Hidden Gems In Phoenix

Hidden Gems In Phoenix

As a premier, full service media production company, Haute Media has been fortunate to capture first-hand over hundreds of corporate and community events throughout the Phoenix Valley. With over 14 years of providing our expertise in event photography and videography to small and large businesses across Arizona, we know how to spot a true “hidden gem” of Phoenix. Haute Media was thrilled to collaborate with Redfin to participate in their featured article highlighting hidden gems in Phoenix, from local restaurants and cafes to vintage shops and unique attractions.

Thank you, Ryan Castillo with Redfin for the awesome opportunity to share one of our favorite hidden gems, the Phoenix Art Museum!

Known as the largest art museum in the southwestern United States, Phoenix Art Museum has featured world-class exhibitions for over 60 years. Our team at Haute Media has partnered with Phoenix Art Museum for over 10 years to capture their events and collections from around the world. Phoenix Art Museum is a cherished hidden gem here in the Valley and we love photographing their annual galas and community events.

Scroll down to read more about Phoenix Art Museum and some other treasured Phoenix gems in Redfin’s article, 17 Hidden Gems in Phoenix You Need to Check Out and visit www.HautePhotoVideo.com to learn more about our services and view our amazing event galleries!

Secrets Revealed: 17 Hidden Gems In Phoenix You Need To Check Out

July 20, 2022 by Ryan Castillo

There are many fun activities to do in Phoenix, AZ, from visiting the Musical Instrument Museum to watching an Arizona Cardinals game. It’s clear that living in Phoenix comes with many perks and unique activities. However, if you are looking for something that is more under-the-radar, figuring out what to do can be a challenge. That’s why we reached out to locals to give us their favorite hidden gems of Phoenix. Whether you’re renting an apartment downtown or just moved into a ranch style house in Camelback East, read on to see what secret spots you need to check out. 

Hidden Gem Locations To Check Out While In Phoenix

1. Arizona Capitol Museum and Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza

The Arizona Capitol Museum showcases the history and culture of Arizona. There are many interactive educational exhibits that focus on the evolution of Arizona from a territory to a state. Across the way is the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza which is an urban park and gathering space.

Spirit of Arizona Tours shares, “My favorite hidden gem in Phoenix would have to be the Arizona Capitol Museum and Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza across the street. It’s no longer the active State Capitol but is now a free museum. The exhibits inside are very unique to Arizona’s story. Right across the street, you have the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza filled with all kinds of memorials from various wars and veterans to unique characters in Arizona history.”

2. Phoenix Art Museum 

The Phoenix Art Museum houses a multitude of different art forms from the Renaissance to modern art.

“One of our favorite hidden gems in Phoenix is the Phoenix Art Museum,” remarks Haute Media. “This gem features unique public art of all kinds, and we love capturing photography and videography at their events.” 

3. Rewind Vintage & Antique

Rewind Vintage & Antique is an awesome Melrose Neighborhood store that has wonderful retro and mid-century decor, vinyl, as well as their own fledgling record label.

“They support and sign local artists and sponsor neighborhood music festivals. The shop is right in the middle of the most colorful hidden gem in Phoenix – a vibrant art district full of murals, street art, funky shops, coffee houses, and restaurants. While most Instagram influencers are told to head to Roosevelt Row for its artistic vibes – Melrose has all that and more,” raves Anjeanette Photography.

4. Desert Botanical Gardens

The Desert Botanical Gardens is the perfect place for date night or a simple stroll due to its lush desert scenery and eclectic food and drink.  

Thomas Shull remarks, “As an Arizona wedding photographer my favorite hidden gem is Desert Botanical Gardens. It’s centrally located, provides easy access to some of the most beautiful desert plants and landscapes in Arizona, and its restaurant Gertrude’s is a local favorite.”

Hidden Gem Hiking Trails In Phoenix You Need To Try

5. Hidden Valley Trail via Mormon Trail

Hidden Valley Trail via Mormon Trail offers unique tunnels, waterfalls, and breathtaking views. 

“One of my favorite hikes is Mormon Trail to Hidden Valley in Phoenix South Mountain Park,” says AZ Wonders. “The moderate 3.4-mile hike features a cool rock tunnel, ancient petroglyphs, and great views of the city.” 

6. The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail 

Regarded as a moderate trail, the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail is perfect for those whole love to hike or bike. Make sure to give yourself a lot of time as it can take around 5 hours to complete.

“The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail is a must-do, family-friendly outdoor activity in Phoenix Arizona. The easy-to-traverse paths weave through breathtaking cacti that are as enormous as they are beautiful. As you explore the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop trail, educational placards help give context and interesting information about the amazing botanical sculptures of the desert. This easy and accessible hike is a great chance to learn about the flora and fauna of a diverse and beautiful region,” raves Carefree Covered RV Storage.

