Best graduation photographer: Isabel Reyes

Reyes shares her photography philosophy 

By JENNA LEE — features@theaggie.org

Isabel Reyes, a fourth-year Chicano studies and cinema and digital media double major, started taking graduation photos last spring and quickly gained experience photographing graduates — the majority of them being first-generation students.

“I think it’s a rewarding thing to do,” Reyes said. “There’s a lot that goes into graduating and commemorating [a student’s] efforts, and it’s something I like to take part of.”

Reyes recently completed her first parent co-session with a Mexican family in front of Hart Hall, home to the Chicana/o/x Studies Department. The photoshoot drew emotional reactions of joy and pride.

“When people have a connection to the location, that’s when you get the best results,” Reyes said. “It all came naturally because everyone in that shoot knew that they had a role in that one graduate. I think in Mexican culture, the father is more shut-off and putting them in these moments reveals the pride they don’t often verbally share. Vulnerable moments definitely bring out a lot of the unspoken feelings.”

For many students, including Reyes, stepping in front of a camera can feel intimidating. To ensure that her clients feel at ease, Reyes asks students about poses they feel confident performing and observes personality and body language during the session, which helps her avoid awkward and unnatural-looking poses. By prioritizing comfort, Reyes is able to create images that truly reflect the personality of the graduate.

One of her clients, Oskar Hua, a first-generation student and 2025 sustainable environmental design graduate, wore Vietnamese traditional clothing, áo dài, for his photoshoot.

“Being able to take photos in áo dài made me feel proud to represent my parents,” Hua said. “While [Reyes] photographed me, she hyped me up all the time and made me feel extremely comfortable in my clothes.”

Beyond honoring his heritage, Hua envisioned taking graduation photos at locations that were part of his Davis experience, such as Hunt Hall’s courtyard and the Arboretum. To cater to his requests, Reyes made sure to stop by those locations during the session.

“The final photos definitely were beyond my expectations,” Hua said.

Reyes hopes Hua and other soon-to-be graduates still feel satisfied with the photos in the years following graduation.

“I hope they feel happy with the product and they think back to how they were feeling in that moment,” Reyes said. “I hope it captured the emotion of the moment.”

Those interested in viewing Reyes’ work or booking a session with her can visit her Instagram account @camioncarpintero.

Written by: Jenna Lee — features@theaggie.org