Having a friend or family member come along can make your session even more special. They can jump in for a few group photos, help carry your cap & gown, and keep you laughing between shots. Some grads even bring their pet - a few photos with your furry friend can be such a sweet way to remember this season of life!

10. Bring Your People (and Pets!)

Self tanners can streak and tend to look orange on camera. If you'll feel better with some color, book with an experienced, professional spray tan artist and let your tanner know you'll be taking pictures. I recommend getting your tan at least 3-4 days before the session to give it time to set.

9. A Note about Self-Tanners

The trick to spraying champagne is to pop the cork BEFORE you shake the bottle. Hold the bottle in front of you, then cover the bottle spout with your thumb and once your photographer gives you the go-ahead, start shaking. Don't forget to look toward the photographer once the bottle starts spraying! If you want a cool looking champagne bottle, check out Pop the Cork 4 College on Instagram - done by a former USC mom

8. The Perfect Champagne Pop

Fall foliage will be best late October through November, and there will still be leaves on the trees in early December. Azaleas peak earlier than you think! They typically begin to bloom in late February and peak by late March. They're usually gone by early April.

7. The campus is beautiful all year long

When you receive your gown, hang it up and steam it. If you keep it in the packaging until your session, it will be creased from being folded. If you have a stole, be sure to iron it too – it will show a crease right in the middle if you don't.

6. Avoid wrinkly regalia

If you wear a solid color dress for your portraits, you might want to add a pop of color for the pictures. Wearing bright shoes (red or pink are popular options) will help you stand out. You can also accessorize with some bright jewelry. A great way to add a little color is with a cord and/or stole. Pro tip: If you don’t want to pay the price of the “official” USC stole you can order a plain garnet stole on Amazon for about $10-15! Bonus benefit for wearing a cord or stole - it gives you something to do with your hands in the pictures!

5. Stand out with a pop of color

When it comes to clothing for your session, the most important thing is that you feel confident and comfortable — it will show in every photo. A white dress is by far the most popular outfit choice for girls. Some wear garnet or black, and others focus on wearing something more unique. My recommendation is that you wear something you feel great in and the pictures will show that! The majority of guys wear khakis and a button down shirt. Some bring a coat and tie for a little variety and a head shot, and others like to keep it casual with a polo shirt. All looks are great options, just go with the style that works best for you. One more tip - feel free to bring a Gamecock tee or jersey for a few shots. These look great at the Cocky statue or in front of Williams Brice.

4. Wear Something you feel great in!

The USC regalia website offers a garnet Gamecock stole, which is optional and anyone can order it (no special requirements are attached to it.) There are also DMSB and nursing stoles that can be ordered with the regalia. Sorority and Fraternity and other club stoles or cords are usually ordered through the organization (not through the school). The gold honor cord signifies a GPA of 3.5 or above and can be ordered through the regalia website.

3. Cords & stoles help finish your look

In the weeks before graduation there will be awards ceremonies and other events on the Horseshoe. If getting that grand Horseshoe shot in the background is important to you, hold your session at least 3-4 weeks before graduation. Holding it early will also allow for a convenient make-up date if it rains, and helps you avoid having crowds in the background and long wait times for popular spots like the Cocky statue.

2. Hold your session early

The regalia ordering window for December grads usually opens in mid to late September. May grads can usually order toward the end of February. Ordering early will allow plenty of time for regalia to come in before it's needed for photos.

1. Order regalia as soon as possible

10 Tips for Stress-Free Grad Photos

Lyndsey Livingston Photography