<p>kathiep, it's been more emotional than I could have imagined. Funny, I thought all these feelings were reserved for weddings, etc. But college graduation is a BIG landmark for so many. I'm still exhausted, in a pleasant way, days later, so I wrote in.</p>
<p>There WAS a professional photographer at this grad, but everyone's got their own equipment also. Not everybody signs up to pay for and receive the professional pix.
If I were to do it again, I'd just get the professional picture and RELAX the whole ceremony. </p>
<p>What we did was sent our teenaged son with the camera up onto the parent's platform, while we parents just watched and beamed. Son is handy with cameras and got a fine shot, felt so proud. He came down off the platform and told me quietly, "Parents can sure be weird sometimes!" He really liked having the responsibility; cameras are his "thing." </p>
<p>One thing I noticed: some families favored sitting up close, others sat further back to be under some shade. The fact is, everybody could hear because the sound system was superb. The real excitement is the event itself. A tip to pass along: I forgot to make an arrangement with D where exactly to meet afterwards! Still, we found each other (again, thanks to that brother!)</p>