+ why are you offering photos for free?

While COVID-19 is my main motivation for free grad photos, I believe there are systemic issues within higher education. College students pay a ton for education, housing, and basic necessities just to survive through college.

I want future college grads to celebrate a major milestone in their life without having to worry about the cost associated with graduation photos.

+ is there a catch to this?

Yes — a very small catch. If you decide to book a grad session with me, you allow me to use the photos I’ve taken for use on social media pages and on my website.

As a side note, I will not be profiting off your images. I only use the photos to "advertise" my services (which are free anyway) on my website and maybe my social media pages. This benefits everyone involved!

+ do you have a portfolio i can look at?

Yeah! I pretty much only do grad photos these days, so the homepage of my website acts as my main portfolio.

Also, I have a bunch of photos just randomly scattered throughout my website, so feel free to browse!

+ can i arrange a session for my child?

No. I know you want only the best for your child, but I want to be in direct contact with whoever is in the session. That way there are no gaps in communication. Share my website and have them fill out the form.

+ where are you based out of?

During grad season, I live out of hotels and Airbnbs, so I'm not based out of any specific area. This gives me flexibility to do grad photos at multiple schools in California.

During the off-season, I live somewhere in SoCal. Previously I've lived in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange. Not sure what SoCal city I'll be in next!

+ what colleges/universities are eligible?

As much as I would love to spread the love around, only 4-year universities and colleges in California are eligible.

+ what about high schools or community colleges?

No. Unfortunately, adding those schools would extremely overwhelm me.

+ i'm currently taking classes remotely. why are schools outside of california excluded?

It comes down to my capacity and my availability. Lots of people are taking classes remotely in California while attending a school in a different state. If I made grad photos free for out-of-state students, it would be extremely overwhelming for me.

+ what schools have you photographed at?

I have experience at all nine undergraduate UC campuses, about half of the CSU system, and a handful of private universities.

Here's the full list:

• University of California, Davis (UCD)
• University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
• University of California, Irvine (UCI)
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• University of California, Merced (UCM)
• University of California, Riverside (UCR)
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
• University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
• University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)
• California State University, East Bay (CSUEB)
• California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
• California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
• California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA)
• California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB)
• California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
• California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB)
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP)
• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)
• Chico State
• Fresno State
• Sacramento State
• San Diego State University (SDSU)
• San Francisco State University (SFSU)
• San José State University (SJSU)
• Sonoma State University (SSU)
• Stanislaus State University
• University of San Diego (USD)
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of the Pacfiic (UoP)
• University of Redlands (UofR)
• California Baptist University (CBU)
• Pepperdine University
• Chapman University
• Santa Clara University (SCU)
• Concordia University Irvine (CUI)
• Stanford University

Note: This is just a list of all the schools I've been to. Even if your university isn't on this list, it doesn't necessarily mean I can't travel there.

+ do you do other kinds of photography besides graduation?

Not anymore. I genuinely like graduation photography, so I stick with that now.

+ how do i get started with scheduling?

This year, bookings wil run through my Instagram page. When bookings open for your school, I will post stories with links to the booking form. These dates will be announced in advance on my Instagram, so you won't be caught off guard.

Last year, I had a different booking system where people would fill out a form on my website. But filtering through all those emails was extremely overwhelming and stressful. Using my Instagram will be more efficient for me.

+ what times are available for sessions?

I only offer times in the late afternoon and early evening. I'm not a morning person, and even if I were to do morning sessions, it would be 30 minutes after sunrise (for good lighting). I'm talking like 6am in the morning, and I know you probably don't want that.

I schedule my last session about 15-30 minutes before sunset and photograph for about 3 hours each day. Here's an example day:

Let's say sunset is 7:45pm, and I have three 1-hour individual sessions.

• My first session would be scheduled for 4-5pm.
• My next session would be scheduled for 5:15-6:15pm.
• My last session would be scheduled for 6:30-7:30pm.

Note: Due to the limited amount of light during fall quarter/semester, I usually only schedule 1 session per day.

+ how can i prepare for my grad session?

I've compiled an extensive list of tips that I've gathered throughout the 8 years I've been doing this. You can find them here.

+ how does choosing on-campus photo shoot locations work?

Two days before your session, I will ask where you want to do grad photos, and you'll rank those choices from most wanted to least. I will then come up the order of the locations, that way we can try to hit all your locations as efficiently as possible.

Also, I don't like taking responsibility for shoot locations because this wasn't my college experience — it was yours. You probably have a general idea of where you've hung out on-campus and where your favorite spots are.

However, I understand that you might want the most popular locations, and that's totally fine. I do recommend taking a look at Pinterest or even just doing a simple Google search to see where people have previously taken graduation pictures.

I also have location guides for some of the campuses that I regularly shoot at. Definitely take a look if your school is on there, and if you're undecided.

+ can i extend the time of my session?

