A graduation party is a backyard event with a short window of good photos before the light drops and the plates pile up. Here’s the checklist we work from.
Before guests arrive
- The display table — baby photos, the diploma, memorabilia, the guest book, the cake. Shoot it clean before anyone leans on it.
- The decor and the banner while it’s straight.
- The graduate, dressed and calm, for a quick portrait — two minutes now beats none later.
- The house and yard set up, wide, for context.
As it fills up
- Family groupings early: graduate with parents, grandparents, siblings, each side of the family.
- The graduate with friend groups — teammates, the band, the neighborhood kids.
- Candids of arrivals, hugs, the food line, kids in the yard.
The set pieces
There’s usually a toast or a few words from a parent, and the cake. Ask the host when, so you’re close with the right lens. Get the graduate’s face during the speech, not just the speaker.
Golden hour and out
If the party runs into the evening, the last hour of light is the time to pull the graduate and immediate family for a few warm frames in the yard. After that it’s candids and the party runs itself.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need for a graduation party?
Two hours covers most backyard parties — setup and portrait, arrivals and groupings, the speech and cake, and a bit of golden hour.
Can you also cover the ceremony earlier that day?
Yes, we often do both — ceremony in the morning or afternoon, party coverage in the evening, delivered as one gallery.
Throwing a party for your graduate? Send us the date and we’ll cover the table, the family and the speeches — and get one real portrait in the bank.