Top 5 Underrated Spots for UC Berkeley Graduation Photos
January 23rd, 2025
Introduction
While there are so many popular spots to take photos at on UC Berkeley’s campus, there are five in particular that I have found to be underrated over the years.
Not only do these spots tend to be less crowded and chaotic of environments to navigate, but there is so much beauty, creative opportunity, and visual wonder in store for you at each one.
With that being said, here’s my pitch as to why you should consider these five spots for your graduation photo session.
1. Inside Doe Library
This is actually one of my FAVORITE spots to take photos at on campus. The main reason for that is because of how all the visual elements blend together to make something so beautiful. I typically ask my grads to sit on a stool that is dead-center in the middle of the room, which allows all the tables and shelves to be around them and make the focus clearly on them.
The window behind the subject allows for natural light to enter into the library and display part of a tree as well, creating an aesthetically pleasing blurred “bokeh” effect. My grads often like having a mix between photos where they’re both sitting and standing, as well as while they’re holding a book and pretending to read (which makes sense because we’re in a library, get it haha).
2. Inside Hearst Mining Memorial Building (HMMB)
Although this spot is often closed on weekends, I love taking photos inside HMMB when it is usually open on weekdays because there’s so many different physical elements you can play with. For example, I might pose a grad by asking them to lean on the upper level ledge and allow a pastel green background of the ledge across from us mixed with the classic brown look of the walls. The lights surrounding the top perimeter of the ledge area are also radiant to see in the background.
Going into the lecture hall right when you get upstairs has also been a fun place for grads to reminisce about being in class and getting some classroom vibe shots.
The windows next to the ledge upstairs can be fun to play with too. This is one of the few spots on campus where I can create a silhouette effect of my grads and display the light from the window for a strong contrast between the grad’s shadow’s darkness & the natural light shining in from the outside.
3. The Redwoods
Located right next to 4.0 Hill, the redwoods are a great spot to retreat away from the typically more crowded and popular spots on campus.
UC Berkeley is unique in the sense that it’s a college town with some city vibes, but also located in Northern California, where lots of awesome nature elements like redwood trees and creeks exist.
I personally find seeing the greenery of the tree leaves and plants to be so refreshing and natural-feeling, while the deep browns and textures of the bark on the trees make it feel like I’m in a forest. I would definitely love to see more grads taking photos here and learning to appreciate this beautiful aspect of our campus that can be easily overlooked.
4. Inside Wheeler Hall
Similar to the lecture hall in HMMB, taking photos inside Wheeler Hall can give a solid classroom vibe. Grads can take photos here individually while sitting at a desk or rearrange the desks (when a classroom is not in session) to group them together with friends (just make sure you reorganize them again before you leave).
This spot is great if you want to play around with the different classroom elements, have a quiet and private spot to chill at with your friends in between the more crowded and chaotic spots on campus, and feel like you’re just a normal college student in your discussion section.
5. Outside Soda Hall
The space right outside of Soda Hall makes for some fun and creative shots, especially if you’re a computer science/EECS major! Grads can sit at one of the tables or benches and take some posed shots to make it look like they’re coding.
The tiled top area above the walkway creates an interesting “leading lines” effect that displays unique & aesthetically pleasing symmetry in the background.
So if you’re trying to look like you’re learning in CS 61A again or just want a few photos at the building where you made all those late night grinding-through-projects memories with your friends, taking photos outside of Soda Hall might be the move for you!
Conclusion
If you’ve read up to this point, hopefully you can see the value of considering each of these spots for your graduation photo session. At the end of the day, it’s up to you where you feel like you’d want photos most at on campus, but since grad sessions have limited time, I encourage you to be intentional with planning yours out and communicate your wants with your photographer.
And if you’re still looking for a grad photographer, feel free to view my grad packages through clicking on the button below. I love working with UC Berkeley grads in particular because meeting y’all reminds me of what an awesome campus my alma mater is and makes me grateful for the memories I made when I was in college.
I hope this was helpful and I’m looking forward to meeting you in person, collaborating with you to plan some fun sessions, and having the honor and joy of capturing an awesome milestone in your life!