Photographer Asia Croson (Modern Languages and Literature, ’11) has no problem telling her subjects what to do.

“One grad, I got her 34 photos in just seven minutes,” Croson laughed. “I have this down. I tell them when to blink, smile, cross the street, laugh — we get a lot done.”

Time is always of the essence during a photo shoot, but especially during the special 15-minute photo sessions Croson has been hosting for 2020 grads. So far, she's held portrait sessions for 150-200 grads. For free.

“They're so grateful and some of them have told me this is the only thing they've had to look forward to lately,” Croson said. “It makes them feel like things are more normal.”

Photos are always an important part of the graduation experience, but with the popularity of social media and frequency with which today's students communicate with friends and family online, photos become more important than ever. Many students plan out their grad shoots for months, Croson said, and those who don't hire a photographer ask friends and family to take the shots.

“Professional photography rates aren't cheap and so it's exciting for grads to be able to have something that maybe they didn't think they could,” Croson said. “And I'm excited to give them that experience.”

Croson's schedule was already booked when the Covid-19 crisis and subsequent shutdowns hit in March. After two months of pushing back and cancelling appointment, when the OK came for her to host outdoor shoots, she decided to schedule a few days to give back.

The first free sessions booked up in one hour. She added a few more days. Those filled up too. Croson found herself spending hours at the Cal Poly sign on California Boulevard. as graduate after graduate arrived ready to take their photos. Some arrived with friends and roommates in tow, some wearing masks, all ready to commemorate the occasion.

Many of the graduates Croson has photographed are members of the Greek community at Cal Poly, a group that Croson has become a part of through her annual photo contest, the “Fall Photo Off.”

The idea came to Croson when she was 22 years old, a recent graduate and back in San Luis Obispo after traveling Europe, taking photos. Social media was still gaining traction, and she saw an opportunity and the potential to reach many clients at once. She offered to take a free group photo of every sorority at Cal Poly. Each year she posts the photos on social media and the sorority with the most 'likes' wins more photo sessions.

The contest took off so quickly and effectively that Croson became the de facto photographer for sororities on campus.

They're so grateful and some of them have told me this is the only thing they've had to look forward to lately. It makes them feel like things are more normal. 

Asia Croson

MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE , ’11

“They really do feel like a family of mine now,” she said. “We're so established.”

That connection has made these photo shoots even more bittersweet for Croson, who has known some of her subjects for years.

“It's been very emotional,” Croson said. “Some graduates want to take a picture in a mask to mark the occasion and others never want to think about quarantine again.”

One graduate asked Croson to quickly text the photo of her in a cap and gown so that she could send it to her grandfather in the hospital.

“She said he had one day left and since he couldn't see her graduate, she wanted to show him the photo,” Croson said, choking up.

“We're really living through history. Everything we're doing right now feels like it has more weight and we'll look back and think WOW.”

Asia Croson can be reached  through her website at asiacroson.com and on Instagram and Facebook.