Graduation photography?

I'm looking to get more in to shooting graduates at my local secondary/high schools. These schools typically dont have a cap and gown ceremony but apparently some parents seem to like the look of it. I'd rather avoid the headache of caps and gowns. Should I bother with it? Could it make a big difference in sales for me? Where is the best place to get cap and gowns if I decide to do the photos that way? Also are there any alternatives to shooting a photo that says graduate without needing a cap and gown?

Thanks for any advice.

Look on Craiglist for cap & gown...just make sure you get the right colors for your local schools. You may be able to google and order new ones as well. I was able to get caps, gowns and even letterman jackets for most of my local schools that way. Good luck... can come in handy.....if you like shooting peeps...

I could probably look around locally for used caps and gowns but wont have many colour choices in my country. I'm just not entirely sure caps and gowns would lead to bigger sales in my country. I do love photography people though. I've taking student portraits before and actually enjoyed doing it.

Contact the company the rents out the caps and gowns to the graduates. Most schools here in Iowa rent, not buy the cap and gown. You can either offer to rent them, or maybe they have some older ones they would be willing to sell at a reduced price as you know they have made their money on the rental long ago.
I had not thought of the letterman jackets, that is another line that really opens up a whole separate line of photos that I had not even considered. Good thought.

Good idea. I'll see if there's anyone here that rents the stuff. We definitely dont use letterman jackets here. I had to do a google search just to figure out what it was.

GarethLeigh wrote in post #16176551
Good idea. I'll see if there's anyone here that rents the stuff. We definitely dont use letterman jackets here. I had to do a google search just to figure out what it was.

I guess I am just old. Letterman jackets were all the craze when I was in school 25 years ago. LOL

Do you think in a market that doesn't typically have cap and gown ceremonies, that parents would want to buy such photos? Since they have a graduation look about them vs just a school uniform which we use here.