7. Dobbins Lookout at South Mountain

Dobbins Lookout provides breathtaking views of the city. It’s an easy hike for those who don’t want to walk much while still providing stunning scenery. 

“One of my favorite hidden gems is Dobbins Lookout at South Mountain,” shares Fearless Elopement. “As a phoenix wedding photographer, I’m always looking for beautiful places I can take my couples to. The lookout closes at 7 pm, but the exit gate won’t close until 11 pm so you can stay up there later and watch the beautiful cityscape and all the cool lights.”

8. Phon D Sutton Recreation Area

Phon D Sutton Recreation area is the perfect place to find a number of different hiking trails that are sure to excite you. You can get everything from river views by checking out the Lower Salt River Nature Trail to stunning hillsides by hiking the Phon D Sutton Loop.

“Since we are photographers, we’re always searching for beautiful outdoor locations that are unique. One of our favorites is Phon D Sutton Recreation Area, right on the Salt River. It has amazing views, towering cacti, easy hiking trails, and wild horses,” boasts Joy and Ben Photography.

9. Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area hosts a number of hiking trails, different cacti species, and numerous animals. There is a small entry fee, however, locals are eligible for an annual pass. 

“We stumbled across Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area in Cave Creek,” notes Blair Ballin Realtor. “Much to our surprise, there are multiple trails there. One of which has a beautiful stream going through it called the Jewel of the Desert and also The Metate Trail where you can find a metate. Both are amazing, and we always look forward to visiting Spur Cross.”  

Hidden Gem Eats You Need To Try In And Around Phoenix

10. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery is a popular breakfast chain restaurant that aims to make the breakfast experience into a party. The chain has restaurants across different states like Georgia, California, Colorado, and Arizona, among others. 

“Snooze, an A.M. Eatery is the perfect place to grab weekend brunch with friends and family,” raves Kelly Dodge, Co-Founder of Home & Jet. “This Denver-based breakfast spot has locations scattered across Arizona such as Scottsdale and Tempe, but no location is cooler than the historical Circles Records Building in Downtown Phoenix.” 

If you are looking for something sweet, Kelly recommends trying the OMG! French Toast or Signature Pancake Flight which consists of pineapple upside down, blueberry danish, and sweet potato pancakes. If your palette prefers something savory, she recommends the Barbacoa Chile Verde Benny or the Snooze Breakfast Burrito.

11. Old Town Tavern

Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, Old Town Tavern offers great live entertainment, a stellar bar, and outdoor patio space. 

“My favorite hidden gem in Scottsdale for live music is Old Town Tavern, or as us locals call it OTT, remarks Margie Van Zee of Bella Palazzo. “It is a small, neighborhood-friendly establishment that has live bands every day. They also have misters in the summer to help beat the heat.” 

12. Virtù Honest Craft

Led by Chef Gio Osso, Virtù Honest Craft offers Mediterranean-style food that rotates weekly giving frequent patrons a unique experience every time they dine.

“My hidden gem is the restaurant Virtù Honest Craft in Scottsdale,” shares The Jet Set Life. “Virtù Honest Craft is an exquisite hidden gem of a restaurant nestled in the Bespoke Inn Scottsdale Bed and Breakfast. It’s an intimate, white-tablecloth Mediterranean restaurant with outdoor seating underneath twinkling candles and string lights. Fire and water features make the courtyard feel magical. Not only is the setting spectacular, but the food is incredible, serving a prix fixe award-winning menu that often changes daily.” 

13. Valentine

“The hidden gem that stands out to me the most is Valentine, a charming, New-American, Southwestern restaurant that offers delicious brunch and dinner, and has a sultry speakeasy bar attached. There’s a relaxed outdoor patio if you’re craving warmth from the sun while drinking an iced oat honey latte, but if you’re looking for something moodier, check out the chic, dimly lit speakeasy bar with creative concoctions,” says ChiVeg.

She also notes that she was blown away by their dinner menu which consisted of al pastor mushrooms with mole, a Sonoran pretzel, and their house-made tagliarini with elote-style corn. 

14. Frashers Tavern

Arizona Boating & Watersports boasts, “Frashers Tavern is indeed a hidden gem. This local favorite is reminiscent of vintage steak houses, including wood and leather decor, decorative memorabilia, stellar service, and great steaks. The bar, main dining room, and outside dining area are supervised daily by the owner George Frasher. The personal touches here elicit an ‘I-belong-here’ atmosphere.”

The restaurant offers an expansive meat menu including filet mignon, ribeye steak, prime rib, and rack of lamb. 

