FAU Graduation Pictures: Locations, Timing and Photo Ideas
After photographing graduation sessions at Florida Atlantic University, I have learned that the best photographs rarely come from trying to visit every popular place on campus.
A better approach is to choose a few locations that tell your story, plan them around the available light and leave enough time to enjoy the session without racing from one side of FAU to the other.
In this guide, I’ll share how I plan private FAU graduation photo sessions, the locations that work well in photographs and a few practical lessons that make the experience easier.
These are privately arranged portraits around Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus—not the official photographs taken during commencement.
What an FAU graduation photo session can include
Every graduate arrives with a slightly different idea.
Some want classic cap-and-gown portraits to share with their family. Others want something more energetic, with friends, school colors and plenty of celebration. Most people want a mixture of both.
During the FAU sessions I photograph, I normally create a varied collection that can include:
Individual cap-and-gown portraits.
Photographs without the gown.
Close-ups of your stole, cords, tassel and decorated cap.
Walking and other relaxed portraits.
Cap-toss photographs.
Pictures with parents, partners or friends.
Wider images that clearly show the FAU setting.
A few celebratory photographs at the end.
You do not need to arrive knowing how to pose or with a Pinterest board containing 47 screenshots. I will guide you through the session, help with your cap and gown and give you simple directions that keep the photographs natural.
Choosing your FAU graduation photo locations
I do not use exactly the same route for every graduate. Before the session, I like to find out which part of FAU matters most to you.
It might be the building connected with your degree, somewhere you spent time with friends or simply a recognizable campus location that immediately says, “I graduated from FAU.”
Usually, two or three well-chosen areas give us more than enough variety.
The FAU sign and branded locations
A Florida Atlantic University sign gives us the photograph almost every graduate wants: a clear record of where you studied and what you achieved.
These locations work particularly well for:
Traditional cap-and-gown portraits.
Photographs with parents.
Group pictures with friends.
Cap tosses and school-spirit images.
A photograph for graduation announcements.
The challenge is that recognizable signs can become busy around commencement. When that happens, I work efficiently, change my angle to keep the background clean and create several variations before moving on.
We can also return to a location later if it is crowded when we first arrive.
The Breezeway and covered campus areas
The Breezeway is part of everyday student life at FAU, which makes it a meaningful setting as well as a useful photography location.
Its covered structure can help when the South Florida sunlight is strong. The lines created by the walkway also add depth to photographs without distracting attention from you.
I particularly like covered areas for:
Clean individual portraits.
Walking photographs.
Details of cords, stoles and decorated caps.
Images taken when the open areas of campus are too bright.
More polished portraits without the graduation gown.
These areas can still become busy, so the exact position and camera angle matter. I look for a clean section of the background rather than expecting an entire campus walkway to be empty during graduation season.
Green spaces and palm-lined areas
FAU’s open spaces bring a completely different feel to the photographs. The palms, greenery and bright Florida sky create a relaxed setting that contrasts nicely with the more architectural campus locations.
These areas give us space for movement, making them useful for:
Walking and candid photographs.
Cap tosses.
Wider portraits.
Pictures with larger groups.
Relaxed photographs with family members.
Open areas also receive more direct sunlight, so I pay close attention to where you stand and which direction you face. Sometimes moving only a few feet can produce more flattering light and a much cleaner background.
FAU Stadium and athletics-related locations
The stadium area can be meaningful for graduates who attended games, participated in athletics or want stronger FAU school-spirit photographs.
It gives us a bolder background than the quieter campus spaces and can work well with FAU colors, sportswear or other personal items.
Access can change depending on university activity, events and the time of year, so I never build an entire session around the assumption that a particular area will be available. If the stadium is important to you, tell me when booking so we can discuss it before deciding on the route.
The route matters more than the number of locations
One lesson I have learned from photographing at FAU is that more locations do not automatically produce better graduation pictures.
Every additional stop means more walking, more time carrying your gown and more chances for Florida’s heat to make itself known. It also reduces the time available for family photographs, outfit changes and relaxed portraits.
I would rather create several different looks within two or three meaningful areas than rush you through a long campus checklist.
We can create variety by changing:
Your outfit.
Whether you wear or carry the gown.
The camera angle and composition.
The type of photograph, from formal to candid.
The people included.
Small personal details such as cords, stoles or degree-related items.
