Golden Hour SCU Grad Session | Santa Clara University | HKCreate Bay Area Photographers

May 19
2 min read

Smiling woman in a white dress with a red sash sits on tiled steps in a sunny courtyard with flowers and terracotta roofs. Mission steps at SCU
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

"...I will need help posing because I am typically not very good at it." That's how this grad's email message started, but she couldn't have been more wrong! She looked so natural and at ease in her photos that her initial comment didn't hold up at all!

We've been loving the midi dresses that we've seen on grads lately! They're so classy and elegant (and they're easy to sit down in, haha!).

As we headed to the Santa Clara University campus, we noticed some flying ash and smoke in the distance and found out there was a brush fire in East San Jose. (We also almost got hit by a car while crossing the street on the crosswalk, but we don't need to go into that right now, ha!) With the mounting gray smoke clouding out the blue skies, we thought our grad would be bummed, but she took it in stride. She was so chill and didn't even let it faze her. Before long, the wind blew away the smoky haze and we were able to enjoy the whole golden hour graduation session because this lovely grad was so fun to hang out with.

The campus was crowded with other golden hour grad sessions, but since the campus is so large, we managed to time our spots around the other photographers without any hassle. Our Santa Clara University grad, who graduated with her masters program in engineering management and leadership, waved at almost every person who walked by on the SCU campus. She was so friendly and kind, and you can tell she is well-loved and will be missed on campus by many!

We hit all the classic spots on campus (i.e. The Mission, the O'Connor Hall Breezeway, the Abbey Sobrato Mall, the Fountain) and even tried a new one—the Santa Clara University entrance sign. We were thrilled she suggested it! It was a perfect spot to wrap up the session!

What they say about HK:

Photos with HK was amazing!! They are so energetic and kind! They knew exactly how to pose me and were so excited for all of the photos we were doing!I highly recommend them and would get photos with them in a heartbeat!

Interested in booking a grad photoshoot with HKCreate Bay Area Photographers? Click here!

Smiling young woman in black graduation cap and gown with red stole, standing outdoors in a sunny garden; tassel reads 2026.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling graduate in cap and gown with red stole, arms raised on a flower-lined path before a chapel cross.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling graduate in black gown and red stole holds a cap on a flower-lined path before a small mission with a cross.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in white dress and heels stands on tiled steps, holding a black graduation cap and colorful stole before wooden doors.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a white dress and heels poses on brick steps, holding a graduation cap before an arched wooden door.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a white dress and black heels stands on tiled church steps before a wooden door wearing graduation hood
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling graduate in white dress and black heels stands on church steps, holding a a graduation cap and wearing a hood
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a white dress with a red stole sits on outdoor steps, with sunlit trees blurred behind her.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a red top touches her hair outdoors, with a blurred green background. Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Woman in a white dress with a red sash reclines on outdoor steps, smiling in a sunny garden with tiled roofs and greenery
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling young woman in white dress and red Santa Clara University stole, posing outdoors on steps at sunset.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a white dress outdoors, with a red-black graduation hood, posing by steps in warm sunlight and blurred greenery.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a white dress with a red-and-black sash stands outdoors in a garden, with a blurred house behind her.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in white dress with graduation cap on steps outside a beige building, holding the railing and looking back.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate O'Connor Hall Breezeway

Smiling woman in white dress and red stole descends stone steps, holding a graduation cap beside an arched building.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate O'Connor Hall Breezeway

Smiling woman in a white dress and red-black sash stands on stone steps under arched entryway, holding the rail.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate O'Connor Hall Breezeway

Smiling graduate in white dress holds cap in front of the O'Connor Hall Breezeway at Santa Clara University
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling young woman in a white dress under arched hallways, holding a black graduation cap with red, white, and black hood
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate O'Connor Hall Breezeway

Woman in a white dress stands in a marble O'Connor Hall Breezeway holding a black graduation cap, suggesting a celebratory graduation mood.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling woman in a white dress and red-black hood poses in an arched hallway, holding a graduation cap. O'Connor Hall Breezeway
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling graduate in white dress holds black mortarboard with 2026 tassel in a warm arched O'Connor Hall Breezeway
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Smiling graduate in white dress and red-black stole holds a black cap in a marble archway hallway. O'Connor Hall Breezeway
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Graduate in cap and gown raises arms and holds mortarboard on a palm-lined campus walkway, celebrating joyfully
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling graduate in white dress and black gown holding a cap, standing on a palm-lined campus path in bright sunlight.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling graduate in white dress lifts her cap on a palm-lined campus walkway at sunset
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling graduate in white dress and black gown with red stole stands on a palm-lined walkway, holding her cap.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling woman in a graduation gown walks along a palm-lined path on a sunny campus, holding her cap and red hood.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling graduate in gown spins on a palm-lined campus walkway, holding a graduation cap, with a mission behind her.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling graduate in cap and gown holds mortarboard on a palm-lined campus walkway at sunset.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling graduate in cap and gown twirls on a sunny campus path, holding a graduation cap with palm trees and a mission behind her.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Graduate in black gown raises arms and cap on a palm-lined campus path, celebrating in a sunny courtyard.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Woman in a white dress reaches toward a flying graduation cap in a sunny park with tall palm trees.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling woman in white dress with red stole pops champagne by a fountain, spray sparkling in a sunny courtyard.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling woman in white dress and red stole pops champagne in a fountain, spray flying in a sunny tree-lined courtyard.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Woman in a white dress walks barefoot on a paved path, holding black high heels, with trees and buildings in the background.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Woman in a white dress walks barefoot on a brick path, holding black heels and a champagne bottle, with trees and buildings behind.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling woman in a white dress holds black heels and a La Marca Prosecco champagne bottle on a tree-lined walkway.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Smiling woman in a white dress with a red Santa Clara University sash stands on a tree-lined path, looking back.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate Abbey Sobrato Mall

Woman in a white dress smiles beside a Santa Clara University sign, with palm trees and pink flowers in the background.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Woman in a white dress stands by the Santa Clara University sign, smiling in a sunny garden with palm trees and bright flowers.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Woman in a white dress sits on the Santa Clara University sign, smiling amid palm trees, green lawn, and pink flowers.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

Woman in a white dress leans on the Santa Clara University sign, surrounded by green trees and pink flowers in warm sunlight.
Golden Hour Santa Clara University Graduation Photoshoot by Bay Area Photographers HKCreate

ABOUT HK CREATE PHOTOGRAPHY

Located in the Bay Area in San Jose, California, HK Create is a sister photography duo who love connecting with people to capture lasting memories. Known for their joyful, candid, and creative photos, these natural light photographers want your experience to be more than just getting awesome photos, but aim for connection, interaction and authenticity in your photos, while embracing the joy and chaos that comes along with it!

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Interested in booking a session with us? Click here!