If you’re looking for a Cambridge graduation photographer, you’re in the right place. We’ve photographed graduations at every one of the University of Cambridge’s 31 colleges for over 27 years — in every season and in every kind of British weather. This guide covers everything you need to know: when to book your Cambridge graduation photographer, what to expect on the day, where the best photo spots are, and how to get natural, relaxed images that actually capture how this milestone feels.

You’ve spent years working for this. Your family is travelling in. You’re wearing a gown for what is almost certainly the first and last time. A phone photo from ten metres away is not going to do it justice.

Quick facts: hiring a Cambridge graduation photographer

Session options	60-minute focused session or 90-minute extended city tour
Meeting point	Your college, the Senate House, or another agreed location
What you get	60+ professionally edited images per hour, online gallery, free downloads
Turnaround	Next-day preview; full gallery typically within 3–5 working days
When to book	As early as possible — popular July dates fill months in advance
Group/family	Absolutely — family and friends are welcome throughout the session
Travel charges	None — we’re based in Cambridge

Cambridge graduation photographer: Procession going through St John's

How a Cambridge graduation photography session works

Option A: The 60-minute session (focused and efficient)

Your Cambridge graduation photographer meets you at your college or the Senate House, photographs the key moments and locations, and delivers a polished set of solo, family, and group portraits. This is ideal if your schedule is tight or you want to keep things simple.

Option B: The 90-minute extended session (the Cambridge city tour)

We accompany you on a relaxed walk through Cambridge, photographing at your college, the Senate House area, and two or three of the city’s most photogenic spots along the way. This gives you a wider variety of images and a more storytelling feel to your gallery. It’s particularly popular with international students and families visiting Cambridge for the first time.

Photographer’s tip If you’re choosing between the two options, consider how much of Cambridge your family has seen. The 90-minute session doubles as a guided photo tour of the city — it’s a lovely way to share Cambridge with parents and grandparents who may not have visited before.

Best photo locations for your Cambridge graduation photographer

After 27+ years as a Cambridge graduation photographer, we’ve identified the locations that consistently produce the strongest graduation images:

The Senate House and Senate House Passage

The heart of graduation day. The Senate House itself is architecturally stunning, and the passage alongside it offers clean, symmetrical backgrounds that frame formal portraits beautifully. It’s busy on graduation days, so your Cambridge graduation photographer will position strategically and work quickly to capture you without the crowds.

King’s College Chapel and the surrounding lawns

The most iconic Cambridge backdrop. Even if it’s not your college, a portrait with King’s Chapel behind you is unmistakably Cambridge. We know the angles that work and the spots that avoid the worst of the tourist traffic.

The Backs and the river Cam

Punts, bridges, willow trees, and water — the classic Cambridge riverside scene. These locations offer a softer, more natural feel that balances beautifully with the formal architecture elsewhere in the city.

Your own college

This is personal. Your courtyard, your dining hall steps, your favourite bench — these are the places that mean something to you. Your Cambridge graduation photographer will capture both the formal shots and the quieter, more personal moments that connect you to the place where you studied.

Hidden gems only a local Cambridge graduation photographer knows

After two decades photographing in Cambridge, we’ve found spots that most photographers and tourists don’t know about. Quiet lanes with beautiful light, tucked-away gardens, architectural details that make striking portrait backdrops. We’ll weave these into your route if time allows.

What to wear and bring to your graduation photography session

Your gown and academic regalia

Wear your full academic dress — gown, hood, cap, and any additional regalia. Make sure everything fits properly and sits well on your shoulders before we start. A few minutes of adjustment at the beginning saves time throughout the session.

Underneath the gown

Most graduates wear smart clothing beneath the gown: a suit, a well-fitted dress, or smart separates. Solid, dark colours work best as they don’t compete with the gown and photograph cleanly against Cambridge’s stone and brick.

Personal items worth bringing

Bring anything meaningful — your degree certificate or scroll, flowers, a book that defined your studies, or a small memento from your time at university. These details add depth and personality to your images.

Photographer’s tip If you’re planning to throw your cap (the classic graduation shot), practise the throw beforehand and make sure you’re comfortable catching it. We’ll shoot on burst mode so we capture the peak moment perfectly, but a confident throw makes all the difference.