15. Lom Wong

Having just opened a few months ago in downtown Phoenix, Lom Wong has burst onto the foodie scene with its outstanding Thai food and hospitality.  

TEXAZTASTE shares that “Co-owner Alex Martin spent several years living in Thailand, where he met his wife, Yotaka, and together they are churning out some of the best food Phoenix has to offer. Many of the dishes have been in Yotaka’s family for generations, and a few not to miss include the Yam Mamuang Boran (green mango salad with torn shrimp) and the Kaeng Phet Charinda (beef shank with curry paste).” 

16. Rokerij and Richardson’s

Rokerij is housed in a beautiful stone house and offers an intimate setting complete with dim lighting, a fireplace, booths, and a copper-topped bar. Richardson’s offers a unique atmosphere with cozy booths, tiles, and southwestern art. 

“One of my favorite local dining spots that always comes to mind is Rokerij and Richardson’s in North Central Phoenix,” notes Living in Phoenix AZ. “Rokerij and Richardson’s are sister restaurants located in the same location and specialize in New Mexican fare. Some of my favorite go-to’s are the Carne Adovada, Bacon Wrapped Grilled Shrimp, New Mexico Enchiladas, and the Surf and Turf.”

17. Flower Child 

Flower Child makes made-from-scratch food as well as customizable bowls, wraps, and salads. 

“My favorite hidden gem in Phoenix is the Flower Child restaurant. Not only is the food amazing, but it is also a healthy and organic restaurant. My favorite meals there are the Organic Kale Salad with Shrimp and Forbidden Rice with Chicken,” boasts James Templeton, founder of The Templeton List, an interactive guide to the healthiest restaurants in America.

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Best Event Photography in Phoenix

Best Event Photography in Phoenix

Best Event Photography in Phoenix

Best Event Photography in Phoenix – Haute Media is a highly experienced team of professionals providing media production services across Arizona and worldwide!

From smaller gatherings to large-scale productions, we provide award-winning event photography!

Our team of professional event photographers are based in Phoenix, AZ and travel worldwide to capture various corporate and community events. We specialize in corporate events including Conventions, Conferences, Trade Shows, Award Ceremonies, Team Building and Networking events, you name it! As well as community events including Groundbreakings, Grand Openings and Ribbon Cutting Events, Fundraisers, Galas, and more.

At Haute Media, our mission is to provide the best event photography in Phoenix, delivering an outstanding product and exceptional customer service at every event!

Below are three recent community events Team Haute has photographed around the Valley. You can view the full event galleries and more of our recent events at HautePhotoGallery.com.

Senna House Grand Opening

Senna House is the first hotel to open in Old Town Scottsdale’s Entertainment District in 13 years, since the opening of W Scottsdale in 2008. Senna House, a Curio Collection by Hilton located at 75th Street and Camelback Road, celebrated their grand opening on Tuesday, Dec. 15th. City of Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega celebrated the ribbon cutting with attendees including Senna House and Hilton Curio representatives, Experience Scottsdale representatives and members of the Scottsdale City Council. 

Old Town Scottsdale is a favorite spot of ours and we were honored to photograph the event! Check out Senna House and book your next staycation at TheSennaHouse.com.

CitySkate Grand Opening

CitySkate is Phoenix’s real outdoor ice skating rink located at Patriot’s Park inside CityScape in Downtown Phoenix. CitySkate opened for the season and commenced the first skating session with a grand opening celebration the Friday after Thanksgiving on November 26th.

The grand opening celebration featured all kinds of entertainment from Stilt Walkers to Cirque Performers and Rink Performers plus special remarks from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego & Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari. VIP guests enjoyed an exclusive first skating session before it opened to the public. Ice skating under the stars was a beautiful way to celebrate the season and brought lots of holiday magic to Phoenix for the New Year!

Team Haute was on site for multiple sessions to capture photography, videography and aerial drone footage at CitySakte. Check out this awesome drone highlight video we created from the grand opening event!

Desert Botanical Garden Chihuly Celebration

Desert Botanical Garden celebrated the opening of the Garden’s exhibit “Chihuly in the Desert” by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Installations are featured along the Garden’s trails and in Dorrance Hall’s indoor gallery.

The Chihuly Celebration raised funds for Desert Botanical Garden‘s Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science. The event featured entertainment by Pink Martini featuring China Forbes, He Said She Said, Tony Duncan & Urban Electra. Guests enjoyed the concert performances at Sunset Plaza and dancing under the stars.

Leslie Chihuly, wife of Dale Chihuly is pictured below (bottom left) with the Garden’s Executive Director, Ken Schutz.

You have to see this incredible art for yourself! Visit DBG.org to get tickets for the exhibit and view more event photos at HautePhotoVideo.com. 

