The Photographers and Videographers Behind Your Queen Creek Wedding or Quinceañera

Cristobal once ran a small print shop in Phoenix. A mother came in for her daughter's wedding invitations and asked whether he knew someone who could photograph and film the wedding. He had no wedding portfolio, only experience with images, video editing and design, and a few sports videos he had made for his sister. He showed her one. She trusted him, and he and Sonia accepted the job, borrowed video equipment through two generous people, and covered the wedding together at a reception hall in Mesa. They delivered more than they had promised, including an album that was not in the agreement, because they wanted the family to be proud of it. The owner of the hall watched them work and began recommending them. That first promise kept became Mi Foto Evento.

The studio began as Mi Foto Evento and later took the name IAZ Photo Studio. The work stayed the same: photographing and filming moments that will not happen twice, in halls, churches, ranches, gardens and parks across Arizona. What each event taught the founders became the contract, the delivery process and the training every team member gets today. More than 500 events later, the studio works as an agency: the founders direct, and trained photographers and videographers cover the events, Queen Creek's included.

Cristobal Varela, Co-founder and Director of Photography

Cristobal trained in architecture and worked in graphic arts, and that background shows in how the studio composes, designs albums and presents its work. He sets the photography style and reviews every gallery before it reaches a family. Read Cristobal's profile (opens in a new tab).

Sonia Varela, Co-founder and Director of Videography

Sