Every year, we see simple pictures of a graduates smiling for the camera in a cap and gown. While that’s all well and good, we think you can do better. To inspire your senior portraits, we’ve gathered the most fun and creative graduation picture ideas and paired each idea with affordable graduation announcements that fit your theme. Let’s take a look!
1.) Blowing Glitter or Confetti
Graduation is a big accomplishment that calls for an equally big celebration! And what’s a celebration without a little glitter and confetti? Blowing glitter or confetti off your hand is a fun and whimsical way to express that you are dusting high school life off your shoulders and ready to ready to move on to the next adventure.
Once you’ve had your fun confetti photos taken, use those photos in confetti-themed graduation announcements! We think the Crafty Polaroid Graduation Booklet from Invite Shop would be an excellent pairing for your photos.
2.) Go Vintage
Another trend we’re seeing with graduation pictures is vintage styled shoots. Whether it’s a Roaring ‘20s outfit or posing on the hood of a classic car with old fashioned props, going vintage is always a fun idea. We love the flapper girl styling used below. For a senior guy, it could be fun to go ‘50s-era greaser with slicked back hair and a black leather jacket.
To accentuate your vintage graduation pictures, choose a graduation announcement design that fits the era. For example, the Art Deco Faux Foil Graduation Announcement below would be a great fit for a Great Gatsby themed graduation photo.
3.) With a Burst of Color
Create a unique memory leading up to your graduation day with a brightly colored smoke bomb! Have your photographer capture you running with the smoke bomb trail behind you or drawing fun designs in the air with the smoke. It’s an eye-catching special effect your friends and family will love, and a great way to blow off a little steam!
Smoke bombs can be bought fairly cheaply online and are safe enough to hold in your hand as they release billows of jewel-toned awesomeness. Smoke bombs come in a variety of colors, so you can choose your favorite or simply stick with your school’s official colors to match your cap and gown. To really show off your color bomb photos, pick a graduation announcement design that lets your true colors shine through, like the example below.
4.) Posing with a Childhood Photo
What better way to show loved ones how much you’ve grown than by holding up a childhood photo of yourself while posing in your cap and gown? It’s a fun way to take friends and family on a stroll down memory lane, showing that while you’ve become a young adult, you’re still a kid at heart.
Another great way to show off your childhood photos is with a graduation announcement that’s designed to show loved ones how you’ve changed over the years. A multi-photo design from Invite Shop allows you post a baby photo, two childhood photos at different ages, and, of course, your stunning senior portrait.
5.) With Creative Chalk Art
If you consider yourself an artist, why not try your hand at some clever chalk art to accentuate your graduation pictures? We love the example below, where the senior is a stand-in for a number in her graduation year. Another fun idea is drawing balloons with chalk and posing like you’re being whisked away by them.
Many of Invite Shop’s graduation announcement designs incorporate a chalkboard look. For example, the Glitter Confetti Chalkboard Graduation Announcement below features an eye-catching chalkboard background. Since both sides of the card can be customized, you can include your full-sized grad picture on the back.
6.) Riding a Bike
Your high school graduation is a moment you’ll never forget, just like you never forget how to ride a bike! An action shot of you riding a colorful bicycle is just the thing to bring energy to your graduation pictures. We love how the photo below has bright pops of color in both the outfit and the bike itself.
A bicycle-themed photo shoot is sure to produce some fabulous graduation picture ideas. Instead of just choosing one to share in your graduation announcements, why not share several of your favorites? Invite Shop offers unique booklet graduation announcements that provide plenty of room for full-sized photos.
7.) Against a Gritty Brick Wall
Brick walls project a sense of strength and gritty determination. Seniors who live in the big city may have a favorite graffiti image that will always remind them of their home town. Others may like the blank slate of plain brick. Either way, great photos will result.
We love how the understated design of the Black & White Stripe Graduation Announcement below allows the grittiness of the brick wall photo shoot to shine through. Better yet, each page of this booklet gives you a chance to share details about your graduation ceremony and party, your college and career plans, and any other details you’d like to share.
8.) The Supergrad
A “supergrad” shot is the perfect memory for your actual graduation day. After all, who doesn’t want to tear open that stuffy graduation gown to reveal the true superhero underneath? A classic blue and red superman T-shirt should do the trick, but a Wonder Woman outfit would be awesome too for senior girls!
Show off your supergrad shot with a simple graduation announcement design where your senior photo is the main draw. We recommend Invite Shop’s Modern Typography Graduation Announcement, shown below.
We hope these ideas inspire you to create unique memories of those precious days before you turn the tassel.