The campus moments that don't repeat.

University & school
event photography.Denver, CO.

Denver university event photographer for commencement, pinning and hooding ceremonies, homecoming, student festivals, and campus events. Years of coverage at MSU Denver, plus the University of Denver, CSU, and the Community College of Aurora.

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500+Events shot

13+Years exp.

NYTFeatured in

Why it matters

University event photography
for every campus day.

A campus calendar runs from orientation to commencement, and every event feeds something: admissions pages, alumni magazines, donor reports, social media, and next year's recruiting. Those photos have to show real students having a real experience.

I've photographed campus events for years, most of all at MSU Denver: the MSW Pinning and Hooding Ceremony, homecoming at the Regency Athletic Complex, the Roadrunners After Dark festival, the MLK Peace Breakfast, and Meet the Greeks. I've also covered events at the University of Denver and Colorado State University, so I know what a campus communications team needs from a gallery.

Graduate walking with family and faculty after the MSU Denver MSW Pinning and Hooding Ceremony

CampusEvent coverage

Graduates and faculty group photo after the MSU Denver MSW ceremony in Denver

What I capture

Commencement and graduation
ceremony photography.

Graduation ceremonies are some of the most technically demanding events I cover: theatrical venues, long processionals, and individual hooding and pinning moments that last two seconds and never repeat. At the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, I plan my positions around the stage lighting and the order of names so every graduate gets their moment.

Around the ceremony I photograph the processional, faculty and speakers, family reactions, and the celebrations outside afterward: the photos families share for years and schools use every spring.

Denver venues

Campus event photography
on Auraria and beyond.

The Auraria Campus alone has every kind of event space, from the Tivoli Turnhalle's 19th-century brick hall to open lawns and the Regency Athletic Complex under stadium lights. Add the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for ceremonies and Mile High Station for breakfasts and banquets, and a single semester can cover every lighting condition there is.

I've worked all of those spaces, plus DU's campus and CSU in Fort Collins. That familiarity means less time scouting and more time in position when the moment arrives, whether it's a name being read, a halftime scholarship presentation, or a headliner stepping on stage.

How it works

Simple from start to finish.

Share the event and the goal

Tell me the date, the venue, and where the photos are going: admissions, alumni relations, social media, or a donor report.

We build the shot list

Speakers, honorees, VIPs, sponsors, and for ceremonies, the order of names, so the key moments are planned.

Coverage that blends in

I move quietly through ceremonies and crowds so students and families stay in the moment.

Gallery in time for social

A next-day preview within 24 hours for same-week posts, with the full edited gallery in 5 to 7 business days.

What's included

Everything.
No surprises.

Every campus package includes full delivery: no hidden fees, no charge for digital files, and a license that covers admissions, alumni magazines, and university communications.

See pricing below ↓

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Next-day preview galleryA preview gallery delivered within 24 hours of your event so your team can start sharing while the energy is still fresh.

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Full gallery in 5 to 7 business daysFully edited gallery delivered within 5 to 7 business days. Rush delivery is available when you need images for press or a same-week recap.

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Ceremony and honoree setPinning, hooding, award, and scholarship moments pulled into their own set, so your team can find every honoree fast.

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Full usage rightsPersonal & professional use license included, covering websites, social media, newsletters, reports, and press. Commercial advertising use (print campaigns, billboards, paid ads) available on request.

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Private, shareable galleryPassword-protected gallery with easy download for your team, partners, and press contacts.

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Travel included within 60 milesCoverage across the Denver metro and the Front Range at no extra charge, from downtown Denver to Boulder and Colorado Springs.

Transparent pricing. No surprises.

University event photography packages.

Campus events use my standard event packages: $400 for 1 hour, $800 for 2 hours, $1,500 for 4 hours, and $2,700 for 8 hours. Every package includes next-day previews, a private gallery, and full editing.

See all event packages

Campus departments and repeat events

Many campus teams book several events a year. Tell me what's on your calendar and I'll help you plan coverage across the semester.

Alyson McClaran, Denver special event photographer

NYTFeatured in the New York Times

13+ Years
Photojournalism

About Alyson

A photojournalist
at your event.

"I don't manufacture moments. I find them."

I started my career as a photojournalist, working on deadline for newspapers and wire services where the only option was to get the shot right the first time. That training never left. MSU Denver has been one of my longest-running clients, from commencement ceremonies to homecoming.

Over 13 years and 500+ events, my work has been published in The New York Times, TIME Magazine, and ABC News. I'm a Denver event photographer based downtown, and I shoot events across Colorado and the Front Range.

500+Events covered

13+Years experience

5.0Google rating

New York TimesTIME MagazineABC NewsRocky Mountain PBS5280 Magazine

Full story

What clients say

Organizers who've worked
with Alyson.

★★★★★

"I've had the pleasure of working with Aly for several years during commencement events at MSU Denver. She has an incredible eye for capturing meaningful, beautiful moments. Aly brings a calm, focused energy to busy events and always moves with intention. She's fast, professional, and genuinely passionate about what she does, and it shows in every single image."

Teiriana IbarraCeremony Coverage · Denver

★★★★★

"Aly's work is consistently outstanding, and she's become a true staple at MSU Denver. I recently hired her to photograph our first-annual Roadrunners After Dark event, and she delivered a gorgeous gallery in no time. Beautiful, high-quality images that perfectly captured the story of the night."

Alicia MontoyaMSU Denver

★★★★★

"I've worked with Alyson McClaran Photography for years across higher ed events, portrait and headshot, and live music. Her photojournalism background makes for incredible authentic images that truly capture the spirit of her subjects. She's communicative, quick to respond, and turns edited photos around super fast."

Cory PhareHigher Ed + Headshots · Denver

FAQs

Campus event
questions, answered.

Yes. I've photographed MSU Denver commencement events for several years, including the MSW Pinning and Hooding Ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. I plan around the order of names and the stage lighting so individual moments aren't missed.

Yes. At MSU Denver's homecoming at the Regency Athletic Complex I covered the tailgate, face painting, men's and women's soccer, and a halftime scholarship ceremony in one day. Full-day coverage is $2,700 for 8 hours.

Yes. Tell me your policy and anyone who shouldn't be photographed, and I'll work within it.

Yes. I photographed the Colorado 5A boys basketball state tournament game between Palisade and Lewis-Palmer at the Denver Coliseum, and I cover school events across the metro.

You get a next-day preview gallery within 24 hours, so you can post and send thank-yous while the event is still fresh. The full edited gallery follows within 5 to 7 business days, with rush delivery available.

Yes. The personal & professional use license covers admissions pages, alumni magazines, social media, donor reports, and press. Commercial advertising use is available on request.

Still have questions? I actually respond to emails.

Get in touch