Best event photography in phoenix

Best Event Photography in Phoenix

Your beautiful events deserve to be documented! For the best event photography in Phoenix, contact Haute Media when you’re planning your next event and we’ll make every detail shine in photos that will last a lifetime!

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Super Bowl Arizona Events – Photography & Videography

Super Bowl Arizona Events

Get ready Phoenix, the Super Bowl is coming back to Arizona February 2023!

The NFL and Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee announced that Super Bowl LVII is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. We are just a year and a half away which means it’s time to start planning for 2023 Super Bowl Arizona Events!

Super Bowl Arizona Events

Home of the Arizona Cardinals, State Farm Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLII in 2008 (New York Giants v. New England Patriots) and Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 (New England Patriots v. Seattle Seahawks). Super Bowl LVII will be the third Super Bowl held at State Farm Stadium (previously University of Phoenix Stadium), and the fourth Super Bowl to take place in Arizona. Super Bowl XXX was held at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe in 1996. 

Haute Media was selected to participate as event photographers in the 2015 Arizona Super Bowl Business Connect Resource Guide and were featured on the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee website. We had the incredible opportunity to photograph several amazing events during Super Bowl Week, from celebrity and athlete appearances, to fashion shows, culinary events, concerts and even a few top secret events! Check out these highlights from Super Bowl Week 2015 events in Phoenix and you can view more event photography at hautephotovideo.com.

NFL Off the Field Player’s Wives Association Welcome Reception at SAKS Fifth Avenue – Event Photography

SAKS Fifth Avenue in Biltmore Fashion Park kicked off Arizona Super Bowl Week with the NFL Off the Field Player’s Wives Association during a meet and greet brunch and Super Bowl fashion show!

Super Bowl Arizona Events
NFL Business Leadership Forum – Event Photography

It was so great to celebrate with all of the local businesses of the AZ Super Bowl Business Connect Program during Super Bowl Week!

Super Bowl Arizona Events
Super Bowl Fan Fest – Event Photography

Every year, ESPN hosts a full week of live events leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. More than 70 events took place during Fan Fest Scottsdale including team appearances, celebrity appearances, concerts, fashion events and much more!

Super Bowl Arizona Scottsdale Fan Fest
PepsiCo Super Bowl Arizona Events – Event Photography

As the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show (featuring Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz), Pepsi brought the hype to Phoenix and hosted a number of events during Super Bowl Week including:

  • Pepsi “Hyped for Halftime Stage” at Verizon Super Bowl Central including performances by Snoop Dogg and Zac Brown Band
  • PepsiCo Party at the Phoenix Art Museum including the “Rookie of the Year” Award Presentation 
  • Super Bowl Central presentation ceremony to the San Francisco Host Committee for Super Bowl 50
Snoop Dog Zac Brown Band

Big Game, Big Give – Event Photography

The Big Game, Big Give is an annual fundraising event held in the Super Bowl host city each year. Presented by The Giving Back Fund and celebrity host, Mark Wahlberg, the 2015 Big Game, Big Give event was held at a private estate in Paradise Valley, AZ

Mark Wahlberg

In addition, Team Haute photographed the Global Events Celebrity Flag Football Game, the Super Bowl Central Media Party, Macy’s Super Bowl Events and Tanger Outlets Events during Super Bowl Week. It was an unforgettable experience for Team Haute and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for Super Bowl LVII in 2023! Contact us when you’re ready to start planning your Super Bowl Arizona Events and subscribe at HautePhotoVideo.com to receive more updates!

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Virtual Event Video Production: 3 Secrets to Success

Virtual Event Video Production

Virtual event video production has become increasingly popular over the past year. For event planners, corporate professionals, and business owners, it is important to understand how to utilize professional video production to enhance your overall event experience.

At Haute Media, we recently had the amazing opportunity to work with The Scottsdale Charros to produce the 2021 Scottsdale Charros Virtual Education Awards. The Scottsdale Charros are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students, teachers and schools within the Scottsdale Unified School District. The Scottsdale Charros believe that “education is the cornerstone of any community and proudly celebrate Scottsdale’s best and brightest during the Scottsdale Charros Education Awards.“

Every year, The Scottsdale Charros recognize one specially selected teacher from each SUSD school as Outstanding Educators of the Year. Additionally, an Outstanding Male and Outstanding Female Student of the Year are recognized from the Class of 2021 at each school, as well as SUSD School Nurses and High School Athletes of the Year.

It was an honor to work with The Scottsdale Charros to produce their first ever virtual event! You can view the full virtual event live stream recording at the link below. Continue reading to learn our 3 secrets to successful virtual event video production and how we incorporated these techniques in the Scottsdale Charros Virtual Event.

