Turn Your Graduation Photo Into a Sketch

A sketch to mark graduation day

Graduation photos capture a proud moment, and a sketch turns one into a keepsake that feels more considered than another print. Families give them to the graduate, and graduates give them to the parents and teachers who got them there.

Cap-and-gown photos have one quirk worth knowing: the shadow of the cap. A little care when you pick the photo keeps the graduate's face in the light.

Choosing the photo

• Tilt the cap back slightly

  A mortarboard casts a hard shadow across the forehead and eyes. A slight tilt, or open shade, keeps the eyes visible.

• Include the diploma or campus

  Holding the diploma, or a recognizable building behind, tells the story in the sketch.

• Dark gowns need light

  Black gowns can turn into a solid shape. Photos with light falling across the gown keep the folds and texture.

• Keep group shots small

  Photos with friends work too. Just keep the group small so every face gets enough of the picture.

Styles that suit it

• Pencil Sketch. Classic and proud. Frames well for a desk or a parent's wall.
• Charcoal Sketch. Bold contrast that makes the gown and cap graphic and strong.
• Colored Pencil. Keeps the school colors in the hood and sash.

Questions people ask

Can I add the school name and year?

The sketch is the drawing itself. Add text such as the school and year when you print it, at a photo lab or print-on-demand shop.

Is it a good gift for a teacher?

A sketch of the graduate with a favorite teacher, or of the school building, makes a thoughtful thank-you.