Generally speaking, no. If you are an able-bodied person, you are expected to stick with the following times:

• Individual grad: 1 hr
• 2-3 grads: 1.5 hrs
• 4-6 grads: 2 hrs

If you genuinely believe you need extra time because of your disability, please let me know when you inquire.

+ do you have props i can use?

If needed, I have a graduation cap that you can use for throwing and holding. To keep things sanitary, wearing the cap is not allowed.

+ can i do my session somewhere else besides my campus?

No. I used to allow this in the past, but within the past few years, there has been a huge demand for my services.

Basically, if we end up doing our session somewhere besides your college campus, then I'm unable to schedule someone after/before your session. The whole point of why I'm doing this is to accommodate as many grads as I can.

There are a few schools that are exceptions to this rule.

• Cal Poly – Terrace Hill Open Space
• UC San Diego – Scripps Pier
• USC – Exposition Park Rose Garden

Lastly, I will allow grads to do their session on campuses that aren't their own. For example, if you're currently taking classes remotely back home in Los Angeles but go to UC Berkeley, you can take photos at UCLA.

+ can i bring my pet?

Yes. Feel free to bring your dog, cat, bird, or any other animal friend to your session!

+ can i bring my parents and/or friends?

Yes. Your parents and/or friends are more than welcome to jump in for photos.

+ can i book more than 1 session?

No. Due to high demand, I'm no longer allowing anyone to book a 2nd session with me.

+ when i was an undergrad, i did a session with you previously. i'm now graduating with my graduate degree. can I do a session with you?

Yes, if you're graduating from a professional school or with a graduate degree, your session is free.

+ can i bring an extra outfit to change into?

Yes, you are allowed an extra outfit change. Just be aware that most campus buildings are closed on weekends, and you might not be able to change somewhere that's private.

In the past, some people have changed in secluded parts of campus, like between trees or behind bushes.

Note: Changing into your graduation gown doesn't count as an outfit change.

+ what if rain is scheduled in the forecast?

About five days out, forecasts are accurate about 75% of the time, so that's when I'll start looking at the weather for your school. Anything beyond that is premature, but if there's a weather pattern (e.g., 7 days of rain in a row), then I'll take the forecast more seriously.

If it's two days before your session, and multiple weather websites are saying that it will rain, then I will email you some rescheduling options. I usually don't schedule morning sessions, so assuming you're free, I'll reschedule you to a morning on a different day.

When it comes to checking the weather, AccuWeather and DarkSky are my go-to apps.

+ what if it's really hot the day of our session?

Generally speaking, I don't cancel sessions because of hot weather — unless the weather is abnormally hot, like exceeding 107°F (42°C).

If the temperature exceeds 95°F (35°C), then I will give you the option to reschedule your session to the morning, when it's cooler. However, the session time is extremely early. I'm talking like 6 or 7am right when the sun is up. I'm not a morning person, which is why I don't schedule mornings in the first place, but I will accommodate those that might be uncomfortable in the heat.

For context, the hottest weather I've ever done grad photos in was 110°F (43°C) at UC Davis, and I had a successful session despite the heat. Everyone's comfort level is going to vary. Someone who goes to UC Riverside might be used to the heat, while someone who attends UC San Diego might not enjoy themselves.

+ will you show me photos on your camera during the session?

Yes, but occasionally. It's a waste of time to show you photos all the time. The less I do that, the more time I can spend shooting.

+ do you give direction on posing?

Yes! People have told me before that they prefer me to be the director. It's actually a lot easier for me to physically show you how to pose, so I will actually demonstrate a lot of the poses for you, and you'll mirror them.

If you have poses of your own that you want to do, just let me know the day of your session, and you can even show me examples on your phone.

For group shots, since I can't really showcase poses, I will give you instructions on what to do. For example, you might all hold hands and walk down the street while looking at each other.

+ how long do you spend at each location?

I'm a natural light photographer, and don't have any extra equipment besides my camera. So, I tend to be a pretty efficient, and I'll typically spend 5-10 minutes at each spot, and then move on. Of course, with groups, I'll spend a little longer, so we can get group shots in along with your individual photos.

That said, it all comes down to how busy your school is during grad season. For example, there are certain locations that will require us to wait in line. I will try my best to make this the first spot (that way you can wait in line before we start), but sometimes it's inevitable — especially if your campus has a bunch of popular spots.

There's also the issue of people in the background. On weekdays, there's a chance that people might just be in the way as they're walking between classes. Of course, we'll have to wait until people clear the area, so we can try to get clean shots.

+ can i get a headshot done during my session?

Yes! This is not something that's not top of mind for me during the session, so please just remind me. We'll find a neutral spot without a lot distracting elements in the background and take a super quick photo without any extra grad apparel.

+ is it true you play music during sessions?

If a friend of your's recommended me, yes I do! Just so we can keep things more lively and energetic throughout your session.

You'll have a choice of the following genres: EDM, hip-hop, R&B, or K-pop. Click here for the vibes I go for.

+ when will i get photos back?

As of right now, I'm predicting a 1 to 2 week turnaround. If I get busier, that will increase to 3 weeks.

