Top 7 Spots to Consider for UCLA Graduation Photos
FEBRUARY 6TH, 2025
Introduction
While there are many beautiful spots to take photos at on UCLA’s campus, there are seven in particular that I would recommend considering for your graduation photo session.
Not only are these spots popular, but there is so much great architecture, creative opportunity, and ways you can plan for classic photos you’ll end up appreciating from each one.
With that being said, here’s my pitch as to why you should consider these seven spots for your UCLA graduation photo session.
1. Royce Hall (at the front steps)
When I think about a profile picture that feels like UCLA, the first background that comes to mind is the mahogany-colored doors at the front steps of Royce Hall. The door, column, and brick designs at this part of Royce make the setting feel classic and special.
Although this spot is popular, the fact that there are three doors divided by large columns creates three different sections for graduating students to take photos at.
For a variety of backgrounds within this spot, I recommend taking photos while standing a few feet in front of a door, sitting/standing on the steps, and leaning on the columns.
2. Royce Hall (under the arches)
Another spot I recommend for photos is standing under the arches at Royce Hall. Something about the design of the arches and the brick design makes this spot feel timeless and visually appealing.
I do my best to have my grads stand in the center of the hall when they pose so they’re aligned with the arches and clearly the focus of the photo.
People often walk through or by the back of this hallway, so it’s good to keep in mind that you’ll need to be patient with waiting for them to move to get a clean background.
3. Bushes in Front of the Grass Field in Front of Royce Hall
One reason I like this spot is because it displays the front of Royce Hall at a wide angle. Unlike the photos at the front steps, you can see the whole building and appreciate its classic brick design more this way.
Having the bushes behind you also adds a layer of natural greenery that’s nice.
4. Top of Janss Steps
At the top of Janss Steps, you can see grass fields and Drake Stadium in the distance. This is a great spot to take photos at, especially during golden hour when the sunlight shines in behind you and makes it look like you’re glowing.
It’s important to keep in mind that students will be constantly walking up and down the steps, so you need to be patient with waiting for them to move far enough to get a background with less people.
At the same time though, I find that having some people in the background of your photos here is normal and makes it feel like a typical day on campus.
5. Grass Next to Janss Steps
The grass next to Janss Steps is one of the best spots for you to do a cap toss. The reason for this is because you can see the sky wide open without being blocked by trees or other elements. So when you toss your cap here, it’s easy to spot, nice and high in the sky.
Some poses I recommend here involve standing and sitting on the grass. Similar to at the top of Janss Steps, golden hour light can shine in behind you and bring in a warm glowy feel to your photo.
6. Bushes to the Side of Janss Steps
Another popular spot on campus is the bushes to the side of Janss steps, where you can see Royce Hall popping out in the background.
If you’re considering popping a champagne bottle for fun at some point during your session, I would argue that this is the best spot mainly because when the champagne splashes, it all gets on the grass and doesn’t make any concrete flooring sticky for other people.
This is also another good spot for a high cap toss. And the bushes provide a layer of natural greenery and are especially beautiful when the pink flowers have bloomed!
7. Bruin Statue
The last spot I wanted to suggest considering is the Bruin Statue. While the first six spots I mentioned are all relatively close in proximity, this spot is furthest from Royce Hall, so it’s helpful to keep in mind that it will require a few more minutes of walking to visit.
A cool thing about this statue is that there’s different ways you can pose with it. Some of my grads have stood next to it while resting their hand on its nose, while others have rested their graduation stoles on top of its nose while they squat below it and smile.
Some have even tried climbing on top of the statue and sitting on it! This can be a bit dangerous, so keep in mind potential injuries that could happen and ask for help from others to lift you up if needed.
Conclusion
If you’ve read up to this point, hopefully you can see the value of considering each of these spots for your UCLA 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 clearly with your photographer.
And if you’re still looking for a grad photographer in 2025, feel free to view my grad packages through clicking on the button below.
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!