When the deadline is in March, but graduation is at the end of May, unleash your creative side.
Plan a modular spread. Consider using meaningful stories, beautiful staged photography, timeless quotes, the program, and copy from one of the graduation speeches.
For a beautiful dominant photo, schedule a photoshoot on the day the seniors receive their caps and gowns. Take a group of eight to ten students outside, tell them to don their gowns, and throw their caps high in the air. Ask them to jump for joy. Take the photos – get the smiles, and hats rising into the (hopefully) clear blue sky.
For a mod that highlights some of the graduates, assign yearbook students to make 2025 signs or graduation-themed props. Then take portraits of some of the grads using the props. Strive for a diverse group. Ask each of them a few questions: Why is the graduation ceremony important to your family? What part of graduation are you most looking forward to? Who is the most proud of you? If you need more details follow up with ‘tell me more about that.’ Record the interviews or write down the best quotes to use in the book.
Include a story. Find out who is the first in their family to graduate – interview them. Find out which grad’s parents and grandparents graduated from the same school or in the same town – interview them. Ask a counselor which graduate they are most proud of and interview them. Include the best stories in the yearbook.
Ask your principal if the graduation speeches have already been approved. You may be able to include part or all of one.
The graduation spread does not have to be pictures of the ceremony. It might actually mean more if it’s about the graduates themselves.
