By Karvika Chopra
For many students at TWU, the first week of December marks more than the approach of final exams. From December 1-6, between 8:30 A.M. and 3 P.M., the Student Life Conference Room transformed into a small but bustling portrait studio as Artona, TWU’s official contracted graduation photo provider, set up on campus to photograph hundreds of graduating students. The mobile studio experience, coordinated and promoted by Pillar, the university’s student-run yearbook, blended efficiency, emotion and behind-the-scenes teamwork.
For students hoping to appear in Pillar’s annual printed yearbook, booking an Artona appointment is essential. At the end of their appointment students choose the portrait they want published and are allowed retakes if they feel unsatisfied with their gallery of pictures.
The few minutes spent in front of the camera symbolize years of academic work, personal growth and anticipation for the next stage of their lives.
A moment that “just hit”
Fourth-year TWU student Rachel arrived at the on-campus studio buzzing with excitement, nerves and disbelief at how quickly her degree has passed. Before her December 3rd appointment, she admitted she had no idea what outfit she would ultimately choose, debating between a black or white base.
Standing outside the temporary studio setup, she described the whirlwind of emotions that came with approaching her grad photos. “Honestly, I feel scared. I feel excited,” she said. “It just hit me today. Four years went by so quickly, I feel old, I feel nervous, but excited, all at the same time.”
Inside, her appointment was smooth and guided, with photographers handling adjustments, setup and timing. The experience shifted her emotions of nervousness towards confidence.
“Honestly, it was so great,” she said afterward. “I was quite nervous at first, but I think I nailed it.”
She even added a personal touch: sunglasses, a playful nod to her love of house music and party-style aesthetics.
“Smiling was my favorite part, because I love smiling,” she said. “And the shades, for sure.”
For her, the Artona workflow was seamless. “It was very organized. I had people setting me up and helping... everything was done for me.”
Behind the lens: Long days, early mornings and hundreds of portraits
While the students captured their milestone moment, Artona’s photographers were experiencing their own intense December schedule.
Peyton, the photography supervisor on site, explained that on-location work begins long before
the first student arrives.
“It’s really early mornings,” she said. “Wake up at 5 a.m., pack the gear, come to the studio, and set up before the 8:30 A.M. appointments. And then we go back, unload, and go home.”
Despite the compact space of TWU’s Student Life Conference Room, significantly smaller than the previous year’s setup in Skidmore, Peyton said the team made it work.
“It is quite a small room. But it still works. It’s cozy and cute,” she said. “Packed everything in.”
Artona photographers operate with a structured process, relying less on improvisation and more on consistency. For Peyton, that structure is part of the appeal.
“There’s strict rules you have to follow, and I’m not too creative at that side of work,” she explained. “I like it more.”
Having worked with Artona for three years, she shared that while the job can feel repetitive, TWU students made the week enjoyable.
“They’ve been super polite,” she said. “I haven’t had a single person ask for retakes.”
Her colleague Jack, also a photographer and sometimes a supervisor, agreed.
“They’re all super nice,” he said. “Not a lot of people wore nicer outfits for casual photos; they kind of just came in for their cap and gown. But if someone wants to come in with a suit or a dress, they’re more than welcome to.”
He encouraged students booking the January session to consider bringing family or even pets.
“Yes, we allow pets,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a cat or a dog or a lizard or a snake. We’ll take it.”
Students reflect on an efficient and emotional milestone
TWU student Kaitlyn described her session in two words: “fast” and “efficient.”
“Just being able to grab the fake diploma was kind of fun,” she added. “It’s like, okay yay, I made it.”
As a corporate communications student, Kaitlyn said she’s ready for graduation and ready to step into the next chapter.
“It’s been a beautiful time here at Trinity, but I’m ready to enter the world,” she said, noting how student involvement helped her secure a job before graduating. “Get involved as much as you can. That’s why I have a job today.”
Education majors, Paige and Sydney, also shared glowing feedback. For them, the highlight was the guidance from Artona staff. “They helped you fix your hair and told you exactly how to pose,” Paige said. “They also had set poses, so you didn’t have to come up with them on the spot,” Sydney added.
When asked about some of the challenges faced, Paige said, “Picking which picture I liked the most,” she laughed. “I needed the photographer’s opinion on mine.”
Both said they felt comfortable enough to request retakes if needed, though the photographers’ direction meant neither had to.
A partnership that captures long-standing tradition
Pillar, the TWU yearbook team, coordinates directly with Artona to bring on-campus sessions each year. Students receive the convenience of a location steps from their classes, while Artona benefits from having large numbers of bookings without requiring students to travel to Vancouver.
The December sessions are particularly important for students graduating in April, as the portraits must be completed before Pillar finalizes the yearbook layout.
For anyone who missed the early December window, a second on-campus session will run January 7th to 10th, again in the Student Life Conference Room. While the photographers may vary, the process remains identical. The last day to take photos at the Artona Vancouver studio, if students need an alternative, is January 15, 2026.
Efficiency, emotion and a final snapshot of university life
While the portable studio at TWU may be small, the experience it offers carries weight. The backdrop slides slowly into place, the photographers adjust each collar and hood, and students take a breath before the shutter clicks. For most, the process lasts only minutes. But in those minutes, they see years of work reflected back at them.
Some walk away excited. Some walk away nervous. Some walk away simply relieved to check a box off their graduation to-do list.
But all walk away with the same thought: this is getting real.
As TWU prepares for more graduates to pass through the temporary studio in January, the Artona–Pillar partnership continues to offer students a seamless way to capture a milestone that marks both an ending and a beginning.