After a decade of capturing UVA grad photos, we’ve captured some pretty ~wild~ images. What makes them wild, you ask? Some involve crazy circumstances. Some showcase the sheer goofiness of our grads. And others… well, they just speak for themselves! But after capturing more than 1,200 grads, we were bound to have some pretty wild UVA grad photos! Check out some favs below.

 

12. One “Helluva” Guest Appearance in these UVA Grad Photos!

From a surprise appearance from Dean Rucker in 2024, all the way to some Lawnies convincing Larry Sabato to join their goofy grad session in 2017, we’ve photographed some cool guest appearances from UVA faculty!

 

 

But my favorite guest appearance was definitely in 2019 when none other than UVA President Ryan himself jumped into a group session! He was apparently just out on one of his famous morning runs when he decided to jump in. The funny part was that he yelled, “Photo bomb!” from behind me, then (very politely) stood on the end and posed for the photo 😂

 

 

11. These Props are Wild

The majority of our grads don’t bring props to their UVA Grad session, with the exception of maybe a bottle of bubbly to spray. But occasionally we have grads who DO bring props, like their favorite food. Whether it’s Christian’s Pizza…

 

 

Or boba tea, or flaming hot Cheetos!

 

 

Occasional it’s something a bit more out there, like cards from their favorite board game…

 

 

Or whatever else has contributed to making your time at UVA memorable…no matter what it is!

 

 

10. What a Difference a Year Makes!

Grace was part of a grad shoot in 2020 as her and her friends finished up their undergrad. She also brought along her adorable puppy — only a few days old! Just one year later, her crew signed up for more UVA grad photos with me as they finished up their masters. Needless to say, the little puppy wasn’t so little anymore!

 

 

9. Who… Whose Dog is That?!

Speaking of dogs, you’d be surprised at how many UVA grads take photos with random dogs that happen to wander over during their grad sessions! The Aussie who lived behind Pavillion VI was especially popular for a while!

 

 

8. When UVA Grad Photos Get… Strange

Sometimes, grads just do strange and funny stuff during their grad sessions. And honestly, we’re here for it!!

 

 

Maybe the grads just want to interact with the nature around UVA…

 

 

Or with UVA itself…

 

 

Or are just being themselves!

 

 

Even when not every member of the grad session is necessary pleased with the rest of the squad 🤦‍♀️

 

 

7. Champagne Spray… with an Audience

In 2019, Leigh Anna’s session happened to coincide with another CIO (club) taking their group photo. Although it was easy enough to avoid them for most of the session, Leigh Anna really wanted to spray her champagne in front of the Rotunda. So after we got that shot, I quickly zoomed out. All 75 people were cheering her on as she sprayed!

 

 

6. UVA Men’s Basketball Meets UVA Grad Photos

Although our team wasn’t fortunate enough to capture the UVA grad session of a NCAA champion in 2019, we’ve captured PLENTY of UVA grad photos for some big basketball fans!

 

 

We love how students over the years (and especially the class of 2019) have repped their love for UVA men’s basketball, and how those games impacted their time in Charlottesville.

 

 

5. It’s Wild… How Cute These Babies Are!

While most of the UVA grad photos we take are of undergrads, about 15% of our sessions each year are for graduate students. And for some grad students, that stage of their education coincides with other big life milestones, like parenthood! The only wild thing about these grad photos is how cute these little ones are!

 

 

4. When UVA Grad Photos Come Full Circle

While we ARE Charlottesville’s #1 grad photo team, grad photos are only a small part of our overall photography business. Weddings and engagements are actually the bulk of what we do, and there’s rarely much crossover. That’s why it’s so cool when one of our UVA Grads becomes one of our wedding couples …

 

 

Or even when one of our wedding couples goes back to school and becomes a UVA Grad!

 

 

3. Nursing Students Take Some Wild UVA Grad Photos

All sorts of UVA grads will rep their school, their major, or the career they’re about to enter in their Grad photos. But nurses just seem to have the best props! Samantha and Harmony especially went all out with the fake *swoon* and the stethoscope!

 

 

2. “This is My Swamp Now”

Honestly, I didn’t even ask. Shrek is a classic piece of cinema, and this sign was better without explanation.

 

 

1. When One Group’s UVA Grad Photos Almost Got VERY Wet

I can’t remember what prompted it. But during this mixed-gender group session in 2024, one of the grads decided to splash her roommate instead of splashing toward the camera during a classic fountain shot.

 

 

As you can imagine, the roomie didn’t take kindly to that and splashed back…

 

 

Which led to some grappling (and everyone else fleeing the fountain)…

 

 

And almost ended in two submerged grads! Luckily, their friends were able to grab the two roomies before anyone got dunked! 😂

 

 

Want to Capture Your Own Wild (or Not-so-Wild) UVA Grad Photos?

If you want to schedule your own chance to get some UVA Grad Photos with Charlottesville’s #1 Graduation Photography team, click here! Our full pricing, availability, and everything else you need to know is at that page 👆 You can even schedule your session in minutes if you’re ready to book — no payment required!