William Jessup & Sierra College Graduation Photos in Rocklin: Best Spots & Timing

Graduation sessions in Rocklin start at $500+, run 45 to 60 minutes, and include 40 to 60 edited photos delivered in about 2 weeks. At Jessup University, the backdrop is the Frank Gehry-designed former Herman Miller campus. At Sierra College, it is the outdoor museum exhibits around Sewell Hall and the oak woodland of the campus Nature Trail. Quarry Park, Johnson-Springview Park and Sunset Whitney cover everything off campus. Shoot in the last 90 minutes before sunset or on a weekday morning.

I'm Angie, a natural-light photographer covering graduation photos in Rocklin and the wider Sacramento region. Jessup University (still searched as William Jessup University) and Sierra College sit a short drive apart in Rocklin, and their grads often want the same thing: a few frames that say “this is my school” plus portraits that look good on a wall. This guide covers both campuses, the nearby city parks, and the timing. For general Rocklin backdrops beyond graduation, see my Rocklin photo locations guide.

Jessup's Rocklin campus is not a brick-and-ivy campus, and that is its advantage. According to the university, the 125-acre property was an award-winning office and warehouse facility for the Herman Miller Corporation, initially designed by Frank Gehry, and later renovated by architect Russ Taylor. Jessup describes the result as bright colors, a modern archetype and a strong linear emphasis (jessup.edu). For a graduate, that means clean geometry behind a dark gown instead of the same columns everyone else has.

Where I'd start, in order:

1. The Gehry-era building exteriors. Long walls and strong lines make simple full-length frames look editorial. Best light: golden hour or an overcast day, since bright metal and pale walls bounce hard midday sun straight back at the camera.
2. The original courtyard layout. The Herman Miller plan clustered offices, a showroom and employee amenities around an open courtyard (Dreyfuss + Blackford). Courtyard walls give open shade, which makes this the best option when your only free window is midday. Confirm which outdoor areas are open to visitors.
3. The terrace. Jessup's 2025 commencement program invites guests to “join us on the terrace to congratulate our graduates.” That makes it the natural place for family groups and cap-toss frames. Best light: late afternoon, once the sun is lower than the rooflines.
4. The Chapel & Events Warehouse exterior. Jessup lists this building as the venue for its December commencement ceremonies (jessup.edu commencement). A frame outside the building where you actually walked is worth five minutes of the session. Best light: weekday morning, before events traffic.

Access: Jessup is a private university. I could not find a published photography policy, so email the university before you lock in a meeting point, and keep entrances and walkways clear.

If campus access is limited, or you want a second look, these city locations are a short drive from both schools:

1. Quarry Park. The city's downtown gathering space is a former granite quarry, and the last of Rocklin's 62 quarries to stop operating, in 2005 (rocklin.ca.us). Granite walls make the most dramatic grad backdrop in town. Quarry Park Adventures and the amphitheater share the site, so work the public areas. Best light: late afternoon.
2. The Quarry Loop Trail. The trail links Quarry Park with Ruhkala Road through the Quarry District, which is useful for walking frames and a quieter second spot without moving the car.
3. Johnson-Springview Park. At the northern edge of the Quarry District, this large city park has open lawns and trees for classic, uncluttered portraits and family groups. It also has sports fields, a skate park and a splash pad, so pick a corner away from them. Best light: golden hour.
4. Sunset Whitney Recreation Area. The former Sunset Whitney golf course closed in 2015, and the city bought it in 2017. The West Trails off Midas Avenue add 2.7 miles of paths, and two of the historic Twelve Bridges built by the Whitney family are on the property (rocklin.ca.us). Wide open sky makes it the best sunset location in Rocklin. The park is still being developed, so check for construction areas.

The City of Rocklin issues photography and filming permits for commercial photography on city property, so ask the City Manager's Office whether your session needs one. Light, parking and seasonal notes for each park are in the full guide to Rocklin photo spots.

The two schools graduate at different points in spring, so Rocklin grad season runs from late April through early June.

• Jessup University: spring ceremonies have been held in early May (the 2025 graduate and undergraduate ceremonies were on the first weekend of May), and Jessup also holds December commencement ceremonies for fall graduates.
• Sierra College: the Rocklin ceremony has been held on a Friday evening in late May. Check the Sierra College commencement page for your year.

The order I recommend:

1. Two to three weeks before your ceremony, on a weekday. You have your regalia, the campus is calm, and you still have time to use the photos on announcements.
2. The week after. The rush is over and you still have the gown.
3. Avoid ceremony day itself for a portrait session. Campus is full, parking is tight, and you will be short on time.

Within the day, the last 90 minutes before sunset and weekday mornings both win. A 45 to 60 minute session usually fits two or three nearby spots on one campus, or one campus spot plus one park. To understand what shapes the price, read the graduation photo cost guide.