How to Plan Your Boston Graduation Photoshoot: Before, After, or Day-of?

Spring in Boston Massachusetts just feels different!!

There’s this shift in energy, especially around Boston campuses. Trees start blooming, families begin flying in, and seniors suddenly realize… this is it. Graduation is here!!

Whether you’re finishing high school in Lexington, graduating from University in Boston, or wrapping up grad school in New England, this season marks something big. It’s not just a ceremony. It’s years of work, late nights, growth, and change coming together in one moment.

And every year, I get the same question as a graduation photographer in Boston, MA: Should we take graduation photos on the actual graduation day, or schedule them before or after?

The honest answer? It depends on what kind of experience you want. Let’s talk it through.

Why Booking Early Matters (Especially in Massachusetts)

Before we even get into timing, here’s something important: graduation season is short.

Most high schools and colleges in the Boston area, from Lexington High School to Harvard, BU, MIT, Babson, Northeastern, and beyond, hold ceremonies between May and mid-June. That means everyone is trying to schedule their graduation photos at the same time.

If you’re thinking about booking college graduation photos or high school senior graduation photos, booking by March is really the sweet spot. After that, dates start disappearing quickly, especially weekends and ceremony days.

Planning ahead gives you options. Waiting limits them.

The Case for Graduation Day Photos

There is something really special about photographing you on the actual day you graduate. You can’t fake that energy.

You just walked across the stage. Your family is cheering. Your friends are hugging you. There’s relief in your face, pride in your posture, maybe evena few happy tears. That emotion is real, and it shows.

One of the biggest benefits of doing your Boston graduation photos on ceremony day is that your family is already there. Grandparents, siblings, relatives who traveled in — everyone is together. For many families, that alone makes graduation day the perfect time for portraits.

Your friends are also around. Some of my favorite images every year are the spontaneous ones — best friends linking arms, tossing caps, laughing because it hasn’t fully sunk in yet that this chapter is over. It feels alive.

But I’ll be honest — it can also be chaotic.

On graduation day, especially at larger universities in Boston, iconic campus spots get crowded. For instance, we waited 1hour (literally) for this Northeastern University shot below. 

Is the wait worth it? Planning your Boston Graduation Portraits

If your heart is set on the most iconic campus landmarks, I suggest a "team effort" approach. Have a "dear auntie" or a friend jump in line early for you. This allows us to wander the campus and capture the magic of the day elsewhere, ensuring we return to the main landmark exactly when it's your turn. It’s the most efficient way to get a full variety of photos without spending endless time in a line :)

On graduation day, the schedule is tight. Lighting isn’t always ideal because many ceremonies happen midday. But we create MAGIC.  We move quickly. We adapt. We make it work beautifully. But it’s a faster-paced experience. For some families, that excitement and experience is exactly what they want. For others, it feels a bit rushed or too crowded.

The Case for Scheduling Before or After

Now let’s talk about the alternative — scheduling your graduation session on a different day.

This option has become very popular for both college graduation photography and high school senior graduation photos in Lexington and the greater Boston area.

Why? Because it’s calm. When we schedule before or after graduation, there are no ceremony crowds. No lines behind us. No pressure to get to a reservation. The campus feels open. Quiet. Almost like it belongs to you.

We can choose the best time of day for light — usually golden hour, when everything looks softer and more flattering. That alone makes a big differencein the final images.

One common concern is missing the chance to be professionally styled, they know they'll be glam up for the big day. At Andre Toro Photography, we’ve solved this by always including professional hair and makeup in our session experience—not just for the graduate, but for Mom too. By booking your portraits on a separate day, you avoid the Boston graduation morning rush. Instead, you both get pampered by our glam squad, ensuring you look intentional, elevated, and camera-ready without the stress of a commencement schedule.

Every high school and University in Boston will give you the cap and gown a few days before! So dates are flexible. We can photograph cap and gown portraits, then change into another outfit. We can explore more areas. We can slow down.

The only downside? Sometimes family members aren’t in town yet — or they’ve already left. Friends may not be available either.

There’s no wrong answer — just what fits your priorities.