While I LOVE graduation season, it unfortunately falls during the most rainy time of year. We already had to reschedule Kenzie’s graduation photos once so there was no turning back, especially this close to her graduation. We braved through pouring rain and winds and came out with the most beautiful gallery. Although Kenzie’s hair progressively got more drenched, I couldn’t be happier with the results.

In the height of graduation season, the university was full of students getting their photos done. We had to make the best of the situation and adjust backdrops to avoid crowds. Not to mention we were working at lightning speed so Kenzie could throw her umbrella back over her head. These are my go to spots for any grad session at WCU…

Old Main Arch

Our first backdrop of the evening was the Old Main Arch. This unique architecture acted as a shield from the rain which was the ultimate plus! I always love when I find a backdrop that can frame my subject. There were so many different ways to pose here from standing front and center, to leaning against the wall.

The Old Library & Rammy

Everyone loves a good mascot photo op! Rammy is the symbol of pride and community on campus. I love capturing more upbeat and energetic poses here. A little leg kick. with your cap in the air does the trick. In the springtime, magenta bushes flower around the Rammy statue. I knewI wanted to include these for Kenzie’s session to add a little more color to this otherwise dreary day. I caught plenty of different angles at this spot, but I especially love the close up shots with these florals. You also can’t go wrong with the old library as a backdrop. The classic pillars and tall stairs add to the academic feel.

Your Class Building

Where did you spend most of your time on campus? Is there a building that’s really special to you? This is a great spot to capture a few memorable photos. Most of Kenzie’s classes took place at the Recitation Hall so we decided to snap a few photos hanging over the sign. Right in front of the building were some large pine trees and we decided to take advantage of the greenery as a background. This added a little bit of color and gave us a place to photograph a few more photos with her cap and dress.

Phillips Memorial Building

Our next stop was what is known to students as ‘the castle’. This building is one of my favorites to photograph because of its unique architecture. This was the perfect spot to incorporate a cap toss in front of the archway. This tends to be the most popular spot so we didn’t have the chance to photograph at every inch of the building.

The Fountain

The last stop on our list was the iconic fountain. There are so many fun backgrounds to utilize here that we didn’t even begin with the water. To start out, we walked down the stairs to incorporate the big ‘West Chester University’ sign. It’s always good to include your university’s name! grads usually like to hop up onto the wall for a few photos, but due to the heavy rain we avoided this pose. Next, we walked over to the other side of the fountain to include some more florals. The white flowering bushes paired so well with her grad dress. Here we captured some photos with a little memento of Kenzie’s student teaching opportunity. Her students all signed a book keepsake for her. This being an important part of her journey, we had to photograph it! Lastly, it was time for the champagne pop! I like doing this in front of the fountain for not only the fun water effects, but I feel like it washes away the champagne pretty efficiently for us. This is the way we ended the night; covered in champagne and rain!