Ningbo teacher offers personalized graduation photos

 The graduation photo taken by Qiu Chunye, a teacher at the Guiyu Primary School in Ningbo. [Photo/Qiu Chunye]

As graduation season approaches, Qiu Chunye, a teacher at Guiyu Primary School in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, has taken on a unique task: to photograph nearly 200 graduate students in innovative ways, all free of charge.

During the shoots, Qiu could be seen going to great lengths to capture the perfect shot. She crouched, climbed, and even laid on the ground to get the right angle. The students, dressed in their school uniforms, seemed to enjoy the experience, appearing at ease as they smiled for the camera.

Born in 1981, Qiu has been teaching at the school for two decades. The school is primarily attended by children of migrant workers, some of whom will return to their hometowns after graduation. For many, this could be a final farewell.

"I've been with this group of students since they were in first grade, and I have a deep bond with them," said Qiu, "I wanted to give them a unique ending to their time in primary school."

Qiu's effort was warmly welcomed by students and parents, and even students from other graduating classes expressed interest in having similar photoshoots done. In response, Qiu volunteered to photograph all sixth-grade students with a unique graduation theme.

With the assistance of class teachers, Qiu has already photographed four classes and plans to shoot the remaining class soon.

"I'm graduating soon, and bidding farewell to my alma mater is hard," said Pan Mengyao, a student from Class 605, "These graduation photos will leave me with unforgettable memories. When I grow up and look back at these photos, I'll cherish the time I spent with my teachers and classmates."

"Although she may not be a professional photographer, her sincerity and love for the students is beyond doubt. We want to create as many memorable moments for the students as possible," said Yu Caixia, principal of the school, who also expressed her support for Qiu's project.