Picture Perfect: The best spots on UK’s campus for graduation photos

Spring is in the air, the semester is winding down and many seniors are experiencing their final days as undergraduates at the University of Kentucky ahead of Commencement.

Across campus, seniors in suits, white dresses, and caps and gowns can be seen seeking the perfect setting for graduation photos that encapsulate their UK memories before walking across the graduation stage in May.

There are several spots across campus that serve as ideal backdrops for photos:

The steps of Memorial Hall
The UK sign with William T. Young Library in the background
The garden at Maxwell Place
The large UK logo in front of the Gatton Student Center
The Bowman Wildcat statue on Avenue of Champions (when the area is not under construction)
The Social Staircase inside the Gatton Student Center near the Wildcat statue
The trees near University Flats
The signage at Alumni Commons
The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, which requires a photography contract and prior approval

UKNow asked Mark Cornelison, chief photographer of UK Photo, for graduation photo tips.

“Shoots later in the afternoon are always going to have the best light. Many of the cool spots on campus are backlit by the sun until afternoon,” Cornelison said. “Using a photo reflector is a great tool to ‘bounce’ some light on your face when you are facing away from the sun or under a balcony.”

When booking your graduation photos, it can be helpful to have a trained photographer. On the day of, it can be helpful to have a second set of hands to hold caps, shoes and other items.

If you are hoping to get an action shot throwing your cap, Cornelison advised, “flick your wrist in the air and let the cap go. You want it in your photo, so no need for it to be 20 feet in the air.”

Remember when taking your graduation photos, it’s about what is most important to you. Your time at UK is a great accomplishment so celebrate the way that you would like.

Keep on eye on UK’s Instagram @universityofky for grad photo inspiration. Be sure to tag @universityofky for a chance to be featured too. And follow along on social media with #UKGrad.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.