Graduation is an important event in anyone’s life. For many people, it marks the end of a chapter of education, and the beginning of a whole host of new opportunities.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at how you can create a graduation photo album that showcases the best moments of the day, as well as how to compose authentic photographs that people can keep for the rest of their life.
What Is A Graduation Photo Album?
Before we delve deeper into how to create specific parts of a graduation album, let’s take a look at what one should be.
In short, a graduation photo album is a collection of photos – usually compiled to follow the chronology of the day, that capture all the important moments of a graduation ceremony.
Graduation albums are often given as a gift to those who attended, existing as a physical reminder of the event that can be shared with friends and family for years to come.
The photo album is then shared in physical or digital format, depending on your preference.
Physical photo albums are great tangible souvenirs that can be passed down through families, whereas a digital album is a way of keeping these photos in a place that’s easy to share with others.
How To Compose Good Photos For A Graduation?
Before you start compiling your graduation photo album, you want to make sure that you take great photos that can be used to tell the story of the event.
In this section, we’re going to take a look at some tips that can help you to take good photos throughout the graduation ceremony.
1. Camera Choice
Firstly, you’re going to need to make sure you have a good camera.
Although smartphone cameras are always improving, they may not produce the level of quality you’re looking for. You should invest in or borrow a good camera, be it digital or film.
Film cameras will give you a specific style but can be more difficult to develop, whereas digital cameras provide more versatility.
Make sure to pick the right one for the type of photos you’re looking to create.
2. Pay Attention To Lighting
The origin of the word photography literally means “drawing,” or “painting with light.”
Because of this, you should consider the lighting situation of any photo you are composing to be one of the most important factors to keep an eye on.
Whenever you take a photo, ensure that you have adequate lighting, and compose the photo in relation to your subject depending on where the light is.
Make sure to take advantage of any natural lighting, using this to bring out the best in whoever or whatever you are photographing.
3. Pay Attention To Camera Settings
Depending on the environment, you’re going to need to make sure you’re using the correct settings to properly reflect the scene.
This will allow you to compose photos that are clear and aesthetically pleasing.
Let’s say the graduation ceremony you are photographing is taking place outside, in this case, it is a good idea to use the outdoor setting on your camera, as this will ensure that photographs do not come out blurred or saturated with light.
Similarly, if you are working with a lower-light environment, make sure your camera can still pick up all the details that you’re looking for.
4. Create A Narrative
Although you don’t need to worry about compiling photographs until after the ceremony, you should consider the narrative of the night and how you’ll be able to portray this in a series of photos.
This means making sure you get an equal amount of photos across the event, including people arriving, the ceremony itself, and any celebrations after.
A key thing here is to take photos of the most important moments. Take a look around and consider the people in attendance.
Make sure you capture their important moments, as these will become the markers you can use to build an album structure when you get to the compilation stage of the process.
5. Take Multiple Shots
While it’s impossible to take multiple shots of a single moment, you can always take a few shots in a row then pick the best one when.
In some ways, you should consider photography as fishing for good shots. You won’t always hit the target, but if you take five measured shots in a row you’re bound to have one that is worth keeping.
Don’t worry about taking shots that you won’t use, it’s more important to have as much as you can, and then you can simply drop the ones that you don’t like in the future!
How To Compile Your Photo Album
So now that we’ve taken a look at the work you’ll need to do during the ceremony, it’s time to compile our album and shape it into a physical artifact that you can share with others.
Let’s take a look at some of the important steps to take next.
1. Choosing A Theme
First up, you’re going to need to consider the theme of your album. This theme will become your reference point for what you want to eventually use in your album.
Some of the most popular themes include using school colors as a focal point, taking note of graduation caps, or other graduation themes like possible futures for those graduating.
2. Select Photos
Next, you’re going to need to decide which photos to include, and which you are going to discard.
If you followed our previous advice about taking multiple shots, you’re likely to have some photos you won’t want to include.
Simply lay all your photos out before you, and create a pile that you want to keep, and those you want to discard.
3. Organize Your Photos
Now is the time to organize your photos into a narrative.
Make sure it fits with the theme and style that you have already selected, and try to go chronologically through the ceremony so that anybody who is viewing the album will be taken on a journey through the day.
4. Creating A Layout
Now you want to consider how you will compile these photos.
If you’ve decided to create a photo book, make sure you get the materials ahead of time so you work out how many photos per page you want to include.
Many pre-made photo albums come with specific holders for photos, so you can use this as a plan.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to compile a digital photo album, you’ll want to consider how you are storing these photos and how you will present them.
If you’re adding them to a blog post or a website, then you will want to ensure that you compile them in the same way as a book.
Alternatively, if you’re simply looking to send them to others in a folder, you should make sure to place them chronologically.
5. Add Captions And Quotes
Many people choose to add captions or quotes to their photos in order to add a personal touch. Make sure you include quotes from the ceremony, important moments, and/or inspirational quotes.
You can also add some personal messages, especially if the album you’re creating is a gift to a loved one!
Final Thoughts
So that was our short guide on how you can create a graduation photo album. This is the perfect way to commemorate and celebrate your or someone else’s special day.
By following the steps highlighted in this article, you can create an expressive album that captures the very essence of the ceremony.
Whether you’re looking to create a digital album or a physical one, the most important thing is to consider the full scope of what you are creating and attempt to take accurate photos that will capture an accurate representation of the ceremony.
We wish you the best of luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Photos Should I Include In My Graduation Album?
We’d recommend including as many good photos as you can, but it’s important to remember that sometimes less is more. Make sure you include all of the photos that you believe accurately document the event.
Should I Include Photos From Before Or After The Ceremony?
Many people choose to add photos from before or after the ceremony to their photo album. This can help to create a specific narrative, and tell a complete story of the graduation day.
This can include any last-minute preparations, as well as any after-parties or celebrations that may occur.
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
