What an INCREDIBLE session! Ella’s graduate portraits at Clemson were the perfect celebration of her amazing journey, and I’m still obsessed with how everything came together. From iconic campus locations to meaningful props that told her unique story, this session was everything a senior portrait experience should be: fun, personal, and absolutely stunning!
Ella is graduating with her nursing degree, and from the moment we started planning, I knew this session was going to be special. She didn’t just want standard graduation photos. She wanted to capture ALL the different parts of her Clemson experience: her years of dedication as a nursing student, her love for Clemson football, her sorority sisterhood, and most importantly, the pure joy and celebration of finally reaching this incredible milestone!
We started at Sikes Hall and Tillman Hall because honestly, you can’t have a complete Clemson grad session without these classic spots! The afternoon light was absolutely GORGEOUS on the brick buildings, creating that warm glow that makes everyone look amazing. Ella looked so polished and confident against these timeless academic backdrops, and I knew right away we were capturing something special. These are the kind of portraits you use on LinkedIn, frame for your parents, and look back on in twenty years thinking “wow, I really did that.”
From there, we made our way to Bowman Field, and this is where Ella really started to relax and let her personality shine! With Tillman Hall standing majestically in the background, we captured those quintessential Clemson graduate shots that everyone dreams of. The open space gave us room to experiment with different angles and compositions, and I loved watching Ella get more comfortable and excited with each click of the camera. We got both the classic posed shots her family would love and those more candid, joyful moments that captured her genuine excitement about graduating!
The Carillon Bell tower was our next stop, and it absolutely did not disappoint! The elegant architecture created such a sophisticated backdrop, and these shots had this timeless quality that perfectly captured the significance of her achievement. There’s something about the Carillon that just feels regal and important, you know? Like you’re documenting something really meaningful. And that’s exactly what we were doing!
But here’s where Ella’s session became truly SPECIAL and uniquely hers. She came prepared with props that told the complete story of her Clemson experience, and incorporating them made her portraits so much more personal and meaningful than just standard cap and gown shots!
First, her stethoscope. As a nursing major, that stethoscope represented YEARS of hard work—early morning clinical rotations, late-night study sessions memorizing medications and procedures, the exhaustion and triumph of nursing school. Having it draped around her neck in her cap and gown was so powerful! These shots honored all the dedication that went into earning her nursing degree, and I know they’re the kind of photos that will mean even more as she builds her career helping others. You could see the pride in her eyes when we captured those images!
Then she pulled out her football jersey, and the energy immediately shifted to pure fun and school spirit! Ella wanted to celebrate her love for Clemson football because let’s be real, what’s Clemson without Death Valley?! Those game day memories, the excitement of running down the hill, the traditions—all of that is such a huge part of the Clemson experience. The portraits with her jersey captured that spirited, passionate side of her story, and they’re the kind of photos that will bring back a flood of Saturday memories every time she looks at them!
Her sorority stole came next, representing the sisterhood and community that shaped so much of her college journey. Greek life wasn’t just something she did—it was where she found lifelong friends, learned leadership, and created memories that will last forever. Including her stole acknowledged how important that experience was to her Clemson story, and I loved capturing shots that honored those bonds and that chapter of her life!
We also incorporated champagne throughout the session for some celebratory shots that captured the joy and glamour of this achievement. Because honestly, graduation deserves to be CELEBRATED!
But the absolute BEST part? We saved Tiger Walk in front of the stadium for last, and this is where things got EPIC! Ella brought a bottle of Corona, and we decided to go for it and do something fun and memorable. The energy was building, she was feeling confident and excited, and then she POPPED IT! The surprise and delight on her face, the pure celebration of that moment, I was clicking away capturing every second, and these shots turned out INCREDIBLE!
With Memorial Stadium towering in the background and that genuine happiness radiating through every single frame, these Tiger Walk shots became some of my absolute favorites from the entire session! This wasn’t just a posed photo op. This was an authentic moment of “I DID IT!” celebration, and you can feel that energy in every image. These are the photos that make you smile every time you see them because they capture exactly how it felt to reach this milestone!
By the time we wrapped, Ella had this glow about her—part exhaustion from running around campus, part excitement from popping champagne, but mostly just pure joy and pride in what she’d accomplished. And THAT’S what shows up in these portraits. Not just someone wearing a cap and gown, but someone who worked incredibly hard, made amazing memories, built meaningful relationships, and earned every bit of this celebration!
Ella: Thank you SO much for trusting me to capture this incredible milestone! Your session was absolutely amazing, and I loved how you brought your whole Clemson story to life through these portraits. From nursing student to football fan to sorority sister to champagne-popping graduate—we captured it all! I hope you love these images as much as I loved creating them. Congratulations on your nursing degree, and I know you’re going to do incredible things in your career!
Ready to plan YOUR elite Clemson grad session that celebrates your unique journey? Whether you want classic campus shots or want to incorporate meaningful props and personal touches that tell your story, I’d love to help you create portraits that are authentically YOU! Every graduate has a different story, and your portraits should reflect yours. Let’s capture your Clemson achievement in a way that honors everything you’ve accomplished. Contact me today to book your session!
Let’s celebrate your story!
