NC State Couple's Grad Session

For this grad session, I photographed Ashtin and Ryan, who met here at NC State 4 years ago, the first week of their freshman year! It was a gorgeous day and we had a great time walking around campus and snapping pics at their favorite spots. We even walked all the way over to the dorms where they met. I love when clients include friends & family in their sessions and it was an honor to capture these two together before they both graduate next weekend!

Graduates in red robes stand close together in stone archway during commencement.

Graduates in red robes look up at tall white bell tower on graduation day.

Graduates in red robes toss caps in celebration against stone building wall.

NC State Memorial Belltower

Of course, we had to start out with some classic shots at the bell tower. I absolutely LOVE this panoramic shot I got of them walking up the steps!

Graduate in red robe and white dress poses joyfully in stone doorway.

Graduate in red cap and gown poses confidently against dark doorway.

Two graduates in red commencement robes sharing a tender moment together in a garden setting.

Two graduates in bright red robes and honor cords standing on brick steps near a historic building.

We headed out on our walk through campus, stopping at all the green patches in the sea of bricks.

Graduate in red academic regalia with gold honors cord smiling outdoors on campus.

Graduates in red ceremonial robes embracing on a brick walkway with trees in background.

Graduate in red commencement robe sitting on brick wall with diploma and flowers in background.

Couple in red graduation robes sharing an intimate moment against a brick wall outdoors.

These photos are probably my favorite of the whole session! I just love how the light is hitting the trees in the background and the way this walkway is perfectly framed! I shot these while standing under a tunnel next to Brooks Hall.

Graduates strolling hand-in-hand down sunny brick pathway in red academic regalia.

Graduates walking together on tree-lined brick path in red commencement robes.

Graduates in red robes walking together down tree-lined campus path during golden hour.

Graduate in bright red graduation regalia smiles while walking on a brick pathway surrounded by greenery.

Graduate wearing medals and red graduation gown walks confidently down a tree-lined campus path.

Graduate in red academic regalia walking along a sunlit brick pathway with trees in the background.

Graduates in red commencement robes sitting together on a brick wall under blooming trees.

Graduate in red regalia and academic cords smiling in front of flowering bushes.

Graduate in red commencement gown sitting on stone wall with lush garden background.

We found a few paths with gorgeous plants to stop for a few photos before we got to their old dorms. It's amazing how big campus is, with so many little paths and cut throughs. I went to NC State as well and had never been down this way!

Graduates in matching red commencement robes embrace on brick pathway surrounded by spring foliage.

Graduates in red caps and gowns pose together wearing academic honors and medallions.

Graduates in red academic regalia and caps stand together on brick pathway with trees in background.

Finally, we reached our destination: the quad between Bagwell, Berry, and Becton halls where Ryan & Ashtin met! I LOVE these sweet pictures of them on the bench swing.

Graduates in red commencement robes share a moment together on wooden swing outdoors.

Graduates in red commencement robes share an intimate moment on a swing in front of a brick building.

Graduate couple in red and khaki attire share a tender moment on a wooden swing.

Two graduates in red caps and gowns walking through a brick archway on graduation day.

We spent some time towards the end of our session getting mostly individual shots of each of them by these arches.

Graduate in red commencement robe and gold stole poses against brick archway with medal.

Graduate wearing glasses and red graduation gown poses against brick wall with academic regalia.

This is another one of my favorites! The best photos often come from the second half of the session, because everybody's all warmed up and has had time to get comfortable in front of the camera!

Graduate in red commencement robe holds diploma and poses under brick archway.

Graduate with glasses smiles while wearing academic regalia against brick background.

Graduate in red commencement robe poses with diploma against brick wall.

Graduate holding red diploma folder poses in commencement attire against brick background.

Graduate descending stairs in red graduation gown while holding diploma.

Graduate in white dress poses with red diploma cover against brick wall during graduation photoshoot.

Graduate in formal attire holds red diploma cover while leaning on metal railing outdoors.

Graduate in red cap and gown throws graduation cap in the air against brick building background.

Graduate in red graduation gown tosses cap in the air during celebratory photo.

Graduate in red gown strikes playful pose on brick pathway during graduation photos.

Graduate in red gown and khaki pants poses confidently on brick pathway during ceremony.

We spent our last few minutes together grabbing some classic cap toss pictures! I absolutely love the less traditional "toss your cap at the camera" pose. It definitely takes a few tries and lots of throwing the cap back and forth to get the perfect shot, but it's worth it!

I would LOVE for you to book a shoot like this if you're graduating! Let me follow you around to your favorite spots, reminiscing on the last 4 years of your life. It's such a great way to close off this chapter and open up the next, whatever that is for you!

I'm always open to family, friends, or partners coming along and I loved shooting with a graduating couple! However, I will say that for groups of grads, we will need at least 2 hours if you want to move around to different locations on campus and get individual shots of each person. This one hour session was tight even with just 2 grads and we could've gone much longer and gotten a wider variety of photos if we'd had time!

To book your grad shoot, submit an inquiry, or go back to my main site, click the links below!