Best places for graduation photos in Montreal
Planning graduation photos in Montreal? These are the spots worth shortlisting, chosen for the light, the backdrop, and how easily a session comes together.
9 places to shoot graduation photos & videos in Montreal
Mount Royal - Kondiaronk Belvedere
The paved belvedere and wide stone terraces hold a full graduating class easily, with downtown Montreal spread out behind as one continuous formal backdrop. Frederick Law Olmsted's stonework gives the whole scene a built, deliberate quality rather than just an open view.
For graduation photos: a campus-adjacent backdrop that reads academic.
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Open lawns wide enough for a full graduating class run along the riverside, with the geodesic Biosphere dome and the downtown skyline standing in as a formal backdrop instead of a single building. Paved paths keep gowns and heels off soft ground while everyone gets arranged.
For graduation photos: room for the cap toss and the reaction.
Notre-Dame Basilica
The Gothic Revival interior rises tall enough to hold a graduating group under the vaulted ceiling without anyone feeling cramped against the stone. Its scale and the gilded carvings overhead give the moment a formality no outdoor spot quite matches.
For graduation photos: a setting that suits regalia without competing with it.
Saint Joseph's Oratory
Wide, formal tiers carry the grand staircase up the hillside, built for exactly this kind of group photo, with the dome rising behind as a single unmistakable backdrop. Terraced gardens beside the steps give a second, quieter option once the formal shot is done.
For graduation photos: space for family to gather after the solo frames.
Habitat 67
Real architectural weight comes from the stacked cubes of Habitat 67, a backdrop that's geometric and deliberate rather than decorative for a group photo. Shoot from the public riverfront areas and there is enough open ground in front of the complex for a full group to line up.
For graduation photos: clean architecture behind a gown and hood.
McGill University (Roddick Gates & Campus)
Greystone halls and tree-lined walks open right off the stone Roddick Gates, exactly the kind of campus a cap-and-gown photo calls for, formal without needing any extra staging. The Arts Building lawn beyond gives a full graduating group room to spread out under the old shade trees.
For graduation photos: somewhere the colours of the regalia stand out.
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Universite de Montreal (Pavillon Roger-Gaudry)
The Art Deco pavilion's clean geometric lines and tall pale tower read as stately and academic without any extra dressing up, exactly the register a cap-and-gown photo wants. Its terraces and stairways give a full group somewhere to arrange itself across more than one level.
For graduation photos: room to move for the walking and turning shots.
Concordia University (Sir George Williams Campus)
Quartier Concordia's open plazas give a graduating group real room to gather in front of the modernist Hall Building without crowding onto a sidewalk. Early weekend mornings, before the plazas fill for the day, keep the backdrop clean and the concrete quiet.
For graduation photos: a backdrop that says where you studied.
Place Ville Marie Esplanade
The esplanade's open lawns sit at the foot of glass skyscrapers, wide enough to hold a full graduating group with the city itself as the formal backdrop. Early mornings or weekends thin out the usual commercial foot traffic, leaving cleaner ground for the group shot.
For graduation photos: open ground for a whole cohort of friends.
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Shooting graduation photos in Montreal
It depends on the spot. Public streets and sidewalks usually don't, while many parks, gardens, and landmarks require a permit for professional sessions. Each location above notes what we found on permits — confirm the current rules and any fee with the venue or city before you book.
Golden hour — the hour after sunrise or before sunset — flatters almost every location, and each spot above lists the light that works best there. Early morning also means thinner crowds at the popular ones.
Snappr pricing is flat and set before you book, with no travel or editing surprises. Most sessions run one to two hours; you can see current rates and what each tier includes on the pricing page.
Pick your date and shoot type and we match you with a vetted local photographer who shoots in Montreal. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
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