Capturing Fall Graduation Photos at Columbia University

Hiring an experience, professional photographer ensures you get more than just snapshots and a few lucky photos —you get a professional, top tier NYC experience that highlights your personality, accomplishments, and the essence of New York City in every photos. Having captured countless NYC graduation photos since 2012, I have firsthand experience scouting the perfect locations, the do’s and do not’s of posing, and knowing proper lighting. Hiring a professional photographer makes your graduation photoshoot stress-free and worth while.

I specialize in creating timeless portraits that celebrate your achievements in iconic New York City settings. Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing Hana’s Fall 2025 graduation from Columbia University. Capturing a grad session in the fall present a lot of unique opportunities; fall foliage, fall lighting, and 0 competition with others on their graduation shoot.

Book Your Session Today!

Ready to celebrate your graduation with stunning professional photos? As a dedicated professional graduation photographer in NYC, I’ll guide you through every step—from location scouting, to selecting the right time of the day for lighting and crowds, to helping you pose.

• How many photos do I get

  All of the photos I capture are 100% yours! The # of photos you receive is related to how responsive you are to taking photos.

  Most photographers only deliver their top 20-30 photos, and then they up charge for the rest. They do this, so they don’t have to edit everything. I give you everything edited, and full-resolution. I want you to have it all!

• What is required for booking a session?

  
  I require a 50% deposit and signed contract to secure your grad session on my calendar.

• AccordWILL YOU HELP me WITH POSING finding and a location

  YES! This aint my first rodeo and most likely this is your first time working with a photographer. The most common feedback I hear is how much my client's appreciate my direction and prior experience!

Graduation Photos at Fordham University | A Milestone of an Achievement

Graduating from college is one of life’s most exciting milestones. It marks the end of a transformative journey and the beginning of bold new opportunities. As a NYC graduation photographer, I love capturing this unique chapter in a graduate’s life—filled with pride, excitement, and reflection.

Recently, I had the honor of photographing a college graduate who wanted to mark the moment with something truly special. We started our session at the beautiful Fordham University campus in the Bronx and then made our way down to Central Park, capturing timeless portraits at the iconic Bethesda Fountain. The combination of these two locations created a graduation gallery filled with history, elegance, and New York City charm.

Why Fordham University Is a Picture-Perfect Graduation Spot

With its rich history, collegiate architecture, and lush green spaces, Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx offers one of the most beautiful and timeless settings for graduation photography in New York City.

Tips for a Great Graduation Photo Session

Want to make the most of your Fordham graduation shoot? Here are a few quick tips:

• Book in advance - Spring weekends on campus get busy—schedule your shoot early to lock in the best light and time.

• Invite friends or family - A few group shots with the people who supported you can make your gallery even more special.

• Celebrate the details - Don’t forget to photograph your class ring, your decorated cap, and that joyful toss at the end.

Jonathan Heisler is a Professional New York City Photographer specializing in Graduation Senior Photos, Family Sessions, and Headshots / Portraits.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING THIS NYC PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Graduation Photos at Manhattan University in the Bronx | A Celebration of Success

Graduating college is a monumental milestone—and what better way to capture this incredible achievement than with a beautiful photo session on the campus where it all happened? Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a radiant graduate at Manhattan University (formerly Manhattan College), located in the heart of the Bronx. Over our 1 hour long session, we captured a diverse collection of images full of genuine character and professionalism, which are evergreen. These photos are timeless and tasteful.

Why Manhattan University is the Perfect Backdrop for Graduation Photos

Manhattan University's campus offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern collegiate energy. From classic red brick buildings and manicured gardens to open quads and ivy-covered walls, every corner of the campus is a picture-perfect setting for graduation photography.

For this shoot, we explored several iconic spots across campus. The late afternoon light gave everything a warm, celebratory tone—perfect for highlighting our graduate’s joy and accomplishments.

Jonathan Heisler is a Professional New York City Photographer specializing in Graduation Senior Photos, Family Sessions, and Headshots / Portraits.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIRING THIS NYC PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Capturing Success: A Graduation Photoshoot at Columbia Business School

As a Professional NYC graduation photographer, I’ve had the honor of working with students all across the city (CUNY Hunter, NYU, Baruch, Columbia, Pace, Pratt, and so on). But few experiences compare to the recent session I had with a fun group of 12 women graduating from Columbia University’s Business School (CBS)..

A Challenging Yet Rewarding Session on the Columbia Campus

The photoshoot took place at the new Columbia University campus at 135th and Broadway. If you know anything about photography, you know how important light is. You’ll also know 1PM isn’t an ideal hour—the midday sun can be harsh and unflattering with shadows. Yet, with a bit of creativity and teamwork we made it work. While we had to make a few compromises—balancing the time of day, crowds, and less than ideal backdrops—our collaborative approach ensured everyone walked away happy.

Celebrating Each Graduate's Individuality

Group shots are important, but my favorite part was capturing individual portraits of each graduate. These women are on the cusp of major careers in business, finance, tech, and entrepreneurship. I made sure each portrait reflected their unique personality, confidence, and professional presence. Whether it was a power pose on the steps of Uris Hall or a candid moment under the trees of College Walk, every image told a story.

These weren’t just headshots—they were portraits of future leaders.

Why Choose a Graduation Photographer Who Gets It?

Graduation is more than a cap and gown—it's a moment of transformation. You need a photographer who understands how to work in tough conditions, who can adapt quickly, and most importantly, who can bring out the best in you, even under the noon sun.

If you're a Columbia University graduate, or a soon-to-be graduate from any NYC school, and want portraits that capture not just what you look like—but who you are—I'm here to help make that vision a reality.

Looking for a Columbia graduation photographer?
Let’s talk about creating portraits that celebrate your journey. Whether it’s group shots with your best friends or individual portraits with personal flair, I’ll help you capture it all.

NYC LSAT Prep Class - TestMasters

Photographing a class in action

These photos are from a Thursday afternoon higher education photography style shoot for TestMasters. TestMasters offers students throughout the United States prep classes for the LSAT, GMAT, GRE, SAT, and ACT. When photographing for TestMasters, I am given a structure of how to photograph the class and a guide defining what type of photos are considered deliverable. When photographing, I have to be as unobtrusive as possible.

How to be a good higher education photographer …

I always try to arrive early. This lets me create my own situations, between the students and between students-teachers before class starts. Student-Teacher engagement is key! Basically, a teacher and a student working together.

After I capture student-teacher engagement and “active learning” with some of my own stylized scenarios the class can actually begins (on time!). As the teacher and class get going I sit in various seats around the room. Every few minutes I move to capture a new vantage point.

Shalom Hartman Institute | Full Day NYC Conference

Recently, I captured a full day conference for Shalom Hartman Institute at their Morningside Heights Manhattan, NY office. Most of the photos were candids and some were a bit more staged. The staged photos aimed to show “engagement” and a “shared learning experience”, all of the keywords I often hear in Higher Education Photography. I’ll admit it is always tricky to stage shots during a live conference, however I usually can find 5-10minutes here and 5 minutes there at the end / beginnings of sessions to do my thing.