As graduating University of Mississippi seniors prepare for their next chapter, they are bringing this one to a close with photographs to commemorate their college years.
In the lead-up to graduation, photographers are capturing students across campus to capture their college memories in a few frames.
Photographer and UM senior Lydia Waters said her goal is to help seniors wrap up their time at the university with their chins held high.
“I try to capture people’s confidence and just the overall emotions that they’re going through with the whole process. Whether that’s happiness, excitement — whatever it really is — I just try to bring that to fruition,” Waters said.
Photo by Jesse Mitchell
While a single graduation photo session could cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,000, it can be hard to put a price on memories. Waters said graduation photos serve as a way for seniors to encapsulate their entire journey with a single moment.
“I think taking grad photos is a really good way for people to have this kind of closure. This is like a final step for them. When they take grad photos it really does feel like that final chapter is coming to a close,” Waters said.
For many students, graduation photos are a prerequisite. Senior public policy leadership major Alyssa Yarbro said these photos have been on her mind from the moment she arrived on campus.
“I think that graduating college is such a rite of passage. I’ve seen people taking their senior pictures all over campus when I was a freshman, sophomore, junior. Now it’s like, wow, this is my turn. I’m grown up now, and I get to move on to the next thing,” Yarbro said.
While some areas such as the Walk of Champions, the Phi Mu sorority fountain and the Lyceum make it into everyone’s lineup, Yarbro said part of the fun for her has been taking pictures in locations that are significant to her personal journey.
“I’m just gonna stop in any places that mean a lot to me,” Yarbro said. “The building for my major means so much to me. I’ve spent countless hours there. I’ve made so many friends. I’ve met so many wonderful professors there.”