Other photographers may offer faster turnarounds because they do photography as their full-time job and have more time for editing. For me, I work another job in addition to this. Also, I spend a lot of time just driving between campuses since I hit up most major universities in California.

+ how will i get the photos?

I use an online digital gallery called Pic-Time. You can easily download your photos off there and share your gallery with anyone using this system. It's extremely intuitive and way better than using Google Drive or Box, since it can lag when previewing large images.

They have a few demo galleries, so you can get a feel for how it works.

+ how many photos will i get?

It depends on what campus you go to and how efficient we are when we take photos. For example, USC's campus is pretty small, and we can hit anywhere between 5-6 locations in one hour. While a bigger, more spread out campus, like UC Santa Cruz, we can realistically only do 2-3 locations in one hour.

So, at the very minimum, I give out 50 photos for individual sessions. For groups, you can multiply by the number of people in your session (e.g., 3 grads // 150 photos).

To be clear, that's the minimum. I've had individual sessions where they got 100+ photos because the campus wasn't crowded. My grad was well-prepared for their session, and we got through all our locations quickly and efficiently. I do not cap the amount of photos I give out.

+ can i choose the photos that get edited?

No, sorry. Part of being a photographer is curating a gallery of photos for you. Trust me though, you don't want to filter through hundereds of photos.

An average session for me is anywhere between 500 to 1000 photos (no joke). Imagine if you had to go through all of that. It would probably take you hours, when that time could be better spent studying for an upcoming midterm or working on a paper.

So, it's better for me to take care of it. Don't worry though, I choose the best ones, and my grads are generally pleased with this approach.

You can expect pictures from all the spots we took photos at and most poses. Additionally, for groups, there will be a mix of photos as a group along with individual photos.

+ why do you not edit all the photos?

There are a lot of photos that you probably don't want to see. Photos of you blinking, hair in your face, random people in the background and test photos that I take — I'll leave those out.

+ can you edit my photos a certain way?

No. Please take a look at the photos on my portfolio. My style is fairly consistent and reflects the optimism of graduation in a cheerful and lively way.

That said, you may not like my style, so hire someone whose style you like.

+ what's your editing process?

To start, I'll cull your photos — meaning, I'll delete duplicates and get rid of the bad photos. That takes around 1-2 hours.

Then, I'll edit using Lightroom Classic. First, I'll apply a preset to all the photos. This is my own preset that I use for all my sessions. I like natural colors with some boldness and contrast, and this preset reflects that.

Don't worry though! I will literally still go through every photo and make adjustments to all of them, so they fit my style cleanly.

To be clear, I actually don't do any retouching. This isn't an editorial shoot. So no, I can't make you look taller, do teeth whitening, or remove wrinkles.

That said, you'll notice on my portfolio that I don't take very many closeup photos. To truly capture the spirit of graduation, I purposely do a lot of full-body and waist-up shots. Most people are very happy with this approach.

+ do you send out unedited photos?

No. I don't believe in giving out an unfinished product. That's like ordering food at a restaurant and putting the responsibility on you to cook the food.

First off, I purposely underexpose my photos when shooting — meaning, I make the photos dark. My camera is pretty old and it preserves more detail when I do that. When you try editing yourself, you'll have a lot of trouble trying to figure out the best way to edit them. I also shoot in RAW format which produces a .NEF file. Only certain photo editing apps can process this file type.

Also, a typical shoot will take up about 15 GB of storage. Since I stay in hotels and Airbnbs, transferring this much data over the Internet is extremely slow and might not even be allowed. Also, not very many providers offer that much free cloud storage.

As a final note, I'm actually not against people re-editing their photos (other photographers tend to care about this). You're more than welcome to crop your photos, adjust the contrast or whatever, and even put a filter over your photos.

+ what about photo prints?

Feel free to take your high-resolution photos to a printing service, such as Costco, CVS, Walgreen, etc. If you want something that's more high quality and produced by a photo lab, the gallery system has a shop where you can buy prints of your photos and get them delivered to your home.

+ is this really free?

Yes! Since 2020, I've provided 1,000+ grads across 30+ schools with my services. I'm very happy with this approach and plan to continue with it until I'm no longer able to.

+ but i really want to contribute. what are your regular rates?

You can tip me or contribute full price price for your session. Basically, it's kind of like a "pay-what-you-want" model.

For the class of 2024, here are my regular rates:

• 1 grad (1 hr) – $240
• 2 grads (1.5 hrs) – $300 // $150 per person
• 3 grads (1.5 hrs) – $360 // $120 per person
• 4 grads (2 hrs) – $420 // $105 per person
• 5 grads (2 hrs) – $480 // $96 per person
• 6 grads (2 hrs) – $540 // $90 per person

All sessions include individual and photos as a group.

Graduation photos are responsible for about 50% of my income, so any help is greatly appreciated!

+ how are you able to afford doing grad photos for free?

I mainly rely on the generosity of my grads and make a lot of personal sacrifices during grad season. That said, I barely break even every year when I do this.