Scottsdale Charros 2021 Education Awards

Every event is different. When it comes to virtual events especially, a little extra planning and production can transform your ordinary virtual meeting into a unique online event experience! The production quality of your virtual event will reflect the professionalism of your business and importance of your event. Poor audio/visual components can negatively impact the energy of your event. Successful event planners hire professional videographers to handle their virtual event video production to ensure a seamless production process and a polished presentation for the final event. Here are three ways professionals utilize video production to enhance virtual events…

Virtual Event Video Production: Secret to Success #1 – Get Creative With Pre-Recorded Video!

Exciting content and inspiring speakers are key to a successful virtual event. Pre-recorded video production provides endless creativity when it comes to content and delivery. Utilizing pre-recorded video offers flexibility in scheduling multiple speakers to participate in your virtual event, either remotely or in-person. It also gives you the ability to record high-quality video of your speakers in multiple locations, which provides even more exciting visual content to keep your audience engaged!

Combining exciting locations and inspiring guest speakers such as community leaders or local athletes is guaranteed to keep your audience engaged. For The Scottsdale Charros Virtual Event, we pre-recorded several speaker segments in various locations that reflected the theme of the event. We filmed at three relevant locations including Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Grand Canyon University, and Gateway Trailhead at McDowell Sonoran Preserve in North Scottsdale. A few of the guest speakers we pre-recorded include:

Virtual Event Video Production

Secret to Success #2 – Choose the Right Platform to Engage Your Audience!

Virtual events are a great way to deliver your message to a much larger audience and offer global networking opportunities in real time. To ensure a successful virtual event, rely on professional video producers to use the right hosting platform and streaming software to broadcast your live virtual event while keeping your audience engaged. 

Features of virtual event platforms that enhance audience engagement include Live Polls, Q&A Discussions, Chat Boxes, and more! Enabling the live audience chat feature during The Scottsdale Charros virtual event allowed viewers from all over the country to tune in and communicate with other event participants.

Secret to Success #3 – Promote Your Event With Professional Video Production!

The success of any event is directly related to the amount of marketing you put into promoting your event. Professional video production is a great tool to market and advertise your events! An effective way to promote your events through video is utilizing clips from pre-recorded video production to share on your website and social media to make your audience aware and excited about your event.

Social media integration is also a fantastic way to promote networking and grow your following during and after your event. With the right virtual event platform, we can stream your events to multiple channels including Vimeo, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more!

Another awesome promotional feature is live graphics which we can incorporate in pre-production or add in real time during your live stream. During the Scottsdale Charros Virtual Event, we incorporated graphics and branding throughout to keep their audience entertained and promote the different event elements.

Learn more about virtual event video production and subscribe to receive updates at HautePhotoVideo.com.

Congratulations to all of the Scottsdale Charros’ 2021 Outstanding Students and Educators, SUSD School Nurses and High School Athletes of the Year! View the virtual event video at Charros2021.HautePhotoVideo.com and support the Scottsdale Charros Education Initiatives by making a donation at Charros.com.

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Best Corporate Event Videographer in Phoenix Arizona

Best Corporate Event Videographer in Phoenix Arizona

Haute Media is a top rated award-winning media production team, providing the Best Corporate Event Videography in Phoenix Arizona.

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How Desert Botanical Garden Created a Unique Hybrid Event Experience

Desert Botanical Garden hosted their annual Dinner on the Desert event on Saturday, April 24th, 2021 and for the first time integrated a virtual auction and drive-thru dining package, creating a unique hybrid event experience for their guests. 

Dinner on the Desert is always a magical event and we were thrilled to capture this year’s first-ever hybrid experience. Here are three key elements Desert Botanical Garden incorporated to create a safe and successful hybrid event.

Virtual Auction 

Prior to the live event, Dinner on the Desert supporters had the opportunity to register and participate in a week-long virtual auction, where guests were able to bid on distinctive plants, pots and garden art, plus one-of-a-kind experiences. Online auctions are not only a great way to promote your event but also to get your guests involved and raise money to support your cause!

Dine-In or Drive-Thru Dinner Package

On April 24, guests safely gathered at the Garden to celebrate Dinner on the Desert with Event Chair Sara Morgan & Executive Director Ken Schutz, friends, family and colleagues. Guests began the evening with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and socializing with friends while exploring Exhibit Earth, a floral and plant installation by world-renowned floral designers, Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond Studio, followed by an exquisite dinner in the Garden.

This year, Desert Botanical Garden offered guests two ways to share in this spectacular dinner event. Guests had the option to enjoy dinner in the Garden and those who preferred to dine at home had the opportunity to enjoy the cocktail party and exhibit, and then drive-thru the Schilling Events Plaza to receive a packaged four-course dinner to take home that included two bottles of wine and a parting gift.

