a la carte event pavilion | tampa photographer

Once in awhile you chance upon a rare thing of beauty that you have to step back for a moment and take it all in. Once in awhile you get to be a witness of something amazing that you smile ruefully at your luck, at having been at the right place, at the right time. Last Sunday, August 9th, was one of those moments. It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Diane, Stacey’s Mom, who contacted me days before and asked if I could be a photographer at her daughter’s surprise graduation party.

Stacey just finished her Master’s in Education, and everybody in her family is ecstatic. She was in the ROTC before she went back to school, and I think that’s really fantastic. I said yes to Diane, even if it was an event quite different from the ones I usually do. I figured I’d give the same focus as if it was a wedding reception. Imagine my surprise when I walked inside A La Carte Event Pavilion – my first initial thought was that I’ve been punked! There were draped white linens from the ceiling, flowers, a dance floor – I actually thought I stepped in the wrong room! It looked more than a small intimate party that I envisioned.

It was a very tearful celebration. Diane and James poured their hearts in preparing for this party, that to me, it was a celebration of Family’s pride. Stacey is a woman who is very giving yet very humble. Looking at her, and 50+ friends who came from all over the country to be with her on this day, I immediately knew that she takes care of everyone without a thought of asking for anything in return.

Here’s a sneak peek.  More to come…