Just don’t forget to smile!
Picture this: It’s your big moment. You’re wearing your navy-blue gown and staring into the camera, trying to give off a perfect mix of proud and nonchalant while wondering whether you’re even smiling right.
Why does it feel like the camera is hunting you for sport?
Graduation signals the culmination of a lot of hard work, and it’s natural to want to show the world your best self. But that stress shouldn’t take away from your celebration. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but it’s also just… a picture. It can’t capture the depth of your entire student experience.
Here is how you can take some of the pressure off.
Why the picture pressure?
Living in the digital age, we tend to treat every photo as a candidate for our next post. Photos turn into social currency, not just memories. The days of the simple family photo album are far away.
And of course, with social media comes comparison. We hold ourselves up to the curated, artificial standards of someone else’s reality — despite the fact that what we see online is hardly what exists in person.
A grad photo can be an extended case of this, because we plan on showing it as a point of pride to everyone (including potential employers on LinkedIn).
Perfection is an impossible standard
We all go through bouts of self-criticism, but our little imperfections are only visible to ourselves. We tend to be harsher on ourselves than we ever would be on a friend or stranger.
The problem is, in preparation for an event you want to look perfect for, you spend too long staring at yourself in the mirror. Long enough for your self-perception to become distorted. (No, nobody is going to notice the size of your pores or that one strand of hair you can’t make peace with.)
That’s true for anything; focus on it too much, and every minor fault will be magnified. Ever been stuck reading over every word of an essay draft, unable to press submit? Perfectionism might feel productive, but more often, it’s a waste of energy.
Boost your confidence
Here’s a little exercise: Go through your camera roll and find some old favourite photos of yourself.
What made those photos stand out? Is there a particular pose or angle you can refuse here? Maybe you were having a good time and not thinking about your appearance, which made for a more natural photo. Or maybe it just reminds you of a nice moment.
Focus on what the photo represents
Regardless of how the photo turns out, its significance is the same. All the 8 a.m. classes, the endless group projects, and the caffeine-fueled lock-in sessions (or crash-outs)… it’s over, and it has all brought you here.
Try to see the incredibly accomplished person behind your photo, and not the photo itself. Seriously. A post-secondary degree is no small feat!
This is the end of a long journey, and the beginning of another.
Ready to confront the camera?
This graduation season, IGNITE is partnering with Studio Nostalgia to deliver you an easy and personalized grad photo experience. Studio Nostalgia provides props, but you’re also encouraged to be creative and bring your own — make your photo uniquely yours.
Find session dates for your campus and register ahead of time to save your spot! It’s as simple as making an account with your student number, choosing a time and date, and then showing up. Don’t forget to bring a $10 sitting fee.
So, get your smile ready, and don’t forget to congratulate yourself! You’ve earned it.
Feature photo courtesy of Josiah Holdcroft on Unsplash
Preparing for life after grad? Check out how other graduating students transition into the workforce!
