You have survived the cold calls, the appellate briefs, and the sleepless nights. You have earned your seat at the table. Soon enough, the caps and gowns will be put away, the bar exam will be conquered, and many of you will step into the very courtrooms where I keep the cameras rolling.
Most days, my view of the legal world is framed through a 16:9 monitor in a sterile conference room or a dimly lit Clark County courtroom. As a veteran court videographer, my job is to capture the unvarnished, heavy reality of the law. I record the grueling depositions, the tense arguments, the high stakes of a cross-examination, and the palpable anxiety of people waiting for a verdict. It is a world of rules, procedures, and immense pressure.
But this week, I swapped my locked-down tripod and legal video setup for my PR photography rig. I stepped out of the shadows of the courtroom and into the bright, roaring, scarlet-and-grey arena of the Thomas & Mack Center.
I was there to photograph the Spring 2026 Commencement for the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV. And let me tell you, looking at these graduates through a photographer’s lens—knowing what awaits them on the other side—offered an entirely different perspective.
The Weight Behind the Smile
When you shoot PR photography for a massive milestone like a law school graduation, the goal is to capture joy, triumph, and prestige. You look for the flying mortarboards, the tightly hugged family members, and the flashing smiles of newly minted J.D.s holding their diplomas.
But as someone who watches lawyers work every single day, I see far more than just a celebration in those frames.
I see the invisible weight they carried to get here. To graduate from UNLV Boyd Law isn’t just an academic achievement; it is an exercise in profound sacrifice. Behind every smile I captured on Thursday morning were three (or four, for the evening part-timers) years of:
- Relentless, grinding isolation over casebooks and outlines.
- The absolute terror of the Socratic method in first-year classes.
- The immense balancing act of sacrificing time with spouses, children, friends, and sleep—all to master a language that shapes our society.
Las Vegas is a city built on illusions and quick wins, but a law degree from UNLV is the exact opposite. It is forged in the absolute reality of hard, unglamorous work.
A Unique View: From the Classroom to the Courtroom
As I adjusted my shutter speed to freeze the moment a graduate crossed the stage, I couldn’t help but run a parallel reel in my mind.
Through my videography work, I know exactly where the road from the Thomas & Mack leads. I know what these graduates look like when the celebration fades and the real work begins. I see the partner-track associates running on espresso, the public defenders fighting passionately for their clients, and the corporate litigators meticulously building a case.
There is a distinct look in the eye of a seasoned Nevada attorney—a sharp, hyper-focused intensity.
Looking through my camera on Thursday, I saw that exact same intensity, but it was wrapped in pure relief and anticipation. Capturing the transition from exhausted student to empowered legal professional is a storyteller’s dream. In one frame, a graduate is receiving their hood; in my mind’s eye, I am already seeing them standing before a judge, commanding a courtroom.
Capturing the “Why”
One of my favorite shots from the ceremony wasn’t a staged portrait. It was a candid moment in the lower bowl of the arena. A graduate was looking up into the stands, tears cutting through her makeup, locking eyes with an elderly couple—likely her parents—who were holding a handmade sign.
In legal videography, we are trained to be completely objective, keeping emotional bias out of the frame. But in PR photography, emotion is the frame.
That single, fleeting interaction captured the “why.” No one survives the crucible of law school alone. That degree belongs to the parents who didn’t see their child for Sunday dinners, the partners who took on all the household chores, and the kids who learned to play quietly while mom or dad studied for finals.
Welcome to the Bar, Class of 2026
To the UNLV Boyd Law Class of 2026: It was an absolute honor to document your triumph.
You have survived the cold calls, the appellate briefs, and the sleepless nights. You have earned your seat at the table. Soon enough, the caps and gowns will be put away, the bar exam will be conquered, and many of you will step into the very courtrooms where I keep the cameras rolling.
When you do, and you feel the weight of your clients’ futures on your shoulders, remember the roar of the crowd at the Thomas & Mack. Remember how hard you fought to get here.
I’ll see you in court—and this time, I’ll make sure I get your good side.
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