The Best of the East Valley

As Thanksgiving approaches, we at Myers Media are taking a moment to appreciate our incredible team, our wonderful clients, and the beautiful place we get to do our work.

The Phoenix metropolitan area spans over 14,000 square miles and includes more than 45 communities. With so much space and diversity in landscape and culture, the Valley offers small businesses endless opportunities for cinematography and brand storytelling.

In gratitude and celebration of the place we call home, we’re highlighting some of our favorite pockets of the Valley this month. We’re starting with a region close to our hearts: the East Valley.

There's nothing like a desert shoot.

The Heart of the East Valley

Gilbert, Queen Creek, Tempe, Apache Junction, Chandler, Mesa, and the Ahwatukee Foothills help make up what locals refer to as the East Valley. Together, these neighborhoods form a landscape full of contrast, where suburban comfort meets open desert, and where quiet farmland sits just minutes from bustling downtowns.

It’s a region known for its family-friendly atmosphere and community-focused culture, but for cinematographers and photographers, it’s also a treasure trove of visual beauty.

Desert, Lakes, and Hidden Gardens

The East Valley offers no shortage of natural backdrops. Saguaro-filled preserves stretch across the horizon at the edges of Mesa and Apache Junction, where the Superstition Mountains rise like ancient guardians. These rugged spaces give brand films and lifestyle shoots an adventurous feel unique to Arizona.

Gilbert’s Agritopia, on the other hand, offers a curated community aesthetic with tree-lined sidewalks, neighborhood gardens, and warm, lived-in textures. It’s ideal for brands seeking a welcoming, local tone.

Just nearby, the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch feels like a world of its own, filled with marshes, birds, boardwalks, and pockets of shade. It’s a favorite among cinematographers for sunrise and sunset shoots, when the light reflects softly across the water and the sky turns gold and pink.

With year-round clear skies, nothing is stopping your next great brand shoot.

Where Culture and Character Meet

If you're looking for a place that blends charm with a strong sense of identity, the East Valley delivers.

The Farm at South Mountain gives a southern, earthy feel with its orchards, string-lit outdoor spaces, gardens, and tall shade trees that offer relief from summer heat. Its space is quiet and cinematic, perfect for brands wanting to evoke nourishment or authenticity.

Chandler’s vibrant downtown exists on the opposite end of the stylistic spectrum. Here, you’ll find coffee shops, craft breweries, public art, and restaurants buzzing with energy. It’s a great location for brand shoots that need movement, color, and modern rhythm.

Golf courses throughout the area provide clean lines and rolling greens, ideal for elevated, polished visuals.

And Mesa Arts Center stands as one of the East Valley’s most distinct architectural backdrops. With geometric lines and sculptural form, it creates a strong visual statement without overshadowing the subject.

Tempe’s Unique Personality

Tempe brings its own dynamic character. As a college town, it’s full of life, movement, and youth.

Mill Avenue offers brick sidewalks, local storefronts, and urban textures that lend themselves to walking shots and lifestyle sequences. Tempe Town Lake becomes a cinematic backdrop at sunset, when reflections off the water and lighted bridges create a dreamy glow.

The city works well for videos centered on innovation and energy, especially for businesses wanting to connect with younger audiences.

Tempe offers a vibrant nightlife.

Why We Love Filming Here

Phoenix is a desert city, but the East Valley showcases how diverse the desert can be. There are neighborhoods that feel modern, rustic, artistic, and untouched, all within a short drive of one another.

For small and mid-sized businesses, this means your brand film doesn’t need a distant travel location to feel visually rich. The setting you’re looking for is likely already nearby.

As a professional cinematographer, we’re thankful to be based in a place that offers so many natural and urban opportunities for visual storytelling. Every community here holds something different, and each one shapes a story differently.

Ready to Tell Your Story?

We create commercial videos for businesses across Phoenix that are built to reflect who you are. No matter your need, our team brings the best professional cinematography and storytelling expertise to every project.

Contact Myers Media today for a free consultation! Call us at 623-694-5997, or fill out our online contact form. 

Every brand has a story. Let’s tell yours.