than 50 local schools to college graduates at all 13 regional universities, I have developed a deep understanding of what each type of session requires. This guide breaks down every key difference so you know exactly what to expect.
Who Books the Session: Parents vs. Graduates
The most fundamental difference between high school and college graduation photography starts with who initiates the booking. This distinction shapes every aspect of the session.
High school sessions are almost always booked by parents. Mom or Dad reaches out, selects the package, coordinates the wardrobe, and often drives the graduate to the session. The parents are the primary clients, even though the student is the subject. This means communication, scheduling, and creative direction flow through the parents. Many times, the graduate shows up with limited input on what the session will look like, and part of my job is making them feel comfortable and excited about the experience.
College graduation sessions are typically booked by the graduates themselves. They are adults making their own decisions about how to celebrate their achievement. They often have specific ideas about what they want, from the locations on campus that mean the most to them to the props and wardrobe elements they want to include. College graduates tend to be more confident in front of the camera, have a clearer vision for their session, and often coordinate the shoot around their own schedule and budget.
This distinction matters because it changes how I approach the consultation. With high school families, I spend more time discussing options and guiding creative direction. With college graduates, I spend more time collaborating on their existing vision and refining ideas they have already been developing.
Session Style: Studio Composites vs. Campus and Location Shoots
The style of the session itself differs significantly between the two levels.
High School Senior Portraits
High school sessions in Hampton Roads lean heavily toward composite portraits. These multi-element images combine several outfits, backgrounds, and identity markers into a single stunning piece. A typical high school composite might include the graduate in their cap and gown, a casual outfit that reflects their personality, a sports uniform or instrument, and text elements like their name, school, and class year.
Studio sessions dominate for high school portraits because the controlled environment allows for the dramatic lighting, precise posing, and clean backgrounds that composites require. While outdoor sessions are popular too, the composite portrait has become the signature product for high school graduates, especially in the Hampton Roads area.
College Graduation Sessions
College sessions tend to be more location-driven. Graduates want to be photographed on the campus where they spent four or more years of their lives. They want the iconic buildings, the fountain, the quad, the library steps, and the department building where they took their hardest classes. These locations carry emotional weight that a studio backdrop cannot replicate.
That said, composites are increasingly popular for college graduates too, especially those who want to merge their academic achievement with their career, Greek organization membership, or other aspects of their identity. A nursing graduate in scrubs on one side and cap and gown on the other tells a powerful story. But the starting point for college sessions is usually location first, composite second.
Wardrobe Differences
What graduates wear to their sessions varies dramatically between high school and college.
High School Wardrobe
- Cap and gown: Standard graduation regalia in school colors
- Casual outfits: 2-3 outfit changes reflecting personality (trendy looks, favorite brands)
- Sports uniforms: Football, basketball, cheer, dance, soccer, and other athletic gear
- Band or arts: Instruments, art supplies, or performance attire
- Cultural attire: Heritage stoles, kente cloth, cultural garments
- Prom attire: Some seniors combine prom and graduation photography
College Wardrobe
- Full academic regalia: Cap, gown, hood (color indicates degree and field), honor cords, stoles
- Greek organization paraphernalia: Letters, line jackets, stoles, custom boots, organizational colors
- Career attire: Scrubs, business suit, lab coat, uniform (for the composite "what I'm becoming" element)
- University sweatshirts or apparel: Casual school spirit wear
- Cultural stoles and sashes: First-generation graduate stoles, cultural organization sashes
- Multiple degree regalia: Some graduates earn double majors or dual degrees with different honor designations
The key wardrobe difference is complexity. College graduates typically have more layered identities to represent in their photos: they are not just a graduate but also a Greek member, a career professional, a first-generation college student, or an organization leader. Each layer adds depth to the photography session.
Timing Differences: Fall Seniors vs. Spring Graduates
The calendar works differently for high school and college graduation photography in Hampton Roads.
High school senior portraits typically happen in the fall of the senior year (September through November) or early spring (March through April). Many families want portraits ready for graduation announcements, yearbook submissions, and party displays. This means the actual photography happens months before the graduation ceremony. Some students also do a separate cap-and-gown session closer to the actual graduation date in May or June.
