Tara's SFSU Grad Session at the Legion of Honor

When Tara reached out about her graduation portraits, she knew exactly where she wanted to shoot: the Legion of Honor. She'd been thinking about it for a while, and honestly, once we started talking through why, it made complete sense. That neoclassical facade — the columns, the pale stone, the *Honneur et Patrie* inscription carved above the entrance — creates one of the cleanest, most striking backdrops in the entire Bay Area. And she had things she wanted to show off.

We shot midday, which isn't always the first choice, but at the Legion of Honor it really works. The overcast sky on the main facade kept everything soft and even — no harsh shadows cutting across the stone, no squinting into the sun. And inside the covered colonnade, that long row of cream columns bouncing light off the walls gave us a naturally flattering corridor to work with. Tara's purple lace kebaya and her gold SFSU stole just *sang* against all that neutral stone.

Speaking of the stole — she was intentional about it. Her name, the Indonesian flag pin, B.S. Industrial Design, SFSU, Class of 2026. Every detail mattered, and the Legion of Honor's pale backdrop made sure every detail was visible. We made sure to get frames where you can read the whole thing clearly: standing in the colonnade with her diploma, tucked between two columns with her cap at her side, spinning mid-movement with the cap raised above her head.

That cap-raise shot outside the main entrance is probably my favorite from the session. Tara is seated on the granite ledge, one arm extended high, the mortarboard lifted like a trophy — and behind her, the six Corinthian columns frame the whole scene with that inscription right in the center. The glass pyramid skylight angles in at her back like a quiet geometric echo. She's not forcing anything. She's just genuinely happy, and the camera caught it.

We also moved to the wide promenade in front of the arch, where the bright midday sun gave everything a different quality — warmer, more open. The over-the-shoulder shots from that spot feel editorial in the best way: Tara walking the stone plaza, glancing back, the full sweep of the building behind her. Those frames have a momentum to them, like she's already stepping into whatever comes next.

And then there's the colonnade itself. That repeating row of columns leading into the distance is genuinely one of the best leading-line compositions in San Francisco for portraits. We used it a few different ways — cap raised, diploma in hand, walking away — and each one has its own feel. The walking-away shot is quietly one of the strongest. You don't need to see her face to feel the weight of the moment.

Tara, congratulations on finishing your B.S. in Industrial Design. You wore that stole like you earned every inch of it — because you did.