University of North Texas Senior Graduation Photos | UNT Campus and Mandalay Canal Walk at Las Colinas Photography
- Brian Moore
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Graduation is more than a ceremony. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. For Kiyo’s graduation session, we created a gallery that reflected both the accomplishment of graduating from the University of North Texas and the excitement of what comes next.
This session took place in two completely different environments. We started on the campus of the University of North Texas and finished the evening at the Mandalay Canal Walk at Las Colinas. The combination gave us a wide variety of looks and created a gallery that felt polished, cinematic, and personal.
University of North Texas
There's something grounding about photographing a graduate on the campus where they actually did the work. UNT has real visual range; architectural lines, recognizable landmarks, open green spaces, and we used all of it. The focus throughout was on variety: portraits that anchored Kiyo in her environment, tighter frames that captured the emotion of the moment, and editorial compositions that felt elevated rather than basic. These graduation photos on the UNT campus captured the beauty of the campus and the emotion of Kiyo's tremendous accomplishment as she completed her senior year..
Lighting plays a major role in my photography style. While many photographers rely entirely on available natural light, I often incorporate professional off-camera lighting techniques to create cleaner skin tones, more depth, and a polished look that stands apart. This becomes especially important during graduation sessions where lighting conditions can change quickly across campus locations. The goal is a gallery that looks cohesive, not like it was shot across three different days.
Mandalay Canal Walk, Las Colinas
After wrapping the UNT portion, we moved to the Mandalay Canal Walk for the second half of the session, and the location shift completely changed the energy.
Las Colinas is one of the best portrait locations in the entire DFW area. This location gives sessions a more upscale and cinematic feel compared to a traditional campus-only shoot. It also adds variety that helps the final gallery stand out. The waterfront paths, textured architecture, bridges, and warm evening light lend the kind of atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else nearby. It adds a cinematic, upscale dimension to a graduation gallery that a campus-only session simply can't replicate.
As the sun dropped, the light at the canal turned golden and dramatic — the kind of conditions that reward a controlled lighting approach rather than just chasing the sun. Kiyo brought exactly the right energy to this part of the shoot. Her wardrobe, her confidence, the way she moved through the space; everything clicked, and the images show it.
Why Two Locations Make a Difference
One of the best ways to elevate a graduation gallery is by incorporating multiple locations. A strong graduation gallery tells a complete story. Campus portraits anchor the achievement and the identity of where you studied. A secondary portrait location adds dimension, lifestyle, and a visual variety that keeps the gallery from feeling repetitive.
For UNT graduates especially, pairing campus with a place like the Mandalay Canal Walk is one of the most effective combinations I've found. The contrast in atmosphere, architecture, and light gives every gallery something genuinely distinct to offer.
Working Together
If you're approaching graduation from UNT, or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and you want images that hold up over time, I'd love to plan something with you. My approach is built around thoughtful preparation, professional lighting, and a session experience that feels personal rather than rushed. These are photographs you'll have for the rest of your life. They should look like it.
