Best places for graduation photos in Salt Lake City
Planning graduation photos in Salt Lake City? 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 Salt Lake City
Utah State Capitol
Corinthian columns and a wide marble staircase turn a cap-and-gown portrait into something with real civic scale, and the plaza out front holds an entire extended family without anyone spilling into the street. Free lot and street parking make it manageable right after a ceremony, and sunset warms the white columns best.
For graduation photos: a campus-adjacent backdrop that reads academic.
Liberty Park
Tree-lined promenades and open lawns leave enough space to line up a whole graduating class, cap and gown included, without crowding anyone out of frame. Free lot and street parking make the stop easy right after a ceremony, and a weekday visit avoids the crowd this park usually draws on weekends.
For graduation photos: room for the cap toss and the reaction.
Temple Square Gardens
Historic architecture and manicured flower beds dress up a cap-and-gown photo without needing much else, and the grounds are large enough to fit a whole family group comfortably. Morning light suits the spires best, and a downtown garage keeps parking close for people coming straight from a ceremony.
For graduation photos: a setting that suits regalia without competing with it.
Sugar House Park
A hundred and ten rolling acres give a graduating class room to spread out for a big group shot, pond and mountain view included at no extra walking. Free interior parking and ample lawns make it an easy stop right after a ceremony, especially at golden hour when the hillside grass glows.
For graduation photos: space for family to gather after the solo frames.
Salt Lake City Public Library (Main Library)
A five-story wall of curved glass and a rooftop garden looking toward the mountains give a cap-and-gown photo a modern, almost corporate polish that a plain lawn cannot match. The atrium stays bright at midday, and step-free entry with elevators makes it workable for a whole extended family in tow.
For graduation photos: clean architecture behind a gown and hood.
University of Utah Presidents Circle
Early-1900s halls ringing a wide oval lawn are about as literal a graduation backdrop as the city offers, especially for anyone who spent four years walking past them. Weekends once classes clear out are the quietest window, though expect company from every other cap and gown in town around commencement.
For graduation photos: somewhere the colours of the regalia stand out.
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Westminster University
A brick, ivy-touched campus with a creek running through gives cap-and-gown photos a smaller, more storybook version of the university look nearby. Weekends and breaks are calmest since Westminster stays an active campus otherwise, and the paved paths carry some gentle slopes and stairs worth planning around with a full family group.
For graduation photos: room to move for the walking and turning shots.
Salt Lake City and County Building
A 256-foot clock tower and carved stone turrets give a graduation photo genuine civic weight, with ten acres of lawn around Washington Square to fit a large family group comfortably. Warm light on the sandstone works best in early morning or the hour before sunset, and the square doubles as a public park, so check the calendar for events.
For graduation photos: a backdrop that says where you studied.
Cathedral of the Madeleine
Twin towers and an ornate stone facade give a cap-and-gown portrait a formal, almost European weight that few other stops in the city can offer. Warm light lands on the front steps in late afternoon and early evening, and shooting around Mass times keeps the visit respectful of the working parish inside.
For graduation photos: open ground for a whole cohort of friends.
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Shooting graduation photos in Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
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