Grace Marian Pettit Sacramento State Graduation Photos
Graduating from college is such a special milestone, and getting to photograph Grace again for this next chapter made this session even more meaningful.
I first photographed Grace for her high school senior photos back in 2022, and now here she is graduating from California State University, Sacramento in 2026. Seeing her step into this next season of life after being part of her senior year just a few years ago is something I never take for granted. She’s earning her degree in education and will be continuing on at Sacramento State to complete her teaching credential, working toward her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.
We kept this session simple and focused, walking around campus and stopping at the spots that meant the most to her. We made sure to include the front of campus with the Sacramento State sign, the education building (which was especially important for her major), the campus library, and the rose garden. Along the way, we also stopped at a few additional locations that gave us a great mix of greenery, walkways, and those classic campus backdrops.
Grace also brought along some really thoughtful props that tied everything together. Along with her cap and gown, cords, and stoles, she included a few books from her childhood—Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss, Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl, and The Berenstain Bears Graduation Day. Each one centered around graduation and added such a personal touch to this milestone. One of my favorite details was the photo she brought from her own kindergarten graduation, which made this session feel even more special.
Her outfit was clean and timeless with a simple white dress, which paired perfectly with her cap and gown and worked beautifully with all the different locations around campus. It kept the focus on her and this huge accomplishment while still giving us a polished, classic look throughout the session.
Congratulations, Grace!
Grace, it was so great getting to photograph you again and celebrate this next chapter. Watching your journey from high school to college graduation has been really special, and you’ve accomplished something to be so proud of.
Wishing you all the best as you continue on with your teaching credential and step into the classroom. Congratulations again on your graduation!
To see more college graduation sessions, be sure to check out the blog posts below.
