graduation portraits at the beach

My Friend Tiffany reached out to me for graduation pictures, and I wanted to find a unique location to take them at. Don’t get me wrong, University of California Irvine’s campus is great, but I feel like taking them at the beach had a different aesthetic. We woke up at 6am and drove over to Crystal Cove State Beach, and walked down a beautiful staircase where we definitely had to get some portraits in.

I highly recommend taking portraits in overcast weather, the even tones of the skins, the color, and the lack of harsh lighting really helps the portraits have a unique look. For photographers, it’s a dream come true, because of how easy it is for us to color and edit the photos right after.

If you are a photographer, I highly recommend having your model use movement in their images. Movement allows people to be engaged in the photo, and the motion introduced really lets it feel less “corporate” and more like a celebration.

Another recommendation I do have, is to use a wider angle lens, to capture more of the context and the environment around you. With 35mm, I was able to show how beautiful the beach was while also capturing the subject itself.

All in all, I highly recommend getting your photos taken here! You will not regret it, especially if you are a UCI graduate.