n’Every year, we start getting inquiries for UVA graduation photoshoots before the fall semester is even over! But we only capture grad photoshoots on the Lawn during a 10-week period from mid-March through late-May. And if you were to schedule a session with us on our online booking system, you’t notice right away that there’s only a few hours of availability each day. If we get SO many grad session inquiries each year that we have to turn away some grads, why do we have such a restrictive schedule?!

 

Well, we know that all fourth-years want to look fantastic in their UVA graduation photoshoots, and as professional photographers, we also know a lot about light. So we restrict our grad photos to just two small windows each day during our 10-week “grad season” each year. Let’s talk about why, and what your main options are to choose from!

 

 

Why You Should Schedule Your UVA Graduation Photoshoots in March or Early-April

For our team, grad season officially begins the Monday after Spring Break. The following month is the perfect time for the most eager fourth years to knock out their grad sessions early! For starters, if you schedule your grad session in March or early-April, you’ll have your photos back sooner than if you scheduled the same session later in the Spring! Like all UVA grad photographers, we get extremely busy during the few weeks leading up to Final Exercises, so our editing turnaround time gets a bit longer as UVA’s Graduation Weekend approaches. But not in March and early-April!

 

Plus, you’ll have knocked out your grad session during the post-Spring Break lull, and before having to worry about studying for finals or making plans with your family for grad weekend! You’ll be posting your photos to social media before most of your friends have even scheduled their grad sessions!

 

 

Another advantage that comes with March and early-April UVA graduation photoshoots are that the Lawn is much more empty! Since most students will do their sessions in late-April or May, you’re more likely to have the entire Lawn to yourself with your photographer during these earlier grad sessions! In fact, for both of the above reasons, we’re offering a $50 discount for sessions booked in early April (more on that here). So if you can get your squad together or are going solo, March or Early-April might be the best idea!

 

The only caveat is that sunrise sessions in March and early April can be quite chilly! We always recommend grads bring a jacket to wear for their walk over to the Lawn, and to throw on between shots for morning sessions. And that goes double for morning sessions in the first few weeks after Spring Break!

 

Why You Should Schedule Your UVA Graduation Photoshoots in Late-April or May

As the second week in April begins, things start to take a turn. Mornings on the Lawn aren’t so chilly, and the sun seems to shine just a little bit brighter as Spring comes into full-swing! And of course, once classes end on the first Tuesday in May, it’s suddenly so much easier to schedule that big group photoshoot with the whole squad! Reading days especially book up far in advance, since no one has classes or finals to worry about scheduling around.

 

However, EVERY other fourth year (and their photographer) is also aware of these changes! I can recall mornings in May of past years where even at 7:00 AM, the Lawn was packed with dozens and dozens of students (and their photographers), all fighting for the same few iconic spots on the Lawn and the Rotunda! If you feel really strongly about not having lots of other randos in the background of your grad photos, but still want all the iconic spots, a late-Spring session probably isn’t for you.

 

 

Don’t Wait!

Also, like we mentioned before, a lot of UVA students will wait until the last minute to book their UVA graduation photoshoots (no shame if that’s you 😂). That means availability may be hard to come by with some photographers. In 2019, we reached 100% full capacity and had booked every single slot through Graduation Weekend by only the third week of April! Booking a session in late-April or May can also slow down the turnaround time for your images, depending on your photographer.

 

The exception to all of this is the week between when final exams end and when graduation weekend actually begins (aka “Beach Week”). Since most fourth years use this time to take a vacation with friends or otherwise relax before they graduate, things really tend to empty out during this week, and the Lawn feels more like it did in late-March.

 

Sunrise Grad Session vs. Sunset Grad Session

The last thing to think about when it comes to timing your UVA grad session is whether you’ll aim for a sunrise session or a sunset session! For the HSP Grad team, we only shoot UVA Grad sessions during the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset, as we know that this is when the light is best and is most flattering for our grads! You won’t find ANY midday sessions on our calendar!

 

The best way to decide between sunrise and sunset is this: would you rather A) wake up early, but have a less-crowded Lawn; or, B) get to sleep in, but shoot on a Lawn that’s packed with other students hanging out, studying, throwing the frisbee, walking their dog, etc. in addition to all of the other grad sessions? If the lawn feels crowded during late-April and May sunrise sessions, then during late-April and May sunset sessions, it feels downright packed!

 

Plus, it’s harder to capture the Rotunda when the light is shining right on it at sunset than it is when the light is more behind it, in the morning. For these reasons (and because I, Hunter, am a morning person), I’ve personally only captured sunrise sessions since 2018. But if you’re not a morning person, there’s no shame! My lovely wife Sarah refuses to leave the house before 10:00 AM most mornings, so you won’t catch her at a sunrise session anytime soon! 😂 And when it comes to our Apprentice and Associate teams, they can accommodate either type of session, all season long!

 

 

Want Your UVA Graduation Photoshoot Captured by the Best?

Well, thanks for reading! We know so much about UVA graduation photoshoots because our team has captured more than 1,000 fourth years during their graduation sessions! This makes us UVA and Charlottesville’s #1 Graduation Photographers! 😎

 

If you’d like to learn more, or even book your session with Hunter and Sarah Photography, click here!