Taylor’s Tennessee State University Graduation Photos in Nashville, TN
A Spring Nashville Graduation Photoshoot at Tennessee State University
Go tigers!! As a Nashville-based graduation photographer, I was so excited to make the short trek over to the Tennessee State University campus to photograph Taylor’s graduation photos. Keep reading to learn all about her Nashville graduation photoshoot and some top tips from a Nashville graduation photographer!!
The morning was chilly but bright at TSU, and when Taylor and I met up we soon realized we had campus almost completely to ourselves. One of the many perks of getting your grad photos done early!! As we walked through campus, Taylor and I chatted about her college experience and how excited she was to graduate. I definitely can’t blame her; there’s nothing like walking across that stage knowing you will never have an 8am class ever again.
Taylor brought her mom along for her graduation photoshoot, which I always encourage!! It’s so helpful to have a parent, friend, or significant other on hand to help carry any props or outfit changes and, of course, to help hype you up. Plus, it was so fun to show both Taylor and her mom a little sneak peek of her photos on my camera during the shoot and see how excited they both were.
I loved exploring the TSU campus with this beautiful graduate. Graduation photoshoots in Nashville are always so much fun, and I can’t wait for even more grad photos at all the beautiful college campuses in middle Tennessee this season!!
Personalizing Your Nashville Graduation Photoshoot; Tips from a Nashville Graduation Photographer
One thing that stood out to me about Taylor’s graduation photoshoot was how she found ways to personalize her session by including props from her college experience. As a graduation photographer, I always love to see my grads find ways to make their photos unique to them!!
Because Taylor has been studying to be a dental hygienist, we were able to work some fun dental-themed props into her TSU grad photos. Instead of champagne, we made use of mouthwash for some fun photos. I kept joking that Taylor could 100% be a Listerine model!! I mean, how does anyone look so perfect while holding mouthwash??
In addition to the mouthwash, we also had some of Taylor’s tools from her dental journey and a giant stack of textbooks to make the photos complete. I loved incorporating these props into her grad photos because they made the photos just scream TAYLOR.
If you’re planning your Nashville graduation photos and trying to figure out how you can make your photoshoot stand out, here are some of my favorite ways of personalizing your graduation photos:
Use creative props
Much like how Taylor brought along items related to her dental degree, feel free to bring along any creative props to your session! You can bring things that are related to your degree, or just any props that express your personality or things that were important to you from your time at college. For example, if you’re an English major or just love to read, you might bring a stack of your favorite books. If you’re a college athlete, you can bring equipment from your sport like a ball or a racquet,
Bring along a loved one
I love when college grads bring a best friend, a significant other, or a family member to their session! Not only is this helpful for having someone to help touch up your hair/makeup or hype you up during the session, it’s so fun to have someone important to you jump in a couple photos with you during your shoot. Or maybe you and your bestie can even do a joint graduation photoshoot!
Experiment with outfits
A fun way to show your personality in your college graduation photos is through the outfit that you wear under your cap and gown. I always love a classic white dress, but you can also switch things up by picking an outfit that isn’t white, or by wearing an outfit other than a dress that feels more you. Taylor wore scrubs for part of her session to represent her program and career!
You can even bring personality through the cap and gown itself; for an idea of what I mean, check out Sophia’s pink cap and gown photoshoot!
If you want even more ideas on planning your college graduation photos, check out my Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Graduation Photos or get inspiration for your graduation photoshoot by looking at more photos HERE!
A Nashville Graduation Photographer’s Advice on Finding The Best Spots at Your School for Photos
When Taylor and I were chatting about taking her grad photos, one of her concerns was that her campus wasn’t super photogenic. But we ultimately settled on shooting there because a) it is where she went to school and b) I made a promise that I can make any college campus look good!!! And I meant it—beautiful grad photos on ANY campus are more than possible.
The thing is, all you need are a couple spots with potential to make your graduation photos shine. Never underestimate the power of a few well-placed columns or a unique wall of reflective windows!!! Every college campus in Nashville has the potential for beautiful graduation photos.
If you’re not sure if your campus is pretty enough for grad photos, I encourage you to look a little closer. I promise you can find some great spots, especially with the help of a photographer with a good eye 😉
I think Taylor and I were pretty successful in making TSU look beautiful, but don’t just take my word for it—look through all of our photos and see for yourself!
Book Your Nashville Graduation Photographer
Are you looking for the perfect photographer to capture your Nashville college graduation photos? Well, you’ve come to the right place!! I’m a Nashville-based graduation photographer who’s photographed over 100 different college graduates at campuses all across the East Coast, including grad photos at Belmont, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee State University. I’m passionate about making graduation photos fun and memorable so you can look back at this special time in your life with beautiful photos that you love.
If you’re ready to book graduation photos in Nashville or beyond, fill out my contact form HERE and let’s talk about how we can bring your dream graduation photoshoot to life!
