IF YOU'RE GRADUATING THIS YEAR, CONGRATS!

 

Whether you're walking across the stage at PSU, UO, OSU, or anywhere in between, this moment deserves more than just a cap-and-gown selfie. It's time to celebrate everything you’ve worked for with a grad photo session that actually feels like you.


As a Portland-based photographer servicing the Portland metro area, the Oregon Coast, and beyond—I’m now booking college graduation photo sessions for Spring and Summer.


Why Book College Grad Photos?


You only graduate once (okay, maybe twice). College graduation photos are about more than the diploma—they’re a way to mark a major milestone and freeze this moment in your story. Whether you want something clean and professional or fun and casual, this is your time to show off your personality and celebrate how far you’ve come.

When’s the Best Time to Schedule Your Grad Photos?


The best weather in Portland for graduation photos typically hits between late April and early July—warm golden hour light, blooming trees, and dry(ish) days. Don’t wait until your final exams are over to reach out—spots fill up fast as we move into spring.


What to Bring to Your Grad Session

Not required—but these make your session even more personalized:


Cap + gown (with cords, medals, etc.)

Letterman jacket, school gear, or merch

Books, sports gear, major-specific props (think nursing stethoscope, art portfolio, etc.)

Champagne bottle (for the classic spray shot—always a fave)

A friend, partner, or parent for a few bonus shots

Graduate in white dress and burgundy stole celebrates with champagne on campus lawn in front of brick building.
A series of portrait photos showing someone in white graduation attire smiling while standing under an outdoor pavilion.
Graduate student in black cap and gown with burgundy stole stands smiling on campus walkway near university building.
Graduate celebrating and tossing graduation cap in the air outside a brick university building on a sunny day.
A graduate stands in front of a brick building on campus wearing a black cap and gown with a burgundy top beneath.
A graduate in academic regalia poses with a black graduation gown and blue stole on a sunny day outside a brick building.
A person in graduation attire walks along a covered brick walkway on a sunny day, surrounded by greenery.
Graduate wearing decorative stoles poses in front of Oregon State University entrance sign on graduation day.
A graduate in a black cap and gown stands smiling on a tree-lined brick pathway during commencement season.
Five identical Oregon State University entrance signs mounted on brick walls are shown in a horizontal row.
A graduate wearing a navy blue vest and white dress sits on a concrete ledge near greenery and bushes.

Best Grad Photo Locations in Portland & Beyond

You’re not limited to your college campus (but that’s always a great place to start). Here are some of my favorite locations for grad sessions in the Portland area and along the coast:


🎓 1. Your Campus

Whether you’re graduating from Portland State, Oregon State, University of Oregon, or a community college, your campus has meaning. Think: iconic buildings, favorite study spots, the quad where you basically lived. Let’s shoot where your journey happened.


🌲 2. Hoyt Arboretum or Forest Park

If you want something woodsy and earthy, this is it. Perfect for relaxed vibes and golden hour


🏙️ 3. Downtown Portland / Pearl District

Modern, edgy, and urban. Ideal for grads who want clean lines, murals, or cool textures in the background.


🌾 4. Sauvie Island

Open fields, dreamy skies, wildflowers in bloom—it’s cinematic, especially in the evening.


🌊 5. The Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach, Pacific City, etc.)

Wanna go big? Bring your cap and gown to the beach and we’ll create photos that feel like an epic movie ending. Yes, I travel.



Aerial view of a sprawling university campus with red brick buildings, green lawns, and pathways surrounded by trees.
Sunbeams pierce through misty forest trees illuminating a winding dirt trail among tall evergreens.
Haystack Rock reflects in wet sand during golden sunset at Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Ready to Book Your Grad Photos?



Spots fill fast between April and June, especially on weekends. I shoot throughout Portland, the surrounding metro area, and the Oregon Coast, and I’m always down to travel for something cool.


Whether you’re the first in your family to graduate or this is round two, your photos should feel authentic and celebratory—not awkward or overly posed.


📩 Booking is open now

📍 Based in Portland, Oregon

🌊 Serving the PNW + Oregon Coast

Let’s Make It Official

Whether you're ready to book or just want to ask a few questions, I’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and let's start planning a grad session that actually feels like you.


I’ll bring the camera—you bring the cap and the vibes. 🎓


Talk soon!



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@kncaptures