Here’s a look at Earth, created by Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond Studio.

Live Event Interaction 

Guest Portraits – As guests arrived, they had the opportunity to have their portrait taken at the Desert Terrace Garden with a beautiful backdrop of the Butte mountain. Portraits are a perfect keepsake your guests will love and have to remember your special event for years to come! 

Live Entertainment – After having their portraits taken, guests walked along Desert Discovery Trail while  enjoying cocktails, hors de oeuvres, and live music by He Said, She Said.  While viewing Exhibit Earth inside Dorrance Hall, guests enjoyed a live performance by Louis Landon and during dinner and dessert, performances by The Phoenix Symphony.

Desert Botanical Garden’s Dinner on the Desert hybrid event was a huge success and we can’t wait to see what the Garden has in store for next year! View all of the 2021 event photos at hautephotovideo.com and visit dgb.org to learn more about how you can support Desert Botanical Garden.

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Women’s History Month

Since 1987, March has been nationally recognized as Women’s History Month, dedicated to honoring and celebrating the many contributions women have made in society and their achievements throughout American history. This Monday, March 8th will celebrate International Women’s Day, in observance to raise awareness about women’s equality and commemorate all those who have fought for women’s rights.

At Haute Media we are honoring empowering women everywhere all month long! We have been fortunate to work with several incredible organizations supporting women and we want to highlight a few of the extraordinary females we have had the pleasure of photographing over the years.

Madeleine Albright

“There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” — Madeleine K. Albright

Madeleine Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State of the United States and was America’s first woman Secretary of State. During her time in office, she was then the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. Dr. Albright received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2012 and is now Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a New York Times bestselling author, professor, diplomat and businesswoman. We’ve had the amazing opportunity to photograph Dr. Albright at multiple events including her book singing and press conference at the Phoenix Art Museum as well as a special meet and greet during the AIG Annual Conference at The Phoenician Resort.

Caroline Kennedy

“As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency.” — Caroline Kennedy

American author, attorney, and diplomat, Caroline Kennedy served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017. Daughter of former President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Ambassador Caroline Kennedy serves as a member of the National Board of Directors for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Vice Chair for the Fund for Public Schools in NYC, and Chief Executive for the NYC Department of Education Office of Strategic Partnerships. We were honored to photograph Ambassador Kennedy at the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute Annual History Dinner honoring President John F. Kennedy.

Maria Shriver

“Moving humanity forward. That is my ministry. That is my mission. I hope you will join me.” — Maria Shriver

Journalist, activist, author, former First Lady of California, and founder of the nonprofit organization The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, Maria Shriver is an inspiration to women everywhere. Shriver also created The Minerva Awards and Minerva Prize to recognize and reward remarkable women making a difference in the world. It was our honor to photograph Maria Shriver at the Arizona Foundation For Women Annual Luncheon.

Phoenix Art Museum Independent Woman Luncheon

The Phoenix Art Museum Independent Woman Luncheon has become one of the most beloved events in the premier design community and we are honored to have partnered with them for the past ten years to photograph this incredible event! Last year’s event celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Independent Woman Luncheon and honored Ellen Katz, who founded and chaired the Independent Woman Luncheon in 2011. After the construction of the Museum’s Ellen and Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art in 2006, Katz served as chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2010, and also created and chaired the Museum’s annual pARTy gala. The two fundraisers founded by Katz have raised millions of dollars benefitting Phoenix Art Museum.

These extraordinary women have accomplished remarkable achievements and have supported our society for decades. Visit HautePhotoVideo.com to view more photos of these incredible women and be sure to follow us as we’ll be sharing photos of empowering women all month long! Remember to celebrate your favorite females this Monday on IWD and everyday!

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5 Valley Venues For Your Live Virtual & Hybrid Events

Venues are an important part of your whole event experience, whether you’re live on location or hosting a virtual or hybrid event. As we continue to pivot toward virtual and hybrid events, it is even more critical to embrace visual elements and consider how the overall design will affect your audience. Setting the right stage for your virtual or in-person speakers and creating the perfect atmosphere for your guests is key in planning any successful event, and it all starts with choosing the right venue to bring your vision to life! Here are five venues throughout the valley that are perfect for live, virtual, and hybrid events…

The Barn at Power Ranch

Located in the Power Ranch Community in Gilbert, AZ, The Barn at Power Ranch is a versatile event venue offering intimate indoor space and a beautiful outdoor area with a farm-like wild west atmosphere perfect for any valley event!

The Power Ranch Community Association hosted a special ribbon cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the grand re-opening of The Barn and we were thrilled to be a part of the excitement! We can’t wait to capture many more events at this gorgeous venue!

