--- title: How to Take the Best Graduation Photos date: 2025-05-01T05:30:00-04:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/how-to-take-the-best-graduation-photos" section: Articles --- # How to Take the Best Graduation Photos *May 1, 2025* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih) > From Secret Locations on Campus to the Top Time of Day, UMD Experts Offer Tips *Grad Tips The M Hero JC 1920x1080 — Marketing intern and communications major Lucy Laboz ’25 celebrates at the M with confetti (biodegradable, of course). Photographer tip: Try an off-kilter angle to capture excitement and movement.* You’ve got your colorful cords and cap and gown. Campus is lush and green, thanks to warm spring days and April showers. Plus, those background-cluttering white tents are finally packed up. With just a few weeks left to go before “Kermencement,” it’s time to get outside and capture graduation shots to look back on for years to come. Whether you already have a professional photo session booked or are just looking for a few tips as you roam campus with an iPhone, University of Maryland imaging experts can help. *A student in a graduation gown poses next to the bronze Testudo statue* **Before you go:** Doing a little prep work can improve your shots. Remember to iron or steam your graduation gown so it’s not wrinkly, said Cordle (if you don’t have either of those, try the trick of hanging it in the bathroom when you shower). Clean off your camera’s lens so it’s not smudged, which will blur your photos. Make sure you have lots of memory available, and take more photos than you think you’ll need. “The more you have to choose from, the more likely you are to have a good one,” she said. --- *A student in graduation cap and gown shown with sunlight on and off her face in a moving gif* --- **Where to go:** *Three shots of a graduate in cap and gown standing at ODK Fountain on McKeldin Mall* McKeldin Mall Standing at the base of the ODK Fountain is a “no-brainer,” said Consoli. Try a wide shot to get the full expanse of the Mall and McKeldin Library in the background. Take advantage of the steps if you’re arranging a group of friends. Willow Walk offers a shady option with the majestic oak trees framing the walkway. Try getting down low for a more “majestic” shot. And look for the colorful flower beds on the paths leading away from the sundial, which have classic red brick benches and nice nooks for photos. *Two photos of a graduate in a graduation gown holding her cap up to the sky and looking toward the light* The “M” It’s natural to want to stand right in front of it, but avoid blocking it. Instead, move a little farther away and pose with it as an element off to the side, sitting in the grass at the bottom of it, or standing at the top of it. *A student in a graduation cap and gown rubs bronze Testudo's nose* Testudo Statues “You can lean on him, do the classic nose rub, or even sit on top for a celebratory pose,” said Consoli. If you go to McKeldin, ask your photographer to back up and get low on the steps for a “hero” shot, and try posing on different sides of the statue. If you choose the one outside the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, Testudo is surrounded by trees, and there’s a hint of SECU Stadium in the background. (You can also stop by Moxley Gardens just down the steps.) And there are five more bronze turtles across campus if your first choice has a long line! *Two photos of student in graduation cap and gown leaning on white columns* Hidden Gems: Head down to the Armory and Thurgood Marshall Hall near Baltimore Avenue, where you can lean against the classic white columns of the former or walk through the Do Good Rings outside the latter. If you’re looking for some “M”s as backdrops, head for Gossett Hall, which has a black gate with a big red “M,” or the black fencing between South Campus Commons 1 and 2 and Washington Quad that incorporates a cursive “M” in the middle. “It could be cute to have two people on either side lean on it,” said Consoli. For spring blooms, Memorial Chapel’s garden is full of native flowers and plants and a variety of benches for seated photos. Around campus, pose with statues of Frederick Douglass at Hornbake Plaza, “Wimpy Kid” Greg Heffley on the ground floor of the Stamp, and of course, the artwork honoring this year’s commencement speaker, Kermit the Frog, and creator Jim Henson ’60, facing Campus Drive just outside of the Stamp. --- **What to avoid:** Your eyes might pass right over the recycling receptacle next to the sidewalk—but in a photo, a big blue bin can distract from the main focus. Keep your backgrounds clear of extraneous elements. Don’t let your cords and medals become uneven or tangled. Have a friend help arrange and layer them so they’re all visible, facing out and showing off all your accomplishments. And make sure your graduation cap is on the right way (there’s a label indicating the front on the inside). Throwing your cap is fun, but make sure not to stand too close to the ODK Fountain or it might take a dip. Even dropping it on red brick could cause the cardboard inside to bend, so treat it gently. --- *A person holds a white posterboard to shield the sun over a student in a cap and gown as a photographer takes a photo* **What to bring:** White posterboard can block out harsh light, which can create awkward shadows, or be used to reflect extra light onto your face from below. Consider taking along a collapsible step stool, too, which can help the photographer shoot from above for a more flattering angle. And throw into a bag a couple of bobby pins or safety pins to help keep your cap in place and pin back your gown if it’s billowing in the wind; a pack of tissues to blot glistening sweat on a warm day; and a comb to give your hair a once-over as you go from location to location. Confetti also adds a celebratory touch—but remember to stick to the biodegradable paper kind, not sparkly plastic. --- *A student in graduation cap and gown stands inside red rings with Do Good in the background* --- *Wide shot of SECU stadium during Commencement* **Bonus: The main Commencement ceremony at SECU Stadium** As graduates line up in Jones-Hill House for the processional, grab a photo with the large “M” or the college and schools’ banners. Once you’re out on the field, the “Congratulations” messages and Testudo illustrations on the big screens, as well as the full stadium, could make a nice backdrop. (Remember to ask your friends and family to keep an eye out for you on the big screen so they can capture the moment if you pop up.) UMD mascot Testudo will also be on hand, so try to catch him as he walks around before or after the ceremony. And if you spot Consoli, Cordle or one of the other university photographers or videographers coming your way, flash a big smile—you might end up on UMD’s social media channels or in Maryland Today! **Sidebar note:** Main commencement is May 21; it's one of 29 ceremonies being held at six venues across campus from May 20-23. Visit [commencement.umd.edu](http://commencement.umd.edu) for more information, including how to purchase or rent regalia, parking and streaming details and prohibited items. New this year: Only clear bags will be allowed at SECU Stadium. **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)