CLARKSVILLE, TN – Jocelyn Ortega thought she had missed her best chance at commencement photos after graduating high school during COVID-19, but Austin Peay State University helped her celebrate the first time she walked across the stage with its free in-house photography.
Ortega is among thousands of students who have benefited from the service, which is estimated to reach a combined $425,000 in student savings after Austin Peay’s Aug. 7 commencement.
“Having these photos gave me something to hold onto for my own memories,” said Ortega, a junior business administration major who earned her associate degree in May. “Graduation was a very important day for me, and one of the reasons I decided to walk is because I didn’t get to in high school. It was great to be able to have the photos done for free and professionally.”
APSU’s Office of Public Relations and Marketing began handling all commencement photography in August 2024 and maintains a searchable archive for graduates and their families. Photos are typically available within a month of each ceremony.
“Earning a college degree is a life-changing achievement, and every graduate deserves to celebrate that moment without worrying about additional expenses,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “Providing complimentary commencement photography is one more way Austin Peay honors our graduates while reinforcing our commitment to making high-quality education affordable. These images capture a milestone that reflects years of hard work, and we’re proud to ensure every graduate can access and share these memories at no cost.”
Hannah Eden, APSU’s senior director of marketing, said the university’s commencement photos have also become highly anticipated on social media due to their authenticity.
“We want these to be accessible to all students and not let cost get in the way of them having the most special day of their Austin Peay journey,” Eden said. “There aren’t a lot of universities that do all their commencement photography in-house, so it also speaks to the level of dedication from our photography and videography team.”
For Sgt. Marco Barraza, the greatest benefit was the simple download process with no limits or access fees. He earned his associate degree and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from APSU.
“I appreciated seeing how much I progressed from when I was starting out in my nursing program to when I ended up getting my BSN,” he said. “Not only were the photos easy for me to download, but they were very easy for me to share with my wife and our families.”
Each graduate receives an average of nine photos, with PR & Marketing staff, APSU Athletics, and freelance photographers working to create high-quality albums.
“It all goes back to access, because graduation is an incredibly important day for students,” said Sean McCully, APSU’s assistant director for visual communications. “We want to be there for them at every stage to capture their excitement and find those candid moments, like when they’re in the crowd waving or outside with their families. Those are just as important as the shots of them on stage.”
Robyn Jacobs, APSU’s photography and video coordinator, said the downloads are also publicly available for friends and family.
“Grandparents, parents, cousins—they can all grab the photos themselves,” she said. “We also cover every college’s hooding ceremonies, and we’re looking at expanding our commencement collection to include those because it’s a part of that journey.”
The university uses facial recognition technology to make it easier for graduates to find their photos, including candids featuring multiple students.