Cap & Gown Photos

Guide, Ideas and Tips

Follow these tips, and draw inspiration from our handpicked photo ideas

How can I make sure my cap & gown photos turn out their best?

Graduating is a big deal, and your photos should reflect that without feeling stiff or awkward. Here are expert tips on how to nail the perfect shot with confidence.

Fix the small details

Straighten your cap, smooth out your gown, and check for stray tassels or wrinkles—it all adds up.

Keep it simple

Your outfit under the gown shouldn’t steal the show. Stick to classic, neutral tones.

Relax your posture

Stand tall, but don’t overthink it. A slight angle and relaxed shoulders make a huge difference.

Smile like you mean it

Skip the forced grin. Think of a moment that makes you proud, and let that show.

Should I hire a photographer?

It depends. If you want high-end edits and professional lighting, hiring a photographer might be worth it. But if you’re on a budget or want a quick solution, AI can generate photos for way cheaper and quicker turnarounds.

Looking to DIY your grad photos?

Just about anything can be done at home with the right set up.
Photos taken with just a phone and Photoshop can look just as professional as an in-person shoot.

Use Portrait Mode

Most smartphones have a setting that blurs the background and makes you pop.

Stabilize Your Shot

Use a tripod or prop your phone up for sharp images.

Find Good Lighting

Natural light makes a huge difference. Try taking your photos near a big window for that soft, even glow.

Try Backgrounds

Play around with different backdrops to add some depth to your photos.

Looking for an alternative?

Try Bettershot's ultra realistic AI headshot generator

Bettershot

Canva

Cost

Starting at $29

$9.99 every month

Turnaround Time

2 Hours

A few minutes

Convenience

100% Online

Not the most accurate, may take a few attempts to get it right

Custom Styles

Yes

Extra credits required

Turn your selfies into
professional cap & gown photos

(these were all generated with Bettershot's AI)

How Bettershot Works

‍Get dozens of photos in just a couple hours

Upload 10 photos from your phone or desktop
‍Select your favorite styles and looks
‍Download & share your headshots with family and friends

Try A Free Version of Bettershot

Thousands of people trust Bettershot

Pictures turned out great!

David

Amazing with just 10 photos how they can make them look so professional with nice clothes, backgrounds, etc. 10 / 10

Tina

Love the simplicity of the process which yielded amazing results! Thank you!

Caitlin

Extremely user friendly and the quality is insane.

Terrell

Bettershot does a great job of explaining the process BEFORE you buy. Over a third of the 72 (!) initial shots provided were good enough to "favorite" and ask my friends to vote on -- pretty amazing, especially considering that I didn't give the tool great photos to begin with.

Deborah

On top of a great product, great price, and quick turnaround, Bettershot also provided great support to me & my team.

Calvin

I needed some professional headshots for work and bettershot couldn’t have made it easier for me.

P Kosta

I don't think that Bettershot could have made the process any easier. I was agonizing over updated headshots for my website but was resisting the rigamarole of hair, makeup, photo shoot - I was not presently for the time and expense. I think I knocked this out in about 15 minutes and 96 images for $35? It's bonkers.

Maria

I've done these twice now: back in early 2024 and just now in late 2025. The AI software has improved dramatically! The new photos look much more realistic. Thanks!

Patrick

Super easy to use, just uploaded some pics and got an amazing professional headshot.

Ali

I really appreciated the quick turn around time for both the initial, and subsequent images, and the personal service provided by Bettershot’s co-founders.

Matt

Pricing

Save big with Bettershot.
Say goodbye to expensive  photo shoots.

Simple options, each with a 100% money back guarantee.

Basic

$29

/ person

3 styles (outfits & backgrounds)

72 headshots

Ready in 2 hours

Get started

Why are so many people turning to Bettershot?

Here's a quick rundown of the top questions we get often

How are my photos handled during the training process?

Photos are securely processed to extract relevant facial features to create a unique AI model of your likeness. Your uploaded photos are deleted after 30 days.

What types of photos should I upload?

Upload clear, high-quality photos that showcase your desired hair style and age. Avoid blurry, low-resolution, or copyrighted images. Upload a combination of selfies and images of just your face (tip: use crop to isolate your face from group photos).

Which photo formats are accepted?

We accept common image formats including JPG, PNG, HEIC, and TIFF. Files should be under 14MB in size.

Can I use my photos anywhere?

Yes, you retain full rights to your headshots and can use them however you wish. Our processing does not restrict your usage. Use them for your LinkedIn profile, Slack/Teams photo, Zoom/Hangouts background, or anywhere else you want to showcase your best self.

Who has ownership of the headshots?

You retain full ownership of headshots created using your source photos. We do not claim any rights or ownership over your headshots. We may ask you for permission to use your headshots on our website or in marketing materials.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored securely on encrypted cloud servers based in the USA. We use industry-standard security practices to protect your information. Your uploaded images are deleted after 30 days.

Can I get a refund?

We offer full refunds within 30 days of purchase if you're unsatisfied. Contact our support team to initiate the refund process.

Do you provide team pricing?

Yes, we offer discounted team plans for businesses and organizations. Contact our sales team for custom pricing options by sending us an email at hello@bettershot.ai