What happens on Cambridge graduation day: a photographer’s timeline

Cambridge graduation days follow a fairly consistent structure, but timings vary by college. Here’s how your Cambridge graduation photographer typically covers the day:

Stage	What we photograph
Before the ceremony	Meeting at your college, getting-ready moments, family arrivals, formal and relaxed portraits in the college grounds
The procession	Walking to the Senate House — we photograph from public areas along the route, capturing the atmosphere and your family watching
After the ceremony	The celebratory moments outside the Senate House: hugs, congratulations, group photos, and the emotional reactions
The city tour	If you’ve booked the 90-minute session, we continue to iconic Cambridge locations for a wider variety of portraits
The celebration	If you’d like coverage of a post-ceremony lunch, dinner, or drinks, we can extend the session to include this

Rainy day plan from your Cambridge graduation photographer

British weather doesn’t take graduation day off. But after photographing hundreds of Cambridge graduations, we’ve learnt that rain doesn’t ruin photos — it changes them.

If it’s wet, we lean into covered college cloisters, sheltered archways, and indoor spaces that photograph beautifully. We carry clear umbrellas that look elegant in photos. And we’re quick — your Cambridge graduation photographer knows how to capture the shots you need without leaving you standing in the rain.

In our experience, rainy graduation days often produce some of the most atmospheric and memorable images. The wet stone, the reflections, and the contrast of bright gowns against grey skies create something genuinely striking.

Group and family photos at your Cambridge graduation

Graduation is a family event, and group photos matter. Here’s how your Cambridge graduation photographer handles them efficiently:

We bring a plan. Before the day, we’ll agree which group combinations you want (immediate family, extended family, friends, course mates). Having a list means we move quickly and don’t forget anyone.

We give clear, friendly direction. Large groups need confident organisation. We’ll arrange everyone, handle the logistics, and keep the energy up so the photos feel natural, not like a chore.

We capture the candid moments too. Between the formal group setups, the hugs, the laughter, and the proud looks between parents and graduates — these are often the photos families treasure most.

When to book your Cambridge graduation photographer

Cambridge graduation dates are announced well in advance, and the most popular dates book up months ahead. If your ceremony falls on a busy day (especially July), we’d strongly recommend booking your Cambridge graduation photographer as early as possible to secure your preferred photographer and time slot.

Even if your date isn’t confirmed yet, getting in touch early lets us pencil in provisional dates and ensures you’re not left scrambling at the last minute. We typically see bookings for summer graduations starting from January onwards.

FAQs: Cambridge graduation photographer

These are the questions graduates and parents ask us most often.

Can your Cambridge graduation photographer meet us at our college?

Yes — this is our standard approach. We’ll meet you at your college, photograph portraits in the grounds, and accompany you from there.

Can you photograph the ceremony inside the Senate House?

Photography inside the Senate House during the ceremony itself is not permitted by the University. We photograph from public positions outside — the procession, the exits, and the celebrations immediately afterwards.

What if our graduation ceremony time clashes with good light?

We work with whatever light is available and adjust our approach accordingly. If your ceremony is midday, we’ll use the softer light in college cloisters and shaded areas for portraits, rather than harsh direct sun.

Can we book a Cambridge graduation photographer for a group of graduates?

Absolutely. Group bookings are common, and we organise an efficient session that gives each graduate individual portraits as well as group shots. Get in touch and we’ll arrange the logistics.

What if we want photos at a post-ceremony dinner or celebration?

We can extend the session to cover your celebration dinner, drinks, or any other part of the day. Let us know when you enquire and we’ll include it in your quote.

How far in advance should we book our Cambridge graduation photographer?

As early as you can. Summer graduation dates (especially July) are the busiest. We recommend booking 3–6 months ahead for peak dates, though we can sometimes accommodate shorter notice for quieter periods.

Cambridge graduation photographer: Waiting to depart from Trinity Hall College

Ready to book your Cambridge graduation photographer?

Graduation happens once. The gown comes off at the end of the day, and the moment passes. If you want photographs that capture not just how you looked, but how it felt — the pride, the relief, the celebration with the people who helped you get there — we’d love to be your Cambridge graduation photographer.

Get in touch — tell us your college, your ceremony date (or best guess), and whether you’d like the 60-minute or 90-minute session. We’ll take it from there.

Call: +44 (0)1223 927055 | WhatsApp | Or use the enquiry form on our website.