6 spots to take
UC Santa Barbara grad photos.

Situated near the beach, UCSB has that stereotypical Southern California look to it. As you drive into campus, Henley Gate greets you as the majestic entrance to the university. And as you walk around, palm trees can be found pretty much everywhere.

Here are a few of the most iconic locations at the University of California, Santa Barbara for your graduation portraits.

1. henley gate.

Henley Gate acts as the entrance to UC Santa Barbara and is one of the only UCs to have a proper structure dedicated to greeting visitors and prospective students to UCSB.

The sign is massive, and it can be a bit of a struggle getting the whole sign in your photos, so I recommend having a wide-angle lens or a zoom lens. Also, this is by far this campus’s most popular spot for grad photos. A line will form here, so in the meantime, there are some flowers to the side that you can take advantage of while you wait.

Directions to the sign: Google // Apple

2. flowers around henley gate.

Towards the end of spring quarter, you’re most likely going to run into a line when you arrive at Henley Gate. While you wait your turn (and it can typically be a while), the landscaping nearby offers beautiful flowers for some added pop to your grad photos.

These plants can be found right next to Henley Gate.

3. gazebos near mosher alumni house.

Pink vibrant flowers line the gazebos near Mosher Alumni House. It’s an underrated location at UC Santa Barbara and great for those of you that don’t want to deal with the crowds at Henley Gate.

Directions to the gazebo: Google // Apple

4. around the library.

This a special spot for photos if you’ve spent time in the library or walked down this path. In true Southern California fashion, you have palm trees that line the various paths near the library and the architecture of the library has this clean white look to it.

Directions to the library: Google // Apple

5. storke tower.

Storke Tower sits 175 feet tall and is the largest structure in Santa Barbara County. It serves as one of the campus’s most prominent landmarks. It’s a pretty iconic location at UCSB, and you’ve probably passed by Storke Tower when traveling between classes.

Directions to Storke Tower: Google // Apple

6. goleta beach park.

While not popular amongst UCSB students, Goleta Beach Park is the closest to Henley Gate making it convenient for graduation portraits. There’s always enough space, so you won’t have to fight the crowds.

Directions to the beach: Google // Apple

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