SDSU Graduation Photographer | Lillie | San Diego State University Class of 2026

SDSU graduation season is one of the best times of year to be a photographer in San Diego. The Spanish mission architecture, the colonnades, the hidden garden paths. San Diego State University has locations that make every single frame feel cinematic. When Lillie reached out to book her SDSU graduation session, she came with a vision, a stack of stoles, and the kind of energy that makes a photographer’s job easy. This is Lillie’s San Diego State University Class of 2026 session, and it did not disappoint.

I also shoot graduation sessions across San Diego and beyond, including sessions at UCSD, USD, UA, ASU, UCI, UCLA, USC, and CSULB.

Lillie | San Diego State University Class of 2026

Lillie is an SDSU Class of 2026 grad and an Alpha Phi, and she brought both stoles to the session. The classic SDSU red and her Alpha Phi crimson. Why choose one when you earned them both? We worked through a full tour of campus, from the covered colonnade walkways and the iconic stone arches near Hepner Hall to the sun-drenched garden paths on the east side of campus. Every spot delivered something completely different.

The Arch Shots at Hepner Hall

If you have shot at SDSU before, you know the stone arches near Hepner Hall are non-negotiable. The depth of the archway pulls the eye straight to the subject, and the warm sandstone tones pair perfectly with almost any outfit. Lillie’s celebration shot under the arch, one hand in the air, one heel kicked back, is pure Class of 2026 energy. This is the kind of SDSU graduation photo that belongs on every platform.

What to Wear for Your SDSU Grad Session

Lillie’s outfit choices were perfect from start to finish. The white lace mini dress is a go-to for SDSU graduation portraits because it lets the stole do the talking. That SDSU red really pops against the warm sandstone and terracotta campus backdrops. She switched between her SDSU stole and her Alpha Phi stole throughout the session, which gave us two completely different color stories from the same locations. White heels keep everything clean and polished without competing with the stole.

For your own San Diego State senior portraits, I always recommend at least two looks. One with the full gown and one without. Layering your stole over a white or neutral dress is the most versatile combination on this campus, and it photographs beautifully everywhere from the colonnades to the garden paths.

Garden Paths and the Champagne Finale

The garden paths on the east side of campus are one of the most underrated SDSU graduation photo locations. The lush green backdrop softens everything and makes both the red SDSU stole and the Alpha Phi crimson pop even harder. We shot both stole looks here, and the difference in color palette between the two is striking. Same location, completely different energy.

And then came the champagne shot in front of Hepner Hall. The most iconic backdrop on campus, with the palm trees and the campanile tower in the distance. Lillie nailed it. One leg up, champagne flying, grinning over her shoulder. This is what graduation photography at San Diego State University is supposed to look like.

Lillie, congratulations on graduating from San Diego State University. A double stole moment, a champagne pop at Hepner Hall, and every iconic spot on campus checked off. You earned every single shot in this gallery. So proud of you, Class of 2026.

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Book Your SDSU Graduation Session

Are you a San Diego State University senior looking for a graduation photographer at SDSU? I would love to be your photographer. Visit my SDSU graduation photographer page for campus locations, past sessions, and booking info. I specialize in SDSU grad sessions, senior portraits, and cap-and-gown sessions on campus, capturing the energy, the stoles, and the real emotion of finishing college in San Diego. Sessions book quickly during graduation season, so reach out early to lock in your date.

Location: San Diego State University campus: Hepner Hall arches, colonnades, garden paths, campanile
Best for: SDSU senior portraits, graduation cap-and-gown photos, sorority stole sessions
Peak booking: April to June. Book 4 to 6 weeks in advance.