The spring season means graduation time, especially if you’re a Morgantown, West Virginia resident! I love seeing the brand new graduates from the university proudly wearing their caps and gowns. I love it even more when I get to photograph these special moments for these seniors! They are ready to take on their next steps in life and excited to see what the future holds. This best friend graduation session at West Virginia University was no exception!
Evelyn reached out to me in July 2024 because she had seen my blog about the best friends session with other 2024 graduates from WVU (Read the full post here!) We’ve been in contact ever since! I wasn’t sure if we would be able to schedule this session due to my being pregnant with twins. However, I’m so glad we found a time that worked for everyone. When we knew the weather was going to be really nice, we jumped on the opportunity to make it happen!
Certain regalia is forbidden at some college graduations, such as extra decorations for caps or stoles and cords that aren’t official from the university. Evelyn wanted to create something special for their portrait session, so she had custom gold and navy stoles made on Etsy to represent the WVU colors. The stoles had a special seal and listed the words “Dental Hygiene” to represent their hard work, receiving their diplomas from the WVU School of Dentistry.
When I encourage my clients to bring their favorite pet to their session, I normally expect to see a dog or maybe a cat, if it’s on a leash. However, Kendra brought her pet guinea pig, Winston! Let’s just say that this was definitely a first for me as a photographer! Her guinea pig did so well and wasn’t camera-shy at all. In addition to her regular cap and gown, she brought her extra handmade cap decorated in light pink with her initials and a tooth outlined in small pearls.
Sidney chose to bring her cute white dog for her pictures. In addition to wearing a white dress with her cap and gown, she also wanted to wear her WVU scrub outfit complete with her loupes and a dental model. One of the best spots on campus for graduation portraits is the pedestrian bridge across University Avenue. The sun sets behind the College of Business and Economics Building, making for some gorgeous light during golden hour.
Evelyn was so excited for everyone to wear their special gold and blue stoles! I love that she also wore her white coat and blue scrubs, along with her loupes. In addition to the pedestrian bridge, the most popular place on campus for graduation portraits is Woodburn Circle, where Woodburn Hall stands. It was one of the first buildings completed after the university was founded in 1867.
You can’t have a best friends graduation session at WVU without some fun group shots! It’s important to always have a strong support group while you’re in school. College is hard enough when you’re studying late at night and cramming for that big test. You need an amazing group of friends to get you through those four years! My graduation photoshoots usually involve a champagne pop. However, the girls decided to do a “Listerine” toast instead!
I loved documenting this best friends graduation session at West Virginia University! The girls were a lot of fun to work with, and I’m excited for their future in dental hygiene! If you’re envisioning graduation portraits like this, reach out soon to find a date on my calendar.
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