Two women in white dresses walking down a coastal dirt path holding graduation stoles, one holding a 'Santa Barbara' stole.
Illustration of two beige palm trees with curved trunks and leaves against a black background.

Santa Barbara Graduation Photos

From the cap toss to the champagne pop on the lawn, I'm here to capture the moment you cross the finish line

Solo, with your best friend, or your whole crew, graduation sessions for seniors in the Santa Barbara area.

A woman with curly hair smiling, standing against a pinkish wall. She is wearing a blue sleeveless top, white pants, and has tattoos on her arms. She is holding a camera in her hands.
A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a blue and white shirt, holding a small fluffy dog with brown and black fur and large ears, standing in front of a beige background.

Your digital + film photographer, Zoe

Large blue number 6 with a hand making an OK gesture at the top.

Meet your digital + film photographer, Zoe

Hi, I'm Zoe! I'm a proud graduate of UCSB, and hopefully your future photographer.

I've been taking grad photos for over 7 years and have photographed hundreds of graduates along the way.

My approach is easy-going while still celebrating your individuality and accomplishments.

Whether you want classic cap-and-gown portraits, candid shots with your friends, or a mix of both, I'll help you figure out what feels most like you. I can't wait to meet you!

Inquire with Zoe
Two women at the beach, wearing graduation stoles, holding yellow flowers over their eyes for a playful photo.
Two women at the beach, wearing graduation stoles, holding yellow flowers over their eyes for a playful photo.
A young woman sitting outdoors on a stone ledge, holding a yellow law journal in her left hand and a blue law book in her right hand. She is wearing a white dress and a blue sash, with flowers in her hair, surrounded by colorful flowers and trees.
Young woman wearing a blue graduation stole, yellow dress, and checkerboard Vans shoes skateboarding on a street during sunset.
A man in a blue suit and a woman in a white dress at the beach, both wearing graduation sashes that read "Class of 2025" and "UCSANTA BARBARA." The man is holding the woman as she extends her arms and legs joyfully.

This is the part where I stop talking and you take a peek at what your session could look like

Group of women in white dresses celebrating on a sandy beach with ocean waves in the background, some holding blue and yellow sashes.
A person celebrating graduation outdoors, opening a bottle of champagne with champagne spray in the air, wearing a diploma sash, in a park-like area with trees and a building in the background.
A woman with red hair smiling and holding a black and white cat outdoors, with a garden and a brick wall in the background.
A woman with red hair smiling and holding a black and white cat outdoors, with a garden and a brick wall in the background.
A woman in a white dress and sandals standing in the aisle of a library, wearing a blue graduation stole.
A woman in a blue dress and lace top at the beach, wearing a graduation sash that says "Santa Barbara," holding a rainbow pride flag
A woman in a white dress and blue graduation stole kneels next to a golden retriever dog with a red collar in front of a sign that reads 'City of California, Ventura.' The woman is smiling gently at the dog, which is looking back at her.
Four women celebrating at the beach with champagne bottles and sparklers, smiling and wearing sashes.
Four women celebrating at the beach with champagne bottles and sparklers, smiling and wearing sashes.
Young man in graduation gown and cords leaning on a balcony railing outside a modern glass building.
A young woman in a white outfit smiling and looking back, wearing a blue sash that says 'UC Santa Barbara', standing outdoors in front of a university building with modern architecture and a palm tree.
Two women celebrating graduation outside Santa Cruz Hall, holding champagne bottles and spraying champagne, wearing graduation stoles and high heels, smiling and enjoying the moment.
A young woman with curly dark hair smiling outdoors on a sunny day, wearing a yellow UCSB sweatshirt, white skirt, and maroon heels, standing on a grassy area near a paved path with a monument and trees in the background.

The investment for graduations

From cap-and-gown portraits to the whole crew popping bubbles on the lawn, this is a chance to celebrate everything you've earned. Solo, duo, or group, I'll help you mix classic shots with the candid, in-between moments you'll definitely want to remember.

Starting at $500 /hr

View Package Details →

Your Graduation photo packing list

Must bring:

  • Stole(s)

  • Comfortable shoes to walk in

Recommended:

  • Cap + gown

  • Jacket or sweater

  • Additional makeup to reapply

  • Additional props (skateboard, textbooks, diploma, bouquet, etc.)

What to Bring

Champagne:

  • Cooks, Barefoot, and La Marca all have inexpensive champagne that sprays well

  • If you don't drink but still want to do a champagne pop, Welch's sparkling juice also works a treat.

Please refrain from bringing confetti or anything else that will damage the environment.

Get started

Client reviews

  • Zoe absolutely crushed it.

    She was super easy/fun to work with and went above and beyond in terms of service. Cannot recommend Zoe enough - thanks for being an integral part of our special day!

    Alec + Lacey

  • They are so beautiful!!!!!!!!! I literally cried, they are perfect! You got everything I wanted and more.

    Everyone loved you, and it's obviously because you're the best!! Thank you again so much, Alfred said you were amazing, he loved how you spoke to everyone and how you "got shit done" haha!

    Tiffany + Alfred

  • I couldn't be happier with how our photos turned out!

    Zoe is a total professional and an immense pleasure to work with. She made everything easy, communicated well before, during, and after, and made us feel comfortable while shooting together.

    Kevin + Alexa

  • Ohhh Zoe! They turned out so great! Thank you very very much.

    You were wonderful to work with throughout the entire process and we can't thank you enough! We will post soon and give you all the praises.

    Meg + Joe

  • We couldn't have asked for a better photographer and you made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera.

    We are so in love with the final photos. Thank you for being so wonderful and capturing our love. Hope to work with you again in the future for more milestones in our lives.

