Favorite Locations, Best Light, and How We Make Your Session Personal
Graduating from Sac State is a huge milestone. For a lot of students, it represents years of hard work, long nights, growth, sacrifice, friendships, and memories that will stay with you forever.
We never want your grad session to feel like just walking around campus taking random photos. We want it to feel like your story.
Every student has a different college experience, and the best grad sessions reflect that.
Our Favorite Sac State Grad Photo Locations
There are the classic locations everyone knows, and then there are the hidden spots that photograph beautifully when you know how to use light and timing correctly.
Sacramento state
The Classic Must-Have Spots
for graduation sessions
The Quad
The constantly changing mural walls
The mural walls are especially fun because they are always changing. We love when students connect with a mural that reflects their personality, major, culture, or interests because it instantly makes the session feel more personal.
The Guy West Bridge
The Guy West Bridge gives us some of the most cinematic images on campus, especially during golden hour.
The Sac State sign at sunset
And the Sac State sign right before sunset? Always iconic.
The Arboretum
The Less Obvious Spots We Love
Some of our favorite images actually come from places most people walk past every day.
A few hidden gems we love:
Light pockets between buildings
Architectural lines around campus
The artwork in front of the main office
The new Hornet sign
Small corners with beautiful evening light
A huge part of our job is knowing how to find great light, even in places that do not look exciting at first glance. Sometimes the best image from the entire session happens in a random pocket of light most people would never notice.
The Best Time for Grad Photos
Our grad sessions are usually pretty extensive and typically last around 2–3 hours.
We intentionally plan sessions so the final hour lands during golden hour because that is when the light becomes soft, warm, and cinematic.
Sacramento heat can get intense during graduation season, especially in May and June, so most sessions start later in the evening. The softer evening light also helps campus feel calmer and more beautiful in photos.
Golden hour at Sac State is honestly hard to beat.
How We Make Your Session Feel Personal
One of the biggest things we ask students is:
“What did Sac State mean to you?”
That question changes everything.
Because your grad session should not just show where you went to school. It should show what this chapter of your life felt like.
Some questions we love asking:
- Did you work on campus?
- Where did you spend most of your time?
- What places will make you nostalgic after graduation?
- What part of your college journey are you most proud of?
- What spots remind you of this chapter in your life?
The answers to those questions help us build a session that actually feels meaningful.
Bringing Your Personality Into the Session
We always want to get the classic grad photos… but we also want to make the session feel like you.
Did you:
Play sports?
Join clubs?
Spend every day in the library?
Work on campus?
Have a favorite coffee spot?
Build strong friendships during college?
Those little details are what make sessions memorable.
We can make your session fun, editorial, emotional, playful, cinematic, or relaxed depending on your personality.
The best grad photos happen when students stop trying to “pose perfectly” and start celebrating who they actually are.
Including Family Makes It Even More Meaningful
One thing we especially love doing — particularly because we work with so many first-generation college students — is inviting parents, siblings, family members, mentors, or anyone who played an important role in the journey to join for a few photos.
Those images end up meaning so much more years later.
Graduation is not only about the student. It is also about the people who helped support them, encourage them, and believe in them along the way.
There is something really emotional about photographing the people who helped make the dream possible.
Let’s Celebrate This Chapter Properly
Your college years are such a unique season of life.
Our goal is always to create images that feel authentic to who you are while still giving you beautiful, timeless portraits you will love years from now.
We will absolutely get the classic shots.
But we also want to create something that feels personal, emotional, and unforgettable.
College Graduation Session Pricing
College Graduation Session
Any California campus within 50 miles of Sacramento
Services
2–3 hour photo session
Outfit changes & prop coordination (caps, gowns, cords, diplomas, pets, friends & more)
Unlimited campus locations
*Additional Travel Fees
For campuses located 50+ miles from Sacramento, a $250 travel fee applies.
Custom destination options are available, inquire for details.
