University of Colorado at Boulder Graduation Photography

My phone rang on a quiet Sunday afternoon. "Hey, I’m Jamie… my son just asked me to find a photographer last minute. He’s graduating from CU Boulder and wants some portraits to remember this special time in his life—with his friends, with the campus, with everything…and you know he did just what college boys do…wait until the last minute.”

She shared they’d hired a photographer once before, but the results hadn’t felt right. "We don’t want to be rude," she said, "but they just didn’t turn out well."

I smiled making no promises, and I said, “Let’s see what we can make happen.”

Blake sent me a list of iconic spots he had in mind, places across CU Boulder’s beautiful, scenic campus that held meaning for him. And with spring in full bloom, the timing couldn’t have been better. We met near Varsity Bridge, and from the moment we started, the session unfolded with a rhythm all its own.

He was full of energy and ideas, but the magic really happened when we let the plan go a little. Instead of sticking strictly to the list, we wandered. We popped into quiet hallways and stairwells, paused in front of grand old buildings, and chased the light wherever it fell. Blake trusted the process, and that’s when the creativity truly came alive.

Before we knew it, an hour flew by. I ended up shooting for another 45 minutes as we met up with some of his fraternity brothers for a few final shots. The vibe was easy, genuine, and full of laughter. At one point I joked with Blake, “I’m 40 now…I don’t spend much time on college campuses these days without feeling too creepy. Thanks for giving me a great excuse. This is wonderful and brings me back.”

After the shoot, I sent off the gallery, and Jamie and Blake both got back to me right away and were ectastic. “You knocked it out of the park.”

That never gets old. I’m just grateful I could help Blake celebrate and remember such an important chapter with photos that truly feel like him. And I’ll be sure to do the same with you if you decide to hire me for your senior or graduation portraits….and I’ll be happy have an excuse to explore a beautiful college campus again :). Book your Colorado graduation portrait photography.