    Diana + Rey

  • Made me feel so comfortable and encouraged my personality to shine!

    One of the most fun and kindest souls to work with! I love how she paid attention to detail and really walked me through everything to get the most memorable shots!

    Georgina

  • Thank you so much for helping make our day so special and seamless.

    Zoe these look fabulous!!!! We really appreciate you and your amazing work! Thank you again!

    Remy + Dylan

  • We really appreciate you making this day extra special for us and helping us capture the beautiful moments.

    Thank you so much for sharing the full gallery with us. These are all great and so fun to look back at :) Thank you <3

    Yasaman + Steven

  • Zoe did an amazing job with our engagement photos!

    We really liked working with her and would highly recommend trusting her with your next photo shoot. We loved how true to color her editing was and how it enhanced the image without going overboard.

    John + Dana

  • Again, thank you thank you. It's so rare to actually get to see photos of myself that I like!

    It's taken me a whole week to really take in these beautiful photos. I'm a little in awe. Your direction during the shoot and just helping me feel comfortable and at ease and I feel like that really translated into the photos. Plus, the family photos are just precious. Your work is epic and I will send others your way!!

    Jess Sussman

  • If I am ever in need of an amazing photographer I would surely love to work with you again!

    I just wanted to thank you again and your team for being so awesome to work with. I loved the little surprise in the mail and appreciate having all the photos on hard drive!

    Kaitlin + Darnell

  • You captured our vision perfectly.

    The final product looks absolutely fantastic! We want to express our gratitude for your exceptional work and for delivering the album on schedule. It was a pleasure working with you.

    Maxwell + Jessica

  • Zoe was a joy to be photographed by!

    She was encouraging and willing to be flexible for us. I appreciated the care she put into photographing me and my friends, and how quickly she got our photos back to us!

    Emma

  • Just wanted to say thank you so much for the beautiful photos of the Santa Barbara ceremony!

    We're so happy to have reached out to you and grateful for your help in posing for the photos and will cherish these photos for quite some time!

    S + M

  • Thank you again for making us feel relaxed during the ceremony so that we could have positive energy.

    Thank you for your amazing work for our wedding! We really love your photos, and they all look great. Everything was so easy with you!

    J + D

  • We had so much fun and felt so comfortable taking photos and they turned out incredible!!

    Thank you so much, Zoe! Our friends and family are going to go crazy when they see these! So excited to see the rest when the time comes!

    Dani + Brandon

  • We love the photos. We appreciate you.

    You do amazing work; you definitely have the right mindset & vibe for your craft.

    Marvin + Patricia

  • We especially love the film photos - they turned out so lovely and we're so happy you offered that type of photography.

    The photos are so wonderful, thank you so much!! Thank you for giving us so many moments to cherish. It was lovely to work with you, and we appreciate all of your guidance along the way. We will happily recommend your services to any friends or family who get married soon.

    Evelyn + Trevor

  • These photos are so BEAUTIFUL.

    Thank you for capturing our day! We had such a great time working with you!!!

    Kimiko + Mike

  • Having this special day captured through your lens is the greatest gift that we will cherish forever.

    Matt and I simply cannot thank you enough for these incredible photos. You captured us so perfectly, each photo speaks to who we are as a couple, and looking through these photos brings tears to my eyes every time. Your talent is truly remarkable and we appreciate all the hard work and dedication that went into this project. Thank you again, I couldn't love these more if I tried!

    Sarah + Matt

love notes

A woman with curly hair taking a photo with a camera outdoors in a garden, with greenery and a white building with arched windows and decorative architectural elements in the background.
A woman with curly hair and tattoos, smiling, holds a camera with a large lens above her head against a light pink wall.

Here’s what the Process looks like…

From your inquiry to showing off celebrating your incred achievements

1. Consultation

Reach out with your session details (solo, duo, or group) and I'll help you figure out timing, locations, and what to bring.

2. Planning

We'll pick 1-2 spots around campus or Santa Barbara that fit your vibe, and I'll send over outfit and prop ideas ahead of time.

3. Session Day

We'll move through your locations together, mixing solo shots, group shots, and the candid in-between moments (the giggs, the huggs, the euphoric we-actually-did-that feeling).

Inquire with Zoe

  • Yes, absolutely! Please feel free to have family, friends, and pets come along to your session to take a couple of pictures with you and cheer you on at no extra charge. If any of your friends want their own solo pictures, please book a group session.

  • No deposit is required to book and the full payment is due the day of your session. You can pay through Venmo, Zelle, or I can send you a link to pay by credit or debit card.

  • Your full gallery will be out in about 3 weeks of your session and a couple of samples will be out after 1 week. If you choose to book your session closer to commencement weekend, I make sure to send you a few samples for you to have on the day that you officially graduate!

  • Springtime in Santa Barbara can sometimes be a bit gloomy and I typically avoid rescheduling or moving sessions due to clouds. A lot of what you see in my portfolio were shot on gloomy days and they still turned out great! If it is raining, extremely foggy, or we have other extreme weather I will send you a message to reschedule to a different date.

  • The short answer is no, unless we have both agreed upon it in advanced. If you feel like I left something out of your gallery, please let me know! I will never hold images hostage on purpose. Send me a message if you want the long answer - I love educating my clients!

  • Yes, I set aside a limited number discounted sessions each year, including for first-generation graduates and folks from marginalized communities. If cost is what's standing between you and a session, reach out and let's talk.

Ready to get started?

Big day, small day, all days worth remembering.

Weddings, elopements, courthouse "I do's," couples in golden California glow… I'm in it with you, creating images you'll treasure forever.

Inquire now

Outline of two foaming beer mugs clinking together.
Silhouette of a laser gun in a radio broadcast style, orange color on a black background.