Top 6 Popular Spots for UC Berkeley Graduation Photos
January 29th, 2025
Introduction
While there are many awesome spots to take photos at on UC Berkeley’s campus, there are six in particular that I have found to be the most popular over the years.
Not only are these spots popular, but there is so much great architecture, creative opportunity, and ways you can plan for classic-looking photos at each one.
With that being said, here’s my pitch as to why you should consider these six spots for your graduation photo session.
1. Sather Gate
This is probably UC Berkeley’s most well-known landmark, so it’s no wonder that most grads like to take photos here. The rustic green-blue color also makes it a cool sight to see.
The downside to Sather Gate is that because it’s so popular, it’s usually super crowded. While there are certain times of day when it’s less crowded (usually the mornings are best), I’d recommend preparing yourself to be patient and accepting of the many people walking through to get to or from class.
One thing I like to do is pull my subjects further out in front of the gate to create a blurred background effect called “bokeh”. This allows the gate to appear in an aesthetically pleasing and artsy quality while the subject can look crisp and focused in the frame.
2. Outside Lower Doe
Built in 1911, Doe Library is a 114-year-old landmark for UC Berkeley. Photos tend to be popular in front of the library doors and steps, where you can see the columns lined up symmetrically and the faded blue colors of the doors.
Since this location is very popular and only one person or group can be photographed at a time, there’s usually a line of people waiting, especially during the hour before sunset.
Although champagne pops can be popular here, I would strongly discourage you from planning your champagne pop here and considering a grassy area instead. While the photos might look great, people tend not to clean up after themselves and it makes the floor super sticky and gross to walk on.
This spot can be great for a cap toss, close-up shot with the doors in the background, or wide angle shot revealing the grandiose of the architecture at a larger scale.
3. Outside Upper Doe
I find the upper level outside of Doe Library to be a popular spot for a few reasons.
First, you can see the side of the library, where the tinted black window is high and makes a pretty epic background.
Second, you can sit on the ledge during golden hour, and if there’s a nice sunset that day (though I wouldn’t bet on this because Bay Area weather can tend to be overcast), it will display a beautiful warm glow behind you and make your skin look glowing.
Third, the corner of the ledge right next to the top of the staircase is perfectly positioned to view both the tinted black window and a row of tall pillars at a wide angle that highlights the spectacular architectural design of the building.
This is personally one of my favorite spots on campus to take photos at during golden hour and I would highly recommend considering it, especially if you want to try for warm and glowy light!!
4. The Campanile
People usually like to sit on the steps here in front of the small parking area, and these can make for great photos! Sitting at the top center of the steps positions you to be right in the middle of the row of trees and shows the campanile tower popping out from behind you.
At the same time though, I find a spot that’s underrated here to be directly at the bottom of the Campanile entrance. If you stand facing the tower, you can position yourself at the center of the row where the trees stand and that can make for a beautiful shot as well (especially if the trees are full of green leaves during the spring)!
5. Hearst Mining Circle
One thing I really like about this spot is how interesting the design of the circles in the fountain are. To show the beauty of this design in an aesthetically pleasing way, I usually have my subjects line up on the curve of the fountain and have the circles appear out of focus while my subjects look crisp and clear.
This can also be a great spot for a champagne pop since there’s a lot of grass in front of the fountain.
6. Outside Hearst Memorial Mining Building (HMMB)
The large mahogany doors and tall columns in front of the steps display the interesting and neoclassical piece of architecture that HMMB is.
Grads can take photos while sitting or standing on the steps. I typically give my grads a mix of close-ups with the door blurred and centered in the background while my grads look clear and crisp. I also like taking wider shots to display more of the holistic architecture of HMMB.
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!