For spring graduations (May–June), we recommend booking by early March to lock in your preferred date. Bay Area peak season fills up fast — Stanford, Berkeley, and Santa Clara graduation weekends are typically fully booked 6+ weeks out.

For senior portraits (high school), August–October is the most popular window for incoming seniors. Winter and early spring offer more flexibility and shorter lead times.

Yes — and we frequently do. We've shot at Stanford, UC Berkeley, Santa Clara, USF, San Jose State, San Mateo, and most Bay Area high school campuses. We're familiar with the iconic landmarks at each (Stanford Oval, Berkeley's Sather Gate, SCU's Mission, etc.) and can plan the route in advance.

One note: some universities require permits or have restrictions on professional photography during graduation weekend. We'll handle the research for you and let you know if anything's needed.

It depends on the package. Mini ($249) and Grad Session ($499) are for the graduate (Grad Session allows up to 3 people if a partner or sibling joins). Grad + Family ($899) and Grad Story ($1,699) include up to 5 people — solo grad, with parents, with siblings, and combinations — all in one session.

If you booked a smaller package and want family added later, we can build a custom add-on. Easiest to talk through in the consultation call.

For college and graduate students: typically your school provides regalia at the graduation announcement / cap-and-gown distribution event. We recommend picking it up at least 1 week before your session.

If your session is before regalia is available, we can sometimes arrange rentals (Stanford / Berkeley / Santa Clara colors), or shoot the non-regalia portraits first and reschedule the cap-and-gown portion. Just flag this on the booking call.

For high school seniors: traditional American senior portraits don't require a cap and gown — most are taken in personal style outfits months before the actual graduation.

We offer professional hair and makeup artist referrals — we work with a trusted team that knows photography (not just everyday glam, which can look heavy on camera). MUA is typically $200–$350 depending on style and lead time.

If you prefer to do your own, our pre-shoot styling guide includes lighting-friendly makeup tips.

Every delivered image is hand-retouched in Capture One and Photoshop by our editorial team. We balance skin tone, smooth lighting transitions, refine wardrobe folds, and clean up environmental distractions — but we never reshape faces or bodies. The goal is a magazine-quality image that still looks unmistakably like you.

This is the same retouching workflow we use for our editorial clients (Vogue-recognized creative direction by Jessie Zhang). It's why our images hold up at print sizes 24×36 and above.

Mini & Grad Session: 5–7 business days.
Grad + Family: 5–7 business days.
Grad Story: priority delivery.

Need it faster? Rush delivery is $50/photo for next-day turnaround.

Yes. Every session includes a private online gallery with integrated print ordering — fine-art prints, framed wall art, and heirloom albums. The Grad Story package includes a print package from your final gallery.

For graduates whose families want to gift framed portraits to grandparents or relatives, we offer styled wall-art packages starting at $450. Available as an add-on at booking or after delivery.

Absolutely. Visit our Family & Milestones portfolio for graduation, senior, and milestone work. For broader editorial range, check our Headshots portfolio.

We also publish a guide on graduation photo ideas covering pose direction, outfit choices, and location selection.