YALE GRADUATION
2025
What (and who) do you want to remember years from now?
The countdown to graduation is on & while there are a ton of deadlines before you (did you order your cap & gown?), I encourage you to take a minute to think about what you'll miss a few months from now. Unfortunately, graduating also means saying goodbye to dear friends and the beautiful campus that's become home. We are here to help you capture both in photographs you'll take with you and look back on for years to come- whether your favorite times are hanging out in the Buttery or in the stacks, we've got you!
PHOTOSHOOT
Your college experience hasn't been the same as anyone else's- your photographs shouldn't be either! We offer custom photoshoots meaning we will design the photoshoot around you- and you certainly don't have to have the same pictures as everyone else. A few things to consider:
Which iconic Yale locations mean the most to you? Where else have you spent the most time?
Your
Do you need a new headshot? If so, we can add that to your session!
Do you want to do your photoshoot alone or would you like to add in friends/team mates/ suite mates/ etc.?
When would you like to take pictures? We recommend taking photos as early as possible (don't worry- we have caps, gowns & stoles for you!).
Do you want to add any props to your shoot? A soccer ball? Balloons? Your thesis?
Let's Get Started!
scheduling
The most important thing is to get it on the calendar! From there we can come up with ideas and make it as creative- or straightforward- as you like. We schedule photoshoots at the beginning & end of the day to ensure the best light. Mornings are best for photoshoots without other people around, evenings are often easier if you're scheduling a group. There are a variety of appointment times, but please don't reserve a time until you know it will work.
We will leave gaps in the calendar in case we need to reschedule due to bad weather.
Or give us a call at 475-350-7727.
Step 1:
Click here to reserve your time!
PLANNING
We want these photos to reflect you and your time on campus, so planning is an important part. We first encourage you to think about what you would like to remember and then begin collecting inspiration shots to give us a sense of your style. One great place to do this is on Pinterest. The studio's Pinterest boards are a great starting point. We'll go over these images on your planning call, but have fun with it! Send us a link to your board when you're ready.
Click here to see our Pinterest boards!
Step 2:
PREP CALL
We'll find a time to chat prior to your photoshoot so we can go over your ideas & discuss the inspiration shots. We'll create a plan for your photoshoot and you can ask any questions during the call. Note that we have caps, gowns & stoles for each of the colleges, so you don't have to worry about not having your gown in time or ironing it (by the way- steaming is much better than ironing on the gowns!). We'll also go over having friends join you, advice to give them for wardrobe, etc. and more.
Step 3:
Click here to set up your Prep Call.
PHOTOSHOOT
We will take a walk around campus, shooting as we go. While we will roughly follow the plan we came up with on the call, please let us know if there is anything you think of along the way. This is a collaborative process!
The session will last about an hour- after which we'll go back to the studio, download your photos, cull & do a rough edit of the images before showing them to you on our call!
Step 4:
REVEAL CALL
After the photoshoot we'll set up a time to go through the photos so you can select the images you would like! Five images were included with your package. You are welcome to order more if you like, but there is no pressure to do so.
We will also show you any print products you may be interested in during the call. We work with some of the world's most innovative printers to ensure anything you order through us is of the highest quality.
Step 5:
Click here to access your call.
make it
Special
What can we add on to your session to make it perfect for you? Here are a few ideas- let us know!
- Add professional hair & makeup styling
- Add a friend or group of friends!
- Add an additional location
- Add balloons, a cake or cupcakes
- Add champagne
*Note: Additions may incur an additional fee.
I've literally spent my entire life on college campuses. My father worked at universities my whole life and I married a professor who teaches Chemical Engineering at Yale. Yale has been home to me for the past 20 years. I am a fellow at Morse and currently have two kids in Hopper. Having been a part of the university community for so long means I can help you navigate the best ways to get the photographs you want. Let me know what you're looking for and we'll get started!
Hi, I'm karissa.
a yale mom & morse fellow.
“Karissa combines creativity & warmth with professionalism, planning and responsiveness. She took beautiful and artistic photos of my daughter that I will forever treasure.”
- Dana
RECENT SESSIONS
Can you help me figure out what to wear?
Absolutely! During our planning call (which usually takes place via Zoom) we'll go over the different locations and looks you'd like to capture. We'll talk about wardrobe for each of the looks. For the one hour photoshoot, we can usually do 1-2 looks, for the longer session, we can obviously incorporate more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include friends in my session?
Of course! Your session is your time however you want to spend it. Some students schedule the session and then divide the cost among their friends- others do the photoshoot alone and add their friends at the beginning or the end. The more people we include the more efficient we need to be so I generally recommend adding more time for groups of 5 or more.
Are photos included in the packages?
Great question! We simplified our packages this year to include 5 photos with your session fee. Each package includes your planning call, your photoshoot, a reveal call, and five hand-retouched photographs delivered digitally. Note that, during your reveal call, you are welcome to order more images, as well as prints and wall art.
What about the weather?
Cloudy days are actually ideal for photoshoots, but rain (obviously) is not. If rain is forecast, we will cancel the photoshoots about 24 hours out (the weather in CT often changes so we don't cancel sooner). We try to leave time in our schedule for rescheduled photoshoots, but it can get tricky close to graduation, so we encourage you to do your photoshoot earlier.
Is hair & makeup included with these sessions?
Hair & makeup styling is not included with the session fee, though you may add it on for an additional cost. If you choose to add a stylist, we will begin the session in our New Haven studio where the stylist is set up and then go to campus for the photoshoot.
Can we do the photoshoot on graduation weekend?
No, unfortunately graduation weekend simply isn't conducive to a thoughtful photoshoot due to the number of people on campus (all trying to get photos in the same spot). Graduation weekend is perfect for snapshots and some lifestyle images, but we want your photographs to be thoughtful and beautiful, so we no longer do photoshoots that weekend.
The gift that keeps on giving!
Who do you need gifts for?
Prints make great gifts for parents & grandparents!
ALBUMS & PRINTS
We place as much value on how your photographs are printed as in how we capture & edit them. We partner with the best boutique printers in the world and use different printers for different products to ensure the highest quality for every piece produced. Here are our favorite products for graduation photos:
Prints
The Frame Box
YaleAlbum
Our museum-grade prints are treasured for their quality and longevity. They are designed to resist both fading and humidity to ensure your memories are keepsakes for years to come.
Gallery Frames are beautiful, leather-bound boxes with clear acrylic faces. Each box holds a set of matted prints and the front image may easily be changed out for an entirely new look. The perfect desktop or coffee table keepsake.
Our favorite new product! We pair the photographs from your photoshoot with photographs of Yale from our fine art collection- and can even add some of your favorite snapshots from your time on campus. The album is printed on beautiful, handmade paper and produced by artists in Italy. A true custom keepsake!
PRINTS
THE FRAME BOX
THE YALE ALBUM
