Holiday Storytelling for Businesses in Phoenix

krisannvaldez
Dec 5, 2025
4 min read

The Holidays Are Different Here

When people imagine the holidays, they often picture snow-dusted Christmas trees, frosted windows, bundled-up shoppers and hot cocoa. Here in the Valley of the Sun, December has its own version of this season. Lights strung between palm trees, patios full of people in sweaters at dinner, the glow of colorful decorations reflecting off desert stone and glass.

At Myers Media, we see this uniqueness as an opportunity for Phoenix businesses to tell their story in a seasonal way that highlights how fantastic the desert is this time of year. Our city doesn’t go into hibernation for winter. We come alive after a long, hot summer to enjoy our metropolis and the incredible outdoors it offers.

As the year winds down and people gather with friends and family, brands have a chance to connect with their audience through storytelling that features the spirit of Arizona. The holiday season doesn’t have to be snowflakes and scarves. It can be true to the place we live and the way we celebrate.

A desert Christmas is its own kind of magic.

The Season in the Sonoran Desert

Phoenix in December has its own highlights. Patio heaters and twinkle lights at local restaurants. Outdoor markets. Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias. The way neighborhoods in North Phoenix and Scottsdale go all-out decorating saguaros and creosote bushes.

These scenes are full of our personality. They’re also the perfect settings for holiday-focused video content. Seasonal storytelling doesn’t need props or staged winter scenes. It works when it captures the moments that already exist here: the gatherings, the movement of life.

For small businesses, holiday content should feel like a reflection of your community. Filming inside a locally owned bakery before sunrise, or under the patio lights of a favorite restaurant, or at a brand’s holiday workshop event—those settings carry a sense of place. They’re true to the desert identity and they make your business instantly recognizable.

The Southwest is instantly recognizable on film.

Storytelling That’s Authentic

Seasonal videos can do more than highlight an offer. They can be about acknowledging the year that just passed, or showing the real faces behind the brand. They can be about connection: a team prepping for a seasonal promotion, a company giving back, or a business owner sharing a thank-you message.

When we create holiday video content at Myers Media, we start with what makes your business personal. The emotion of the season only works when it feels honest, regardless of whether you’re shooting a campaign that highlights the joy of gift-giving or a simple message of appreciation for your customers. The storytelling shouldn’t be forced.

Real moments, real people, real interactions. That’s the kind of holiday storytelling that makes an impression.

Scenes That Work for Phoenix Brands

A few examples of what could resonate with your clients/customers:

• A boutique highlighting its holiday market or pop-up event.

• A café showing the early-morning ritual of crafting seasonal drinks.

• A gym capturing members training for the new year.

• A local charity documenting volunteers wrapping gifts or serving meals.

• Restaurants and hotels filming New Year’s celebrations and live music.

Each one of these settings becomes holiday-forward without overproducing. It’s the people, atmosphere, and location doing most of the work.

From a cinematographer’s perspective, these spaces are ideal because they bring energy and movement into the frame: people talking, music drifting from a patio, customers browsing gifts. Those elements communicate holiday spirit without a scripted line.

Why Seasonal Stories Matter

In December, audiences are slowing down, reflecting, and spending intentionally. They notice when a business takes the time to create something meaningful.

A seasonal video can:

• Strengthen brand identity in your area

• Show what you value as a business

• Introduce your team in a way that feels warm and personal

• Create an emotional connection that lasts into the new year

Clients can deepen their customer relationships with a simple on-camera message of gratitude. Or they can use the holidays to highlight local partnerships or show how they support community causes. These moments build trust in ways traditional ads have to reach harder for.

Holiday storytelling is simply about showing the heart of your business.

The Desert Version of Holiday Spirit

Phoenix is full of seasonal contrasts. Cold mornings, warm afternoons. Outdoor dining in the middle of December. Cacti wrapped in Christmas lights. Our holidays aren’t traditional, but that’s what makes them special.

Palm trees are part of the holiday charm in Phoenix.

If you’re a small business here in the Phoenix area, lean into that difference. Your seasonal videos should feel like they were filmed here, not anywhere else in the country. The desert landscape with palm tree silhouettes, the golden-hour sky, the bustle of multiple downtowns across our metropolis all give holiday campaigns a look and tone you can’t replicate.

That local identity is what turns a seasonal video into a loyal customer base.

Ready to Tell Your Story?

We at Myers Media are experts in commercial video and photography storytelling for businesses across Phoenix. No matter your need, our team brings the best professional cinematography to every project.