UC Irvine Photography & Videography
Headshots. Ceremonies. Campus Events.
Trusted by departments across UC Irvine
Returning year after year.
10years
photographing UC Irvine departments
25years
in professional photography
1000's
UCI faculty & students photographed
150+
5 Star Google Reviews
trusted by
clients say
Why Is Photographing a University Different From Photographing a Company?
A corporate headshot day can be rescheduled. A white coat ceremony cannot.
University photography runs on fixed academic calendars, unrepeatable moments, large volumes of people, and campus logistics that a vendor either understands or learns the hard way at your expense.
Add procurement requirements, photo release handling, and a communications team that needs images before the news cycle closes, and the margin for a vendor still figuring things out disappears.
We have worked inside UC Irvine long enough that the logistics are routine. That is the point. Your department gets a photographer who already knows how the day runs and a process you never have to manage.
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Want amazing photos?
our process
1
Consult & Quote
A short call to confirm what you need, how many people are involved, and the date. You leave with a clear scope and an itemized number you can take to your director or procurement office without follow up questions.
2
Pre-Session
We handle the coordination. Room, parking, and badging are confirmed in advance. We provide ready-to-send prep guide you can forward to faculty, or students. It answers the questions before they reach your inbox.
3
Photoshoot
We arrive early and are ready before your first person walks in. Every subject is directed so no one is left to figure out what to do with their hands. For ceremonies, we are in position ahead of the procession.
4
Image Delivery
Retouched images are delivered through a private online gallery within 48 hours so your department can access and download directly. Images are exported in multiple formats ready for immediate use. Video is 2-4 weeks.
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EST. 1999
Call me Chris
I love helping people look confident and authentic in their photos. Since 2000, I’ve created professional headshots, branding portraits, and event photography for individuals and companies throughout Southern California.
Whether you enjoy being in front of the camera or dread the idea of a photo session, my guided, comfortable approach helps you show up as the best version of yourself. As an OC native now living near Huntington Beach, I bring both local insight and genuine care to every session.
video production
Need video as well? We have our own videography team, booked on the same contract and the same purchase order. One planning call, one point of contact, and camera positions coordinated in advance, so your photographer and videographer are not competing for the same spot at your ceremony.
What departments typically use it for:
- Ceremony and commencement highlight videos
- Event recap edits for web and social, with vertical cutdowns
- Faculty, student, and donor interviews — recorded the same day as headshots
- Program and department overview videos
- Award recipient and scholarship recipient features
Photo and video pricing is quoted together on the same consultation call, so you are comparing one number against one budget line rather than reconciling two proposals.
faculty & student headshots
Faculty & Staff Headshots
On-site sessions built around faculty schedules, not ours. We set up in a conference room, office, or campus space and move through an average of 40 people per hour with consistent lighting and background across every subject. New hires photographed later in the year match the originals exactly.
Student and Cohort Headshots
High-volume sessions for incoming cohorts, graduate programs, student leadership, and organizational directories. Built for efficiency without the assembly-line feel, every student still gets direction and a moment to settle.
commencement & ceremonies
White Coat Ceremonies
Coverage of the full run-of-show: procession, the coating itself, the oath, faculty remarks, and family moments afterward. We work from your program in advance so we are positioned before each moment happens rather than reacting to it.
Commencement and Graduation
Ceremony coverage, stage crossings, faculty and platform party, and the family and candid work that follows: large venues, hard timelines, no second attempt.
campus & alumni events
Campus Events and Awards Ceremonies
Faculty and staff recognition nights, dean's awards, scholarship and endowed-award presentations, building dedications, ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, research showcases, anniversary celebrations, and visiting dignitary events. One of our favorite events to photograph is the UCI Homecoming event, bringing together alumni, families, students, faculty, and staff.
Discuss Your Gala or Donor Event
galas & donor events
Galas and Donor Events
Donor recognition dinners, scholarship events, and advancement functions. Discreet coverage of the room, plus dedicated attention to the specific people your advancement team needs photographed. Named in advance, delivered, and identified.
conferences & symposia
Conferences, Symposia, and Lectures
Speaker coverage, panel and audience imagery, poster sessions, and sponsor deliverables. Images sized and delivered for the communications team's use across web, social, and print.
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UCI HR Team Headshots
frequently asked questions
How Far in Advance Should a UC Irvine Department Book a Ceremony Photographer?
6-8 weeks is comfortable for ceremonies and commencement, because those dates compete across campus. Headshot days can often be scheduled within 1-2 weeks. If your date is sooner than that, call — we will tell you honestly whether we can cover it well.
Can You Photograph an Entire Faculty in a Single Day?
Absolutely. We photograph approximately 40 people per hour in a standard on-site setup. Our record is 65 headshots in one hour without compromising quality.
What Happens to Faculty Who Miss Their Time Slot?
We build buffer into every schedule for exactly this. Make up days are not usually provided due to extra expenses and time.
Do You Carry the Insurance UC Irvine Requires?
Yes. We maintain general liability coverage and can issue a certificate.
Can You Work Within a University Purchase Order Process?
Yes. We accept purchase orders, invoice through standard university channels, and work to your department's fiscal calendar. Our supplier record is already established, which removes a step for most departments.
Will the Photographer Disrupt an Occupied Academic Building?
No. The setup is compact, quiet, and self-contained — typically a single table's worth of footprint plus lighting. We have worked in offices, conference rooms, labs, and clinical spaces without interrupting the work around us.
Do You Photograph Multiple Colleges to a Consistent Standard?
Yes, and this is one of the reasons departments refer us internally. When several schools use the same photographer, the institution's imagery stops looking like it came from four different vendors across six years.
What Does University Photography Cost?
Pricing depends on session type, number of subjects, and hours of coverage. We provide a clear, itemized number on the consultation call and email— one you can take to your director or procurement office without follow-up questions.
Can Christopher Todd Studios photograph large teams or entire companies?
Yes. The studio regularly photographs departments, leadership teams, and company-wide staff. Consistent lighting, posing guidance, and background styling ensure a unified brand appearance across websites, directories, and marketing materials.
Can you match our existing headshots?
In most cases we can match your existing headshots.
What should I wear for my headshot session?
Solid colors, clean lines, and clothing that reflects your profession and personal style. Layers and simple textures photograph well. The team can provide guidance on wardrobe choices based on your industry or brand.
Does the studio provide posing and expression coaching?
Yes. Every session includes detailed posing and expression coaching to ensure clients look confident, approachable, and natural. This guidance is especially helpful for those who feel unsure about being in front of the camera.
Can the studio match our company’s brand guidelines?
Absolutely. Christopher Todd Studios works directly with marketing teams, HR departments, and creative directors to ensure headshots and event images align with brand colors, style guides, lighting preferences, and overall visual standards.
Does Christopher Todd Studios travel outside Orange County?
Yes. In addition to serving all of Orange County, the we travel to Los Angeles, Long Beach, and nearby regions for on-location headshots, branding sessions, and corporate events. Travel fees may apply depending on distance and project needs.
What if we need both headshots and event photography?
The studio frequently provides combined services for companies—offering team headshots, leadership portraits, and corporate event coverage in a single coordinated project. This ensures consistency in imagery and simplifies scheduling for businesses. Be sure to ask about our headshot photobooth for large events.
Can You Provide Photography and Videography From the Same Booking?
Yes. We quote both on one consultation call, deliver them under one contract and purchase order, and coordinate them with the same team. Departments that book both typically receive stills on the standard 48-hour timeline and video edits within 2 weeks, with social cutdowns available sooner on request.