College graduation sessions cluster around the actual graduation date, which in Hampton Roads typically falls in May for spring graduates and December for fall graduates. Most college graduates want to be photographed in the days immediately before or after commencement, when the excitement is at its peak. This creates a very compressed booking window, and popular dates fill up quickly.
Timing tip: If you are a college graduate in Hampton Roads planning a spring graduation session, I strongly recommend booking at least 4-6 weeks in advance. The period from late April through mid-May is the busiest time of year for graduation photography, with graduates from ODU, NSU, Hampton University, CNU, Regent, and TCC all finishing within weeks of each other.
Group Photo Dynamics
Group photos take on very different forms at each level.
High school group photos usually involve family: parents, siblings, grandparents, and sometimes close friends. The groups tend to be smaller and more formal. Family portraits are a major component because parents are the primary clients and want to document the family milestone.
College group photos are far more diverse and dynamic. In addition to family, college graduates often want photos with:
- Friend groups: Roommates, study partners, and the people who got them through college
- Greek organization members: Line sisters, line brothers, chapter members in matching attire
- Study groups and major cohorts: Fellow nursing students, engineering peers, or education majors who spent years in the same program
- Mentors and professors: Faculty members who made a difference in their academic journey
- Couples: Partners who navigated college together
Coordinating college group photos requires more logistical planning because the participants are adults with their own schedules, and the groups can be large. I recommend identifying your group photo priorities during the consultation so we can build the session timeline accordingly.
Budget Considerations
Financial dynamics differ between high school and college graduation photography in important ways.
High school sessions: Because parents are typically paying, the budget is often part of a broader senior year spending plan that includes prom, yearbook, school events, and graduation celebrations. Parents tend to invest in packages that include prints, since these photos will be displayed at home and at the graduation party. Composite portraits are popular at this level because they offer maximum impact for the investment.
College sessions: College graduates are often paying out of their own pocket, which can mean tighter budgets. However, many families gift graduation photography sessions, recognizing the magnitude of the milestone. College graduates tend to prioritize digital files over prints because they want to share on social media and LinkedIn. Some invest heavily in composites, especially if they are celebrating Greek membership or a career milestone alongside their degree.
Composite Opportunities at Each Level
Composite portraits have become one of the most sought-after graduation photography products I offer, and they work beautifully for both high school and college graduates.
High School Composites
- Cap and gown + casual outfit + sports uniform
- School colors and class year text overlays
- Academic + extracurricular identity
- Cultural heritage elements with graduation attire
- Future career aspirations (stethoscope, badge, hard hat) paired with cap and gown
College Composites
- Cap and gown + Greek letters + career attire (the triple identity composite)
- Multiple degree representations for double majors
- Master's or doctoral regalia with career attire
- University landmarks blended with studio portraits
- Military uniform + academic regalia for ROTC graduates
- First-generation graduate stole as a central element
Hampton Roads by the Numbers
To put the scope of graduation photography in perspective, consider the Hampton Roads region's educational landscape:
- 50+ high schools across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg
- 13+ colleges and universities including ODU, NSU, Hampton University, CNU, William & Mary, Regent University, ECPI, TCC, and more
- Thousands of graduates every spring across both levels, all looking for professional photography
Whether your graduate is walking across the stage at Lakeland High School or throwing their cap at Old Dominion University, I have the experience and artistic vision to create portraits that match the significance of their achievement.
Which Type of Session Is Right for You?
The right session depends on your graduate's needs, personality, and the story you want to tell. High school sessions emphasize the transition from childhood to adulthood, the school identity, and future aspirations. College sessions celebrate the realization of those aspirations, the communities built during college, and the professional identity emerging on the other side of the degree.
No matter which milestone you are celebrating, the goal is the same: creating portraits that your graduate and your family will treasure for a lifetime. These are the images that get framed, displayed at parties, shared on social media, and revisited for decades. They deserve to be extraordinary.
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Last updated: February 2026