---
title: "Graduation photos in Hamburg: process, outfits & cost"
description: "Studio graduation portraits in Hamburg-Altona starting at €59, or €79 with professional make-up. Process, outfits, timing and what your photos cost."
url: "https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/graduation-photos-in-hamburg-process-outfits-cost/"
language: en
alternates:
  de-DE: "https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/blog/abifotos-hamburg-abschlussfotos-im-studio/"
  en: "https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/graduation-photos-in-hamburg-process-outfits-cost/"
  x-default: "https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/blog/abifotos-hamburg-abschlussfotos-im-studio/"
image: "https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/assets/images/galleries/business/business-fotoshooting-hamburg-12.jpg"
published: "2026-09-29T06:16:04Z"
modified: "2026-09-29T06:16:04Z"
organization:
  name: BEAUTYSHOTS Hamburg
  telephone: "+49 40 1800880"
  email: "hamburg@beauty-shots.de"
  address: Beerenweg 1E, 22761 Hamburg, DE
---

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graduation photos · portrait · yearbook · outfit tips

# Graduation photos in Hamburg: studio portraits for your Abitur—process, outfits and cost

For your yearbook, your family or your first application: how a graduation photo session works at our studio in Hamburg-Altona, what it costs, what to wear and when to book.

September 29, 2026 · 7 min read · By Alexander Kirsch-Clayton

![Application portrait of a blonde woman in a business outfit in Hamburg](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/assets/images/galleries/business/business-fotoshooting-hamburg-12.jpg)

The exams are done, or nearly done, and the yearbook committee needs your portrait by a deadline that’s coming up fast. You scroll through your phone and find a selfie from last summer. Next to your graduation ball dress or new suit, it just doesn’t hold up.

This guide covers how a graduation photo session works in a Hamburg studio, what it costs, what to wear and when to book it. We’ve been in Hamburg since 2004 and have photographed more than 25,000 customers. Here’s what we’ve learned about getting a graduation portrait you’ll still like years from now.

## What are graduation photos, and what do you need them for?

A graduation photo is a professional portrait taken to mark finishing school—in Germany, usually passing the *Abitur*, the university-entrance exam students call “Abi.” At BEAUTYSHOTS Hamburg you get it in a private studio photo session in Hamburg-Altona, starting at €59.

Most graduates end up using one good portrait for several things:

![Application photo of a man in a suit and tie at BEAUTYSHOTS Hamburg](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/assets/images/galleries/business/business-fotoshooting-hamburg-1.jpg)

- **The yearbook:** the portrait page almost every graduating class puts together
- **Family keepsake and gift:** parents and grandparents often want a print for the living room
- **Social media:** a profile picture that looks like the grown-up version of you
- **What comes next:** applications for university, an apprenticeship or a first job

A studio portrait isn’t the same as the class photo your school arranges, or the snapshots from the photographer at your graduation ball. Those are taken quickly, one student after another. In our studio, the whole appointment is about you. Every image is composed individually—no rapid-firing a thousand frames and hoping one works.

## Which photo session suits your graduation portrait?

There are three sensible options for a graduation photo: the Portrait session starting at €59, the Beauty or Men’s session starting at €79 with professional make-up included, and the CV photo session starting at €49 if you mainly need an application photo. Each includes at least one fully edited image in full resolution.

| Photo session | Starting at | Make-up | Plan on (from appointment start) | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Portrait](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/portrait-photo-session/) | €59 | Not included (add it for €25) | About 1.5 hours | A classic yearbook and family portrait |
| [Beauty](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/beauty-photo-session/) / [Men’s](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/mens-photo-session/) | €79 | Professional make-up included | About 2 hours | A polished look to match your ball dress or suit |
| [CV photo](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/cv-photo-session/) | €49 | Not included (add it for €25) | About 1.5 hours | An application photo for university or an apprenticeship |

Any images beyond the included one are optional. You choose them after the session with no obligation to buy. All package prices are on our [pricing page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/pricing/), and our guide to [what a photo session costs in Hamburg](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/photo-session-cost-hamburg/) goes through the numbers in detail. If a professional application photo is your main goal, read our article on [business headshots and application photos](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/business-headshots-photo-session-hamburg/) too.

## When should you book your graduation photo session?

Book your graduation photo session so the finished image is ready before your yearbook deadline, and ideally outside the weeks of your final exams. Sessions run Monday to Saturday—there are no Sunday sessions.

Three things are worth thinking about:

- **The yearbook deadline:** find out when the committee needs the images, then work backward. With in-studio selection, your photos are ready as soon as your appointment ends.
- **Before or after the graduation ball:** many graduates like to wear their ball dress or suit to the studio. Before the ball, you get a portrait of the outfit while it’s still new. After the ball, it’s a relaxed way to wear it a second time.
- **Exam stress:** tired eyes show in photos. A week after your last exam usually works better than the night before one.

![Business portrait at our studio in Hamburg-Altona](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/assets/images/galleries/business/business-fotoshooting-hamburg-9-1200.webp)

If you’re graduating in 2027, yearbook planning is probably starting right now. Booking your portrait early takes one thing off the list.

The booking calendar shows appointments in hourly steps—the time you see is when your appointment starts. From then, plan on about 2 hours, or about 1.5 hours without make-up. Please arrive right at your booked time—not earlier, and not much later.

## How your graduation photo session works at our studio in Altona

You book a graduation photo session online, pay for it right away, and then come to our studio in Hamburg-Altona (Beerenweg 1E). There you get make-up if it’s part of your package, about an hour of guided shooting and roughly 30 minutes to choose your photos with us.

