UCI Graduation Photographer | Liv | University of California Irvine Class of 2026

If you’re looking for a UCI graduation photographer, there’s no better backdrop than the University of California, Irvine campus in May. The overcast skies keep the light soft, the greenery comes in strong, and the energy is unlike anything else. That energy only comes from someone who just finished four years of hard work. When Liv reached out to book her UCI graduation session, she came with a clear vision: confident, fun, and a little celebratory. We delivered on all three.

Liv is a proud University of California, Irvine Class of 2026 graduate and an Alpha Phi sister. So yes, we brought both the blue-and-gold UC Irvine stole and the maroon Alpha Phi sash (and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, naturally). We worked across two of UCI’s most iconic spots: the covered colonnade walkway at the Social Sciences Tower and the landmark stone entrance sign on the edge of campus. Both locations delivered something completely different, and together they made for a full story of a session.

We started at the Social Sciences Tower colonnade, one of the most underrated spots on the UCI campus for graduation photos. The long covered walkway with its repeating columns creates natural leading lines straight to your subject, and the neutral concrete palette lets the blue-and-gold UCI stole pop without competing for attention. Liv walked into frame and immediately owned it. She’s the kind of subject every photographer loves.

One of my favorite things about this location is how versatile it is. You can get clean, direct portraits right against the columns, then pivot and shoot down the full length of the colonnade for a completely different feel in the same spot. We worked every angle. Liv’s expressions were effortless throughout, and that genuine smile is something you simply can’t manufacture.

The cap-in-the-air shot is a graduation photography staple for a reason. It’s pure, unfiltered joy captured in a single frame. When Liv launched that mortarboard, the energy was exactly right. Four years of late nights, exams, and everything that comes with earning a degree from the University of California, Irvine, all summarized in one moment. This is one of my favorite frames from the entire session.

Walking shots are a cornerstone of any great graduation gallery. They’re cinematic, they feel natural, and they show personality in a way that a static pose can’t always capture. Gown draped over one shoulder, cap swinging at her side, Liv made this corridor look like her own personal runway. These are the frames that end up as the lock screen, the Instagram post, and the framed print in the living room.

For the more classic gown-on portrait, we leaned into the soft light bouncing off the colonnade walls. This is what UC Irvine senior portraits should look like: timeless, composed, and completely her. The combination of the gown, the blue stole, and the clean architectural background creates something that will hold up for decades.

We found a great set of outdoor steps just off the main walkway for a relaxed, seated portrait that slows the energy down and lets Liv’s natural poise come through. Different energy than the action shots, but equally strong. Variety in a graduation gallery isn’t just nice to have. It’s what makes the full set feel complete and layered.

Then came the Alpha Phi sash and the UCI stone sign wall, and things got really fun. This location is one of the best-known graduation photo spots on the UC Irvine campus: the sandstone block wall with the bold metal “Irvine” lettering and the University of California seal. Liv switched into her maroon Alpha Phi stole and the whole vibe shifted. This one was all energy and pride. She pointed up at that Irvine sign like she built the place herself. Honestly, fair.

The UC Irvine entrance sign surrounded by green grass and lush trees is a must-do for any UCI graduation photographer. We pulled back for wider shots here to show the full sense of place, with Liv holding her cap and gown and the signature stone wall behind her. The slightly overcast sky kept the light even and flattering across the whole frame. This is what graduation photography at UC Irvine is supposed to look like.

Details matter in a graduation gallery, and this close-up of the Veuve Clicquot against the blue UCI sash is exactly the kind of detail shot that makes a post feel complete. It tells the story without anyone having to say a word. Class of 2026 from UC Irvine, and she’s celebrating the right way.

And we ended with the pop. Champagne flying, smile going, UCI sign right behind her. This is the exclamation point on the whole session. One of the cleanest champagne shots I’ve captured on a UCI graduation session, and easily a top-five frame from any session I’ve shot this year. Liv, this one belongs on a billboard.

Liv, congratulations on graduating from the University of California, Irvine. Four years went into this, and every single one shows. You were a dream to photograph, and I hope these images do justice to just how big this moment really is. Wishing you everything ahead.

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Book Your UCI Graduation Session

Are you a University of California, Irvine senior looking for a UCI graduation photographer? I’d love to capture your session. Visit my UCI graduation photographer page for campus locations, past sessions, and booking info. I specialize in UCI grad sessions, senior portraits, and group friend sessions on campus, covering everything from the Social Sciences Tower colonnade to the iconic UCI entrance sign and beyond. Sessions book up fast during graduation season, so reach out early to lock in your date.

📍 Location: UC Irvine campus: Social Sciences Tower colonnade, UCI entrance sign, Aldrich Park, Langson Library
🎓 Best for: UCI senior portraits, graduation group photos, sorority/frat grad sessions
📅 Peak booking: April to June. Book 4 to 6 weeks in advance.