Desert Foothills

For over 30 years, Desert Foothills has provided an exclusive event space with indoor and outdoor areas for private special events including weddings and rehearsal dinners, celebrations, corporate dinners, awards, team building events and more! Located in North Scottsdale, Desert Foothills offers a 10,000 square foot barn with high ceilings and a sunset patio with a viewing area to watch the sun set over the desert landscape. The rustic decor and beautiful Sonoran Desert backdrop provides an authentic western setting that your guests will love! 

Brighthouse Financial held their National Sales Meeting here in Phoenix last year and celebrated their final dinner event at Desert Foothills where there was plenty of entertainment and activities, including pig races and a hot air balloon!

G Collection

If you’re looking for a new and totally unique entertainment venue for your next event, G Collection is the place! Located in Scottsdale, AZ this vintage venue showcases a world-class classic automobile collection and rare collectible antiques that will surely impress your guests! Antiquities range from ancient bronze swords and Roman glass to Chinese sculpture and Greek vessels dating back thousands of years. The cars on display are some of the rarest cars in history. Not to mention, they house a private game room as well as a bar-top lounge with a full DJ booth!

Jokake Inn at The Phoenician Resort

We capture some of our favorite events at The Phoenician Resort and Jokake Inn, located just inside the resort, is the perfect space for a corporate dinner event and evening entertainment! With an outdoor stage in the center of the courtyard, your guests can converse over dinner and cocktails while enjoying live music. Dress up your event with some gorgeous decor that go great with the southwest setting Jokake provides.

Scottsdale Hangar One

Since 2003, this one-of-a-kind private jet hangar complex has offered world-class designs and amenities perfect for corporate events, meetings, dinners, awards, galas and much more! Scottsdale Hangar One is a rare and innovative venue located in the Scottsdale Airpark and offers unique spaces like the Red Room which houses a showroom for an exclusive car collection, but can be transformed into any style event space! Post Integrations has hosted their annual corporate holiday party at Scottsdale Hangar One and the Red Room was the perfect atmosphere to bring their Christmas winter wonderland vision to life!

A few of our other favorite valley venues include:

  • Wrigley Mansion
  • La Puesta Del Sol
  • Corona Ranch
  • Troon North
  • The Farm at South Mountain

Contact us at hautephotovideo.com for your next corporate or community event, we know all the best locations and venues in the valley. Plus, we have highly-experienced photographers and videographers ready to capture every detail of your event and we also offer professional event production on location and for your remote virtual event needs!

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What You Need To Know About Hybrid Events

As new event technology has emerged during the pandemic, you may be asking yourself — what is the difference between live, virtual, and hybrid events?

During a Live event, your attendees are all physically in attendance as opposed to a Virtual event where your guests view the entire event online. Hybrid events are what we like to call the happy medium, where some people attend in person while others watch online.

As more companies contemplate hosting a virtual event versus a physical gathering, now is the time to explore the benefits of choosing a hybrid model. Even as the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more readily available and live events start to make their comeback, hybrid events offer several benefits and will likely continue to play a huge part in the future events industry.

The Heard Museum hosted a beautiful hybrid gala event in celebration of their “Once in a Blue Moon” campaign, broadcasted live from the Museum’s brand new Blue Moon Garden! We captured the below photo of Campaign Committee Chairs, John and Janet Melamed after the Garden unveiling.

If you’re an event professional or business owner, there are a few key things to know when it comes to pulling off hybrid events.

Hybrid events combine both live and virtual event elements to create a unique, engaging and safety-conscious experience while providing greater flexibility for your audience.

Even before virtual events became the new normal, there were always people who would have loved to attend your event but couldn’t for one reason or another, travel being one of the bigger factors. By incorporating an online virtual component, hybrid events allow you to increase your overall reach and actually gain more attendees, ensuring that no one misses out on your amazing event.

Broadcasting your live event via a virtual platform opens many doors by giving you the chance to connect with a larger audience than could ever be possible in person. A virtual audience is able to actively participate in your live event from their mobile devices or desktop computer in real time. They can be anywhere in the world and still attend and most importantly engage in your event.

The virtual engagement tools you can incorporate in your hybrid events include live polls, Q&A sessions, and real-time audience chat for remote participants.

Let’s say your guests attending in-person are having a Q&A session with a speaker live on location, your online attendees can be viewing virtually and still participate by commenting directly via the live chat box. You can also host polls during your event that include both your live and online audience. This allows for even greater networking opportunities for your live and virtual attendees.

It is also important to include entertainment on location that both your live audience and virtual viewers can enjoy!