1. **Choose your session.** Pick Portrait, Beauty, Men’s or CV photo on our [photo sessions page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/photo-sessions/).
2. **Pick a free slot and pay online.** You’ll get your booking confirmation by email.
3. **Arrive at the studio.** We’ll offer you something to drink when you arrive: coffee, water, orange juice or apple juice.
4. **Make-up (if booked).** Our make-up artist spends roughly 30 minutes on a look that works on camera and still looks like you.
5. **The shoot.** About an hour with our photographer, who guides you through every pose. You don’t need any experience. We take 80–100 individually composed images.
6. **Choose your photos.** Roughly 30 minutes of picking your favorites together, right there in the studio. Your included image is covered, and anything more is up to you.

Plan on about 2 hours from the start of your appointment: roughly 30 minutes of make-up, about an hour of shooting, and roughly 30 minutes to pick your photos. Without make-up (Portrait or CV photo), plan on about 1.5 hours.

## What should you wear for your graduation photos?

Bring two or three outfits to your graduation photo session: your ball dress or suit, a smart-casual look, and maybe something that would work for an application photo. There’s a changing room at the studio, so you can switch between outfits. We don’t provide clothing, so please bring everything you want to wear.

- **Solid colors beat patterns.** Busy prints and small stripes pull attention away from your face.
- **Iron everything.** Wrinkles show up in high resolution.
- **Avoid tight straps and sock cuffs** on the day. They leave marks on your skin that are visible in photos.
- **Wash your hair** and go easy on styling products. We don’t offer hairstyling, so style your hair the way you like it before you come.
- **Come without make-up** if your package includes it. Our make-up artist starts from a clean face.
- **Bring a fun prop.** Your class motto T-shirt or a graduation cap makes a great extra image next to the serious portrait.

For more ideas, see our [guide to what to wear for a photo session](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/what-to-wear-for-a-photo-session-hamburg/).

## Graduation photos with friends, or as a gift

You can have your graduation photos taken with your best friend, with your whole group of friends, or receive the session as a graduation gift. Our [Best Friends photo session](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/best-friends-photo-session/) for two people starts at €79, with make-up included for one person.

For bigger groups, our group packages start at €149 for up to six people, plus €15 for each additional person. Group sessions are by inquiry only. Send us your preferred dates and group size through our [contact page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/contact/). Our articles on [best friends photo sessions](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/best-friends-photo-session-hamburg-cost-ideas-process/) and [group photo sessions](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/group-photo-session-in-hamburg-ideas-process-prices/) have ideas for both.

Parents and grandparents often give a photo session as a graduation present. A [value voucher](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/value-vouchers/) is valid for three years, so the graduate can book whenever the timing suits them. More gift ideas are in our article on [seven occasions to gift a photo session](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/blog/gift-a-photo-session-hamburg-7-occasions/).

If you choose your photos with us in the studio, they’re ready as soon as your appointment ends. All images are delivered digitally in full resolution. Any prints you order go home with you right away, printed in the studio on a high-quality photo printer. Through the online gallery, your photos arrive within a week. We keep your photos for four weeks after your session.

With over 20 years of experience and 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google, we know how to make first-timers feel at ease in a private, exclusive atmosphere. Read what others say on our [reviews page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/reviews/).

## Frequently asked questions about graduation photos in Hamburg

### What do graduation photos cost in Hamburg?

At BEAUTYSHOTS Hamburg, a graduation portrait starts at €59 for a Portrait session without make-up, or €79 for a Beauty or Men’s session with professional make-up included. A CV photo session starts at €49. Each includes at least one fully edited image in full resolution, and extra images are optional.

### How long does a graduation photo session take?

From the start of your appointment, plan on about 2 hours for a session with make-up: roughly 30 minutes of make-up, about an hour of shooting and roughly 30 minutes to choose your photos. Without make-up, as with a Portrait or CV photo session, plan on about 1.5 hours.

### Can I bring my graduation ball dress to the photo session?

Yes. Many graduates wear their ball dress or suit to their studio photo session, before or after the ball. There’s a changing room at the studio, so you can switch between two or three outfits. We don’t provide clothing, so bring everything you want to wear.

### Is make-up included with graduation photos?

Professional make-up is included in the Beauty and Men’s photo sessions, which start at €79. For Portrait and CV photo sessions, you can add make-up for €25. Hairstyling is not offered, so please arrive with your hair done the way you like it.

### When will I get my graduation photos?

If you choose your photos in the studio right after the session, they’re ready as soon as your appointment ends, and any prints you order go home with you right away. Through the online gallery, your photos arrive within a week. We keep your photos for four weeks after your session.

### Can I use my graduation photos for applications?

Yes. A calm, well-lit studio portrait works well for university, apprenticeship or first-job applications. If an application photo is your main goal, our CV photo session starting at €49 is built for that. You can also wear an application-ready outfit as your second look during a graduation session.

Are you under 18? Please check the details for minors on our [FAQ page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/faq/) or ask us directly through our [contact page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/contact/) before you book.

## Ready for your graduation portrait?

You’ve worked hard for this, and it deserves a better photo than an old selfie. Pick your session on our [photo sessions page](https://www.beautyshots-hamburg.de/en/photo-sessions/), call us at [040 / 18 00 88 0](tel:+49401800880), or email <hamburg@beauty-shots.de>. We look forward to seeing you in Hamburg-Altona.