Claire’s Springtime Boston Graduation Photos at MIT

A Beautiful Boston Graduation Photoshoot at MIT in April

Okay, get the champagne ready! I had the honor of being Claire’s Boston graduation photographer for her graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and WOW. It’s always a pleasure when I get to take graduation photos at one of my favorite Boston (okay, Cambridge) campuses, and I have no words for how perfect this session was.

Between the beautiful Boston skyline views, the gorgeous columns adorning the MIT campus, and the flowering trees being perfectly in bloom… it doesn’t get much better than this as a grad photographer!

Plus, can we talk about how Claire looks absolutely perfect in every single one of these photos? I mean, just look at that dress!! I nearly let out a gasp when she showed up for our graduation photoshoot because it is just STUNNING. 

Claire and I met up for her Boston graduation photos on a beautiful April day, beginning our shoot on Massachusetts Avenue.  We took advantage of the gorgeous trees blossoming around us as we captured photos all along MIT’s main entrance. We even popped inside the building for a few photos; the lighting was SO gorgeous!!!

From there, we headed to the back of the building, where we got some more photos with Claire’s stunning red MIT stole. (Btw, please don’t ask me how many tourists stopped us during our photoshoot and asked if they could borrow Claire’s MIT stole for their own touristy photo, haha—I guess she just looked THAT good 😉) We finished our shoot walking along Memorial Drive, stopping in front of some very photogenic building and ending Claire’s MIT graduation photoshoot in front of the gorgeous Boston skyline.

I had the best time celebrating Claire’s incredible accomplishment through her graduation photos, and I am so excited to see what she accomplishes next!

Where to Take College Graduation Photos at MIT

If you’re taking graduation photos and want to know where the best photo locations are at MIT, I’m here to share some of my favorites! As a Boston graduation photographer who’s taken hundreds of grad photos at MIT, I know all the best spots.

Main Entrance at 77 Massachusetts Avenue

You simply have to take grad photos here if you’re an MIT grad!! The pillars always look so good in photos. Claire also jumped up on the “Massachusetts Avenue” signage for some photos and I’m obsessed with how those ones came out, too. 

Memorial Lobby

Memorial Lobby inside Building 10 is such an underrated spot for MIT grad photos! The sunlight that comes into the building is gorgeous, and the space is so classy. Major light academia vibes.

Outside Lobby 10/Killian Court

The steps outside Lobby 10 are another excellent location for grad photos at MIT. Plus, if you walk down the steps you’re right on Killian Court, and can walk around to get some photos with the dome in the background.

Memorial Drive/Boston Skyline

In my opinion, Memorial Drive is the perfect location to finish off your MIT graduation photos. There are some beautiful buildings along the walkway, plus you can cross the street for a truly incredible look at the Boston skyline. It feels fitting to commemorate your time at MIT by making sure your Boston grad photos include this amazing view! 

You might need to fight with the wind a little, but since you went to school in Boston you’re definitely used to that 😉

What to Wear for MIT Graduation Photos: Tips from a Boston Grad Photographer

Wondering what to wear for your grad photos at MIT? Here are some of my best tips as a Boston grad photographer!

Traditionally, many of my grads choose to wear a white dress. It’s the classic graduation outfit! However, there’s lot of room here to show your personal style. Whether you go with a short dress or a longer one (like Claire), there’s plenty of room to play with length, cut, texture, and more. If you like the traditional route, look for a white dress that feels like you!

There’s also no hard-and-fast rule that says you have to wear white! At the end of the day, I’m always going to recommend wearing something you feel excited about. It’s that something colorful, then go for it! Or go for the middle ground; many of my grads opt for colors like pastel pink or light blue.

For a more masculine outfit, a button-down shirt, a tie, and dress pants is always a great option. Add a suit jacket if you want to get fancy, or swap the dress pants for jeans to keep it casual!

Typically, I recommend avoiding super bright colors or crazy patterns, mostly so we can keep the attention on YOU and the amazing accomplishment of graduating college!

For even more tips on what to wear (or what not to wear) and more advice on having the best graduation photoshoot ever, check out my ultimate guide to the perfect college graduation photos!

Are College Graduation Photos Worth it?

As a Boston graduation photographer, I get asked this question a lot: are graduation photos worth it? My answer is obviously YES, but let me tell you why!

Graduating college is an incredible accomplishment, and it deserves to be celebrated. Planning a graduation photoshoot is one of the best ways to commemorate the time you’ve spent at your university earning your degree. You should be SO proud of yourself for reaching the end of your college journey. A professional photoshoot honors that accomplishment, allowing you the space to congratulate and celebrate yourself—and take photos that will last a lifetime. 

I’m not just saying this because I’m a graduation photographer. As someone who recently graduated college myself, hiring someone to take my graduation photos was one of the best things I ever did. To learn more about what it was like having my photos taken as a graduation photographer, check out this Instagram post I made about my experience!

I graduated three years ago, but I still look back at my own graduation photos all the time. They’re a great reminder of not only how amazing it felt to graduate, but also what that stage in my life felt like. They take me right back to how much fun I had in the college, and all the highs and lows that went into earning my degree.

You’re never going to regret taking graduation photos. But you might regret not taking them. So don’t make that mistake!!

Boston Graduation Photographer

Like I said, you don’t want to regret not taking graduation photos. So make sure to book your graduation photoshoot sooner rather than later!!!

In case you’re new here, my name is Kayla and I would LOVE to help you celebrate this amazing accomplish and be your graduation photographer. If you’re looking for someone to take your Boston graduation photos, you’ve found her!!!

Ready to get started? Fill out my contact form and let’s chat about how we can make your graduation photoshoot magical!

Or if you want to see another gallery of MIT graduation photos first, check out Kathleen’s MIT graduation photos!