This keeps the session flowing while still giving you a gallery that feels varied.
What happens during an FAU graduation session?
I normally begin with straightforward portraits so you have time to settle into the session. We check that your cap, tassel, stole and gown are sitting correctly before taking the more formal photographs.
From there, we gradually introduce more movement and personality.
That might mean walking toward the camera, looking back over your shoulder, holding your cap, celebrating with friends or including something connected with your studies.
If your family joins us, I usually mix those photographs into the route instead of leaving every group picture until the end. This helps us use the most suitable background and light for each group.
The aim is to give you direction without making every photograph feel overly posed. You will always know what to do, but you will still look like yourself.
Making your FAU graduation pictures personal
Your cap and gown establish the occasion, but the smaller details are what make the photographs yours.
Consider bringing one or two items connected with your experience at Florida Atlantic University. That could be:
Your honor cords or stole.
A decorated graduation cap.
An item connected with your degree.
Clothing associated with a student organization.
Something connected with an FAU sports team.
A meaningful book or piece of equipment.
A flag representing your family or heritage.
A photograph of somebody important to your journey.
You can also include a friend, partner, parent or sibling. Your graduation may have your name on it, but the people who supported you probably deserve at least one good photograph too.
There is no need to bring a large collection of props. A couple of genuinely meaningful details will usually tell your story better than a bag full of generic graduation accessories.
When is the best time for FAU graduation pictures?
There is no single time that works for every session. The right choice depends on the locations you want, your schedule and whether avoiding crowds or heat is the bigger priority.
Early morning
Morning sessions can provide cooler conditions and a calmer start to the day. They are particularly useful when you want to visit recognizable campus locations before more students arrive.
The light can also be easier to manage than it is during the middle of the day.
Late afternoon
Late-afternoon sessions can give us warmer light and softer conditions as the sun moves lower. This can be especially flattering in open spaces and palm-lined areas.
However, the light changes quickly, so it helps to decide on the route before we begin rather than spending the best part of it discussing where to go next.
Commencement week
The campus has plenty of graduation energy during commencement week, but popular locations can become busier.
If you want clean photographs at a particular FAU sign or landmark, allow some flexibility. I may adjust the order of the locations depending on the crowds and light we find when we arrive.
Graduation day
Graduation day already involves the ceremony, parking, family plans and plenty of people trying to be in the same place at once.
A separate session before or after commencement is often more relaxed. It gives us greater control over the time, route and people included without trying to squeeze everything between official commitments.
Check FAU’s current commencement information before making plans because ceremony dates and arrangements change.
What should you bring?
Before leaving for campus, check that you have:
Your cap, gown and tassel.
Your stole and honor cords.
Your diploma cover, if available.
A smart outfit underneath the gown.
Comfortable shoes for walking.
Water.
A small towel or touch-up kit.
One or two personal items we have discussed.
A spare pair of shoes if your preferred outfit is not made for walking.
It also helps to bring somebody who can carry your phone, water and personal items while we are photographing. Otherwise, we may spend part of your session finding increasingly creative places to hide a bag.
If you want to use champagne, confetti, bring a pet or include anything that could affect the campus, check FAU’s current rules and let me know beforehand. University access and policies can change, so it is always better to confirm than assume.
Are these the official FAU commencement photographs?
No. The photographs on this page come from private graduation sessions arranged separately from the commencement ceremony.
FAU explains that professional photographers take official pictures in three places as graduates cross the stage. If you are trying to find those ceremony photographs, visit the university’s official graduation photographs page.
A private FAU graduation session gives you more control over:
The date and time.
Your campus locations.
The people included.
Your outfits and personal items.
The style and variety of photographs.
The time available to create relaxed portraits.
Many graduates choose both: official ceremony photographs to document crossing the stage and a private session for a more personal collection.
Planning your own FAU graduation pictures
Your session should feel connected to your time at Florida Atlantic University—not like you have simply followed somebody else’s list of popular photographs.
Before we meet, tell me which places, people and details matter to you. I will use that information to help plan a manageable route and create a mixture of polished portraits, natural moments and celebratory photographs.
If you are graduating from FAU, you can learn more and enquire through my Boca Raton graduation photographer page.
Planning pictures at another university or location? Explore my graduation photography across South Florida.
You can also see how we built Cameron’s Lynn University graduation photo session around his experience as a student-athlete.