Photographing Match Day and the gala for Temple University's School of Podiatric Medicine

Temple University's School of Podiatric Medicine booked us directly to photograph two big nights for its students, Match Day in March and the gala in May. Both full galleries went out the same day.

By Tony Ellis Martinez · TM Productions

A big group of students in formal wear posing together on the dance floor with their arms in the air — The dance floor at the gala on May 4.

The Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia booked us directly to photograph two of the biggest nights of the year for its students. The first was Match Day on March 17, when the fourth-year students found out where they would be doing their residencies. The second was the school's gala on May 4.

We photographed both events and delivered each full gallery the same day, so students and the school had their photos while the night was still fresh.

Match Day

Match Day is when podiatry students learn which residency program they matched with, and the whole class celebrated it together. We covered the whole party, from the welcome table and the remarks to students opening their results and holding up their "I Matched" signs, and finished with a photo of the whole class.

A student in a Podiatrist sweatshirt smiling next to the red, black and white balloon wall — A student smiling by the balloon wall.

Rows of pink drinks in branded cups lined up on a table while a staff member sets out more — Drinks set out before the class arrived.

A crowded room of students standing and talking, with red, white and black balloons along the wall — The room filling up for Match Day.

A student in a navy suit speaking into a microphone — Remarks during the celebration.

Two students hugging after getting their match results — Two classmates hugging after finding out where they matched.

A student cheering with her eyes closed while holding up her match sign — A student celebrating her match.

A sheet cake with red frosting balloons that reads Congratulations Future Doctors — The cake for the class.

The whole class gathered together holding up their red match signs — The whole class with their match signs.

The gala

Two months later the school held its gala in a ballroom with chandeliers and round tables set in white and red. We covered the room before guests came in, the program and speeches, the group photos in front of the backdrop, the dessert table and the dance floor until late in the night.

A student in a blue suit speaking into a microphone in front of a projection screen — A speech during the program.

The ballroom from above during the program, with guests at their tables and a slideshow on a screen — Guests at their tables during the program.

A group of women in formal dresses posing together in the ballroom — A group photo in the ballroom.

A woman in a green dress striking a pose in front of a black backdrop — At the backdrop.

A group of men in suits lifting a friend sideways in front of a black backdrop — A group photo at the backdrop.

Five men in suits standing together with their arms around each other — Friends together at the gala.

Guests seated at round tables in the ballroom, some turned toward the camera — Tables during dinner.

A pegboard wall of donuts at the dessert table — The donut wall at the dessert table.

A woman in a pink satin dress dancing and laughing on the dance floor — On the dance floor.

A packed dance floor with students dancing and one leaning back toward the camera — The dance floor later in the night.

Full galleries the same day

Both galleries went to the school the same day as the event.

Thanks to the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine for having us for both nights, and congratulations to every student who matched.

School details via podiatry.temple.edu. Every photo on this page is from our galleries for the school.