A few of our favorite entertainment elements include live bands and musicians, performers and entertainers such as magicians, artists, celebrity impersonators, and if you’re looking to really liven things up karaoke!

Heard Museum incorporated live music in their hybrid event and it is always a lovely added element to entertain your guests.

Another awesome benefit of hosting hybrid events is the ability to rewatch and share the livestream with your guests who may not have been able to attend or who simply want to relive the magic!

You can embed your entire event livestream on your website or even pull out certain clips to share on your social media channels. Plus, you can repurpose and share content from your livestream to market your business and promote future events. Having the recorded copy of your event also allows your speakers and sponsors who were a part of the stream to rewatch and see the live audience comments and interaction unfold throughout their presentations.

Check out this livestream recording below from the Feeding Matters virtual fundraising event and see how they incorporated a live audience chat for all of their attendees to interact in real-time.

You can view more videos at HautePhotoVideo.com and be sure to contact us when you’re planning your next hybrid event!

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How To Enhance Your Culinary Event Experience 

Whether you’re hosting an in-person or virtual culinary event, it is important to create an interactive, engaging and memorable experience for your audience. From cooking lessons and recipe competitions to food festivals and wine tastings, the possibilities for creative culinary events are endless! Continue reading for our best ideas to enhance your next culinary event experience…

Feature World-Class Celebrity Chefs

Hosting a celebrity chef at your culinary event is guaranteed to build excitement and credibility among your viewers! Check out the photos below from some awesome events we’ve captured over the years featuring some of our favorite famous chefs.

The Arizona Harvest Moon Dinner Event is a unique outdoor dining experience under a full moon in the heart of the City hosted on the PHX Renews Property, featuring top local chefs and AZ Careers Through Culinary Arts (C-CAP) Alumni.

Shown in the top left photo above (left to right) is Arizona Cardinals superstar Larry Fitzgerald; Host of PBS Plate & Pour, Iron Chef America Winner and Owner of Biltmore-area restaurant Tarbell’s Chef Mark Tarbell; and Renowned Food Network celebrity chef and Sanctuary’s Executive Chef Beau McMillan (Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain).

Chef Tarbell can also be seen photographed in the bottom right photo above with celebrity chef and cookbook author, Rocco DiSpirito at the 2017 Arizona Women’s Board Author’s Luncheon.

A few other celebrity chefs we’ve had the incredible opportunity of photographing include:

Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell with former Miami Dolphins quarterback, Dan Marino (top right photo above) at the 2015 PepCity Super Bowl Halftime Party in Glendale, AZ.

Food Network star and best-selling cookbook author, Giada DeLaurentiis (bottom left photo above) at her “Weeknights with Giada” book signing in Scottsdale, AZ at Sur La Table in Kierland Commons.

Bravo’s Top Chef Masters Winner, cookbook author and Mexico–One Plate at a Time television series star Chef Rick Bayless (right middle photo above) in Phoenix, AZ at a Tasting Event for Negra Modelo.

Support Local Restaurants and Chefs 

Phoenix is home to some of the best local restaurants, food festivals and culinary events in Arizona. We love working with our AZ culinary geniuses and supporting local chefs and restaurants is a great way to relate with your audience while promoting the Valley’s amazing culinary scene!

Beckett’s Table opened in 2010 in the heart of Phoenix and has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the past six years. We’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Chef Justin Beckett (top left above) and his team to photograph several special occasions over the years including the Lincoln Drive and Dine event hosted at Beckett’s Table!

Other local chefs we’ve had the fortune of working with include: 

Chef Christopher Gross of Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion (bottom left); Chef Scott Conant of Mora Italian in Phoenix (bottom right); and beloved iconic Phoenix Chef Tomaso Maggiore of Tomaso’s on Camelback (top right, In Loving Memory of Tomaso Maggiore). Tomaso was an amazing person and will be missed dearly. Voted Best Italian Restaurant in the Valley since 1977, you can visit Tomaso’s in the Camelback Corridor in Central Phoenix.

Include Audience Interaction

A great way to enhance your next culinary event is to include audience interaction! You can demonstrate cooking lessons at your live events or during virtual broadcasts. 

We teamed up with Macy’s Culinary Council to photograph their Game Day Cooking event in Scottsdale with three time James Beard award winning Chef Tom Douglas. The audience loved the live interaction and opportunity for discussion during this cooking demonstration! 

Another awesome local restaurant we’ve worked with is Rock Lobster located in Chandler, AZ where guests enjoy Teppanyaki style cuisine and freshly prepared Sushi. This is the kind of culinary entertainment that will leave your guests wanting more!

You can view more of our Culinary Event Photography at HautePhotoVideo.com and contact us when you’re planning your next live culinary event or virtual experience! 

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