How to Prepare for Cap and Gown Picture Day

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CAP & GOWN PICTURE DAY

Graduation is a significant milestone for students and parents. We want to ensure that every student feels and looks proud and confident. Here are some tips to help achieve an inclusive and empowering experience:

Dickie	Dickie with Tie	No Dickie	Collared-Shirt
Dickie	Dickie with Tie	No Dickie	Dickie

How to Wear Cap & Gown Items

In most cases, we provide the gown, cap, tassel, collar (dickie), and black ties. However, some schools provide their own cap and gowns. If a school provides these items instead, we will follow their process.

• Stomping Ground Provided Caps:
  • Caps are held, not worn.
• Schools provide caps:
  • Students may hold or wear the cap, depending on the school’s preference.
  • Inform your Account Manager before Picture Day if all students must be styled the same for consistency in the yearbook.

What to Wear Under Your Gown

Students should ensure appropriate clothing is worn under their gowns.

• A well-fitted collared shirt looks best.
  •  If you don’t have one, we provide dickies (half-shirts) and ties in sizes XS–XXL.
• V-necks work too.
  • Avoid crew-neck t-shirts—they don’t lay well under gowns.
• No hoodies or bulky sweaters.
  • They create wrinkles and bulk under the gown.
• If holding a cap, keep in mind:
  •  Rings, bracelets, and fingernails will show in the photo.

VOLUNTEER GUIDELINES

We rely on your volunteers to assist students with their graduation attire. Our photographers will guide volunteers to ensure students are properly dressed for their portraits; however, they do not dress students. Here are key things to check when helping students:

• The gown is clean, unwrinkled, and zipped up all the way.
• The collar is well-fitted and neatly tucked into the gown.
• If wearing the cap:
  • The stretchy part is in the back; the flat part sits across the forehead.
  • The tassel hangs on the left side.
  • The cap is placed well and fits the head.
• If holding the cap:
  • The tassel should hang down the middle.
  • The charm should face forward and hang straight.

Before putting on a Gown

• Remove hoodies and other bulky sweatshirts. 
• If not already wearing a collared shirt, put on the correct size dickie (half-shirt). 
  • Do not put a dickie over a collared shirt.
• If desired, put on a zipper tie. Make sure the zipper is in the ‘up’ position before tightening.

Putting on a Gown

• Find the correct gown size, ensuring the sleeves aren’t too short.
• Zip the gown up all the way. 
• Collars usually sit inside the neck of the gown, unless they are too large or look nice outside of the gown. 
• Make sure all collars are folded correctly and no corners are sticking out in a wacky way.

Holding/Wearing the Cap

• The correct way to put on the cap is that the stretchy part goes in the back, and the flat part goes right on the student’s forehead.  Hold the flat part against the student’s forehead and pull the cap backward over the back of their head. 
• The tassel goes on the student’s left side. 
• If you need to tighten a gown or cap, you can affix a binder clip to the back of the gown or cap.

For assistance, view the question mark below and click ASK!