grad and mom

It's an important moment to capture and I hope they enjoy the photo.

As a photo, rather than a moment of loved ones, it probably could use some improvement. It would be better if they were looking at you instead of (presumably) another photographer and I would crop to cut out some of the background folks. I'm guessing that what you like about this photo is their expressions. Cropping even tighter would accentuate that.

These are valid points.  My usual style is environmental portrature, where some of the subjects' surroundings are included.  I cannot be a crop artist. 

And yes, they were posing for another photographer.  I wonder; if I snap a picture where the subjects are posing for someone else, is it a candid shot? 

Sure, I think it's a candid, but there are no hard and fast rules, are there? In thinking about it, I think one subject looking away is no problem and can be quite effective.  Two people in profile looking at something can be effective, too.