I had the privilege of jumping in alongside my talented friend Bryant Hill to photograph the graduation ceremony at Wayside Sci-Tech High School here in Austin, TX, and I'll be honest, I didn't think I was going to get emotional. I was wrong. There's something about watching a gym or auditorium full of families lose it the second that first name gets called that just gets you, even when you're the one behind the camera trying to stay professional.
One moment that genuinely stopped me in my tracks was seeing a student walk across that stage proudly carrying a Nicaraguan flag. My wife came to the United States from Nicaragua when she was a kid, so that image hit different for me. That kind of pride, the "look how far we've come and we're not forgetting where we started" energy, is exactly why moments like these deserve to be documented well. These kids worked hard to get here, and their families worked just as hard right alongside them. Photographing Austin graduation ceremonies isn't just about getting the diploma handshake shot, it's about freezing all that love in one frame.
If your school, organization, or family is planning a graduation or milestone ceremony in the Austin area and you want it captured with heart and humor in equal measure, let's talk. I'd love to be in the room when your people walk across that stage.
When: May 22nd, 2026
Where: Wayside Sci-Tech High School, Austin, TX
