Graduation Photoshoot

My first steps into college is still fresh in my memory, but here I am now, finally completing my 2-year Associate in Computer Technology course and in the next semester, I'll finally be a 3rd year student in Bachelor in Science in Information Systems.

However, being a graduating student also means more expenses coming up for the graduation venue, toga, graduation and recollection fees, yearbook, and also for the formal dress to wear in that auspicious day. To save up, we didn't paid for a yearbook copy and the studio photoshoot. We're still in our 2nd year, we would graduate again in our 4th year, so it's a good decision to be practical now.

A DIY Graduation Photoshoot

The entire 2nd years didn't agree to pay for the yearbook, but some of them agree to pay for the photoshoot and after that, they the class Presidents will collect and submit the pictures to the event organizers. Our section did that also, but me and some of my friends were not available during the scheduled time.

To have our own entry, we decided to take our own photos and edit them. A perfect timing with this when our friend Pierce received his advanced graduation gift from his family and it is a DSLR Camera. With that, we don't have to worry about the quality anymore but we have to worry about the lightings and the backdrops.

It's a great advantage to have friends from the Education Department. Since they are often filming for their teaching demonstrations and projects, some of them have Ring Lights. I'm very grateful to @jiboyskie123 for lending his ring light to me. I've also borrowed the black fabric at our office which we are using during the trainings on EMR. I guess we're just blessed enough since we know a friend where we could borrow a Black Toga without renting it.

Since we have all the materials needed, we're all set and ready!

As we've planned, we would do it in @breepickledoodle's house. We went there on time as planned, but of course, we have to fill our stomachs with lunch first. We've got a long day ahead to make the photoshoot a success.

Photoshoot Proper: Testing The Lightings

After we're done with the setup, it's time to test the lightings if it would go well with our outfits. Unfortunately, we have encountered some issues with this. Our lightings weren't enough to blend with the black colors. It's either I'm yellowish here or too dark. After a few shots with the same results, we've decided to tear down the black fabric in the background and leave it white.

All Set!

It's a struggle to hold that ring light until the end of the photoshoot and to determine where to add cellphone flashlights just to blend the lights with our black toga. We don't have a tripod because the owner left it at the Art District back then. It's even funny, when the issue often came when it's my turn. It just wouldn't cooperate on my skin tone; I'm yellowish. I even tried to use that DSLR Camera when it was their turn and I was surprised that it was heavy to hold.

The photoshoot was a series of trial and error until we got the perfect shot and it lasted for three hours for the three of us to get a Uniform shot, Toga shot, and casual shots. After the three of us we're done, we added another gimmicks like a group picture, a picture of them wearing the same organizational shirts, and their couple shots. Since we decided not to have a yearbook, the only important shot to take here supposedly was the one with the black toga but we just added some fun there for a memoir.

Here are the Final Shots with final edits!

Pierce was the main editor and our photographer as well. He changed the backgrounds using Canva, then me and @blip-blop were the one who added some enhancements on the photo using some free editing applications.

I looked like their Auntie here honestly. My first casual outfit can't blend with the lightings well, so Bree lend me her blouse for this photoshoot. Anyway, after the issues with the lightings, it ends well and we got all the shots we wanted.

Our photoshoot ends there!

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Happy Graduation to every graduating students here this school year!