Tempest Photography provides gowning and photo services for university students up and down the UK.
Some of these students have disabilities and attend their ceremonies with service dogs. To ensure these dogs are fully included in the celebrations, Tempest provides them with hats and gowns to match their owners’.
Dressing Graduates and Service Dogs
On graduation day, Tempest Photography directs students with additional needs to an accessible area or quiet space. This is where a graduate will collect their gown and have their photographs taken, including with their service dog if they have one.
Usually, universities co-ordinate timings for this process that work best for the student. They oversee the dressing process, and a member of the Tempest GGC team makes sure the student and their dog feel their best.
Additional staff are then on hand to “pre-stage dress” graduates. This final check ensures everyone’s hat and gown are sitting perfectly before the big moment. Service dogs are included — staff check that their hat and gown are well-positioned before they escort their owner across the stage.
Producing Replica Graduation Gowns for Service Dogs
To produce replica gowns for service dogs, Tempest asks the graduate to provide the dog’s measurements, including the:
-
Length from collar to tail.
-
Widest part of the chest.
-
Head circumference if they would like a mortarboard.
-
Leg length.
Beyond requesting measurements, Tempest also asks for the dog’s breed, photos of the dog, and the graduate’s degree level. The latter is so they can create a matching hood for the dog.
Tempest also asks whether the dog is comfortable having anything under their chin and adapts fastenings as required. They confirm whether the dog needs a harness and alter the gown accordingly if necessary. This is often the case for guide dogs.
If a graduate is in doubt about their dog’s needs, Tempest comes up with ideas to find a solution that keeps the dog comfortable at all times.
Gowning Alfie the Service Dog: A Case Study
In 2024, Tempest Photography held a graduation launch event at the University of Kent. Students attended to learn about how their big day would unfold. They met Tempest staff and asked questions about gowning and photography.
One of the students was a young woman with a service dog called Alfie, who kept an eye on her blood pressure, anxiety, and other health issues. A friendly dog, Alfie ran up to meet several people at the event.
Tempest asked the university what they thought about Alfie wearing a gown that would match his owner’s at the ceremony. They loved the idea.
When Tempest consulted Alfie’s owner, she was delighted that Tempest would make Alfie central to her graduation celebrations. She provided Alfie’s measurements and discussed the kind of gown he would feel comfortable in.
On the day, Tempest treated Alfie the same as the graduates. The university arranged a private, quiet room for Alfie’s owner to prepare for her ceremony. Tempest helped with her and Alfie’s gowning and took photographs in this space.
Alfie and his owner turned many heads in their matching gowns.
Ensuring Inclusivity at Graduation Ceremonies
Tempest Photography goes above and beyond to ensure all graduates feel included at their ceremonies. Beyond Alfie’s owner, another student from the University of Kent originally planned not to attend his ceremony. He felt he would look silly in a gown because of his above-average height.
During a consultation with Tempest, the gowning experts reassured him that they would produce a gown that would fit him perfectly. He then attended the ceremony with his family and enjoyed the day.
Tempest is dedicated to working with students on a personal level wherever necessary to ensure they feel included and comfortable at their graduations.
Tempest Photography’s Graduation Services
More than 100 British universities and colleges ask Tempest to manage the gowning, photography, videography, and e-ticketing solutions for graduation ceremonies. A dedicated Tempest account manager works with the university to plan the event to the smallest detail.
Tempest’s graduation photography service allows students to book individual and family portraits, presentation ceremony photos, and group shots.
Meanwhile, the gowning service runs smoothly: A radio frequency identification (RFID) chip in each hat and gown makes it easy to scan these items in and out. This means graduates don’t have to wait in long queues.
Velcro fastenings on the hoods and discreet, optional front fastenings on the gowns make it easy to fit these items. Students can place their orders easily online and collect them on the day. When ordering their gowns online, graduates can also register for their ceremonies and book tickets for loved ones.
Learn more about Tempest Photography’s graduation services.
About Tempest Photography
Tempest Photography is renowned for its graduation services, but the company also photographs early years and school pupils, military personnel, and cruise guests. What’s more, its sister companies AllYearbooks and Moxie produce luxury yearbooks and hoodies. On top of this, its visual marketing agency Jolt Media supports schools and universities with creative projects, from videography to web design.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
