As the UT tower’s restoration project (literally) looms over campus, student photographers feel the pressure to capture graduation photos before it’s too late.
Beginning this month and set to last until the summer of 2027, the project will obscure the University’s iconic symbol for over two years. For students, graduating in classes ‘25, ‘26 and ‘27, this means planning and shooting graduation photos before exterior renovations begin.
“Everyone’s in a much bigger hurry,” said Olivia Hendrick, a student grad photographer. “Normally, these shoots happen in early May, late April. I just did five in November.”
Hendrick said she opted for mini sessions, dedicating afternoons to shooting only with the Tower. She plans for larger, major-specific shoots with those clients later.
“I’m doing those mini sessions just to make sure that everyone gets the traditional pictures that they wanted,” radio-television-film senior Hendrick said.
In October, UT administration emailed students about the Tower project, suggesting they plan photoshoots before construction begins. Gianna Galante, an RTF sophomore and photographer, said she noticed a spike in grad shoot requests after the email.
“I have another girl I’m doing a shoot with in a week, (whose) main concern was that she (may look) different senior year,” Galante said. “She wanted to wait as long as possible because we were told it’s gonna start at the end of November, early December.”
Beyond the tower, grad photographers utilize a number of beloved spots on the forty acres.
“The fountain is also pretty popular,” said Madeline Jordan, a grad photographer and advertising junior. “But then again, that is a spot where the tower is in the background, so that could be an issue.”
Due to the tower’s sheer size, the potential for other campus shooting locations becomes unclear.
“It depends on where they start the construction,” Hendrick said. “If they’re starting at the base, that doesn’t neglect a ton of my options. When you’re shooting at the fountain you only see the top of the tower because the fountain blocks it. Or if you’re shooting at (the Gearing Hall gates) you can really only see the top half up.”
Jordan said the restoration forces students to plan ahead, an unwanted burden for many.
“Thinking about graduation early is not as exciting if you’re not actually about to graduate,” Jordan said. “That can take some of the excitement out of the photos and add some more stress.”
Jordan said she feels disheartened by the thought of students missing out on their photos with the Tower.
“In the future, the next three years, there will be people that won’t get those photos,” Jordan said. “It is really disappointing because they work so hard to come to UT, and that’s such an iconic symbol.”
Despite the tower’s importance to grad photography, Hendrick said she feels hopeful for the years to come.
“There are still options to (shoot) when the tower is under construction,” said Hendrick. “We just have to get a little more creative … the concepts, the composition and the angling, everything will have to be more creative.”
