Chapman alumnae snap graduation photos for seniors

Chapman alumnae Gracie Shafqat (left) and Riley Herendeen (right), each with their own photography business, discuss their tips for seniors to prepare for their graduation photoshoot. Photos courtesy of Gracie Shafqat and Riley Herendeen

The countless pops of champagne bottles, confetti sprinkled across Memorial Lawn and caps thrown in the air could only mean one thing — graduation photo season is upon us. 

For local photographers, this is what they have been preparing for all year. It's time to play "Eye of the Tiger" and become the Rocky Balboa of photographers — building up endurance to complete one graduation session almost every day for three months in the spring and over 25 sessions in the fall. 

Gracie Shafqat graduated from Chapman in 2022 and has been taking photos since she was 13. Photos by Gracie Shafqat

Besides her workload picking up, Chapman alumna and portrait photographer Gracie Shafqat told The Panther that daily photoshoots may be draining, but it allows her to develop new relationships within the community. 

"It's a special little connection that I get to have with somebody for an hour and then you go about your day," Shafqat said. "It's just nice to get outside and feel like you get to do something for someone else and it's also doing something good for you."

With spring semester approaching and fall graduation around the corner, Shafqat and other portrait photographers are planning for their busiest time of year. The Panther reached out to Chapman alumni graduation photographers to share their tips for overwhelmed seniors. 

While Shafqat, who graduated in the spring of 2022 with a degree in broadcast journalism and documentary, started taking photos when she was 13, her style has elevated to taking professional shots for Consumer Product Goods (CPG) brands, families, couples and of course, college seniors. 

What drives Shafqat to continue shooting and editing thousands of photos for hours and hours is her love for spreading joy to others. 

"I missed a lot of things (in college) because I wanted to serve other people (and) as weird as it sounds, getting to capture somebody else's important moment in their life makes me feel super rewarded," Shafqat said. "I was into philanthropy when I was in high school, and I really got involved in my sorority. Having my own personal business where I feel like I can do something nice for somebody else gives me that same rewarding feeling."

Portrait photographer Riley Herendeen is also a Chapman alumna who graduated in the spring of 2022 with a degree in graphic design. She has had a camera in her hand since she was in high school — mesmerized by the photogenic nature in her home state of Hawaii. 

Even though each photo is inspired by the background of nature, Herendeen said each shoot depicts the unique qualities of each person's personality.  

Riley Herendeen graduated from Chapman in 2022 and has loved photography since high school. Photos by Riley Herendeen

"Everyone is so different and I capture people differently," Herendeen said. "I like to get to know (people) before and ask them questions before we shoot. I think the way I edit them comes through with the person they are and the person that they reflect and I get inspiration from that."

Shafqat recommends that if seniors feel awkward being in front of a camera, the simple act of bringing a friend or family member eases the nerves. 

"If somebody were to come to me and be like, 'Oh, I'm kind of on the shy side, I don't really feel very comfortable in front of the camera,' I recommend doing your shoot with your friend," Shafqat said. "You will be so much more comfortable with them."

Another tip Shafqat suggests is to avoid scheduling a photoshoot in May due to dozens of other grads taking photos at the same time. To stray away from the long waits in May, Shafqat said ordering a cap and gown and confirming a date with your photographer of choice should be something to start thinking about now for both fall and spring graduates. 

"It sometimes takes two hours to do a shoot (in May) that should only take an hour because you have to wait at each spot that we walk to on campus to take photos," Shafqat said. "You have to wait for all these people to finish and your shoot just goes so long. You miss out on the really good lighting because I time it to a tee, and if there's a five-minute difference, I can tell in the photos."

 As for clothing, Herendeen said in her years of experience, Chapman grads love to wear white, black and red. But Herendeen advises to stick to authenticity, not the trends. When Herendeen was taking her graduation photos, she adorned a red and white polka-dot maxi dress, which spoke the most to her identity. 

"It's not easy being in front of a camera," Herendeen said. "I hate getting my photo taken even though I'm a photographer. I'll give little tips here and there on what to do, but I think it's just about being yourself and being comfortable. I would just say wear something that represents you."

Chapman alumna Maggie Kabilafkas, who graduated in the fall of 2021 with a degree in strategic and corporate communication and political science, used Herendeen to take her graduation photos and said selecting a photographer familiar with the campus made the experience that much more beneficial.

"I would recommend finding a student photographer from Chapman because they are super talented and they know the best spots," Kabilafkas said. "It was also so cool to have the final memories of your Chapman experience captured by a Chapman student because they are just the best."

With their calendars already booking up each day, both Herendeen and Shafqat emphasize finding a photographer that aligns with the types of photos you are looking for — whether that be candids, close-ups, blurry or far-away shots. Nevertheless, they are both thrilled to be able to share the memorable experience of graduation with each senior.

"It's a big milestone to graduate," Herendeen said. "So I think having these photos is a great thing to always keep. You'll always look back at this moment and appreciate where you were and where you graduated from and the memories you made in college. And it might be just as simple as looking back at the photos." 

Herendeen is now booking for fall and spring graduation photo sessions through her Instagram. Shafqat is fully booked for fall graduation sessions but her calendar for spring graduation opens in January — you can sign up for text reminders through her Instagram.