When the Tassels Turned: 47 Purdue Cap and Gown Sessions from Spring 2025
Purdue Graduation Photographer | West Lafayette, IN
When the Tassels Turned
It starts quietly. A laugh. A breeze moving through the trees by the Bell Tower. A nervous glance toward the camera. But somewhere between the cap toss and the final hug, you can feel it. This is not just about pictures. It is about the goodbye to one season and the sacred beginning of another.
This spring, I photographed 47 Purdue graduates. That number still humbles me. Not just because of how many sessions I did, but because of the stories I was invited into. Future engineers, teachers, nurses, and artists. Sons and daughters. First-generation college grads and Purdue generation legacies. Every single one carried something important into their session, and it was my joy to help them tell it.
Being a third-generation Boilermaker, Purdue’s campus has always felt like home to me. But this spring felt different. The light was golden, the energy was electric, and the excitement in the air was something you could feel deep in your chest. With every session, I was reminded just how important it is to pause and document these moments before they become memories.
Purdue “Gateway to the Future” Arch
Favorite Locations for Purdue Graduation Photos
Purdue’s campus always puts on a show in the spring. And this year, it did not disappoint. Here are a few of the most popular spots that showed up again and again in my sessions:
Purdue Bell Tower
Engineering Fountain
Purdue Union
Gateway Arches
Hovde Hall steps
Unfinished P
Harry’s Chocolate Shop
Purdue Engineering Fountain with Bell Tower and Hovde Hall in the background
Celebrating Together
Some students came with roommates, friends or fiancés. Others brought proud parents and siblings. Many brought a bottle of champagne, but everyone came with a heart full of gratitude.
These are not just pictures. These are Purdue graduation memories wrapped in sunlight and celebration.
Purdue Nursing Friend Group Celebrating Graduation
Stories I Will Not Forget
This spring, the stories I encountered went far beyond the usual campus scenes.
One Purdue Global graduate traveled all the way from Virginia to walk the stage and experience the campus in person as she earned her PhD in education. She came with her husband and their three-year-old daughter. For her, this graduation was about more than a ceremony. It was about teamwork and showing her daughter that dreams are possible and worth chasing.
I met many out-of-state and international students whose families came from near and far to celebrate together. The pride in their eyes was unmistakable. These sessions weren’t just photos; they were moments of legacy and love.
I even had the chance to photograph members of Purdue’s ice skating team, a surprise to me, as I didn’t know Purdue had a team like that!
And then there was the incredible rocket scientist who earned her master’s degree this spring. Photographing her felt like capturing brilliance in motion.
A Proposal!!! Yes, a grad session with two PharmD students turned into a Purdue Proposal Session. She said YES!! The crowd around them cheered, and the family celebrated. This was a graduation day I will never forget.
She said YES!
Every session reminded me that graduation is not just an individual achievement but a tapestry of hard work, family support, and dreams coming true. These stories stay with me long after the last photo is taken.
What Grads Are Saying
I am always honored when families take the time to leave a kind review.
Here are just a few words that touched my heart from this season:
“Heather did an amazing job with my Purdue graduation photos! She is so kind and brings so much comfort and joy to the session. She is great at finding the perfect photo spots and making sure everything looks beautiful. My pictures turned out absolutely amazing!” CC-PU Class of 2025
“Heather was absolutely amazing to work with. The session was extremely relaxed and very simple throughout. Heather was very kind and assisted me in setting up for the perfect photos. I had absolutely no issues while taking the photos. In the end the edited photos came to me with very quick turnaround and looked outstanding. Me and my family are beyond satisfied!”
Ayan, Purdue Grad
“We booked Heather to do my graduation photos this year. We were nervous because we live in Virginia and were going purely based on her portfolio, but we could not have been more pleased! Heather is kind, accommodating, wonderful with photo resistant toddlers, and so so gifted with her craft. We are thrilled with the results and genuinely had fun, even on a dreary rainy day.
Would recommend her to anyone, but especially families with small children!”
Kirbie, PhD, Education
“Heather was easy to work with and created beautiful graduation photos of my daughter. We have many outstanding photos to choose from. She captured her personality in photos we will treasure forever.”
Sarah, Purdue Mom
If you would like to read more reviews or leave your own, you can find me on Google here.
Why Purdue Graduation Photography Matters
Graduation is more than just a ceremony. It is the end of one chapter and the beginning of something new. It is the story of late nights in the library, coffee runs before class, finding your people, and becoming someone you are proud of.
Spring at Purdue is full of energy and emotion. Flowers bloom across campus. Friends take one last walk before they go in different directions. There is something about it that just hits deep in the heart.
Graduation photos freeze that in time. They give your parents something to frame. They give your future self something to hold onto. They celebrate all the hard work that it took to get here.
Now Booking Cap and Gown Sessions
If you are graduating this summer, fall or next spring, now is a good time to plan your session. I take a limited number of sessions each season to make sure each one gets the care and time it deserves. These sessions are calm, meaningful, and full of joy.
I would be honored to photograph your graduation story. Let’s make something beautiful together.
A Final Word
This spring reminded me again and again that the work I do is not just about pretty pictures. It is about people. It is about celebrating the goodness of God and the grace that carried each graduate through.
To the Class of 2025, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for letting me step into your story for a few minutes and capture the beauty of where you have been and where you are going.
I am praying for your future. I am cheering for your journey. And I am so very proud of you.
With all my heart,
Heather Corbin
Purdue Graduation Photographer | Lafayette, Indiana
Explore More
If you enjoyed this post and want to see more of my work, I’d love for you to explore my photography! Whether you’re looking for wedding photography, family photography, or Purdue graduation photos, I’m honored to help you preserve life’s most beautiful moments.
📸 Wedding Photography
📸 Family Photography
🎓 Purdue Graduation Photography
Let’s connect and create something beautiful together!
You can also follow along on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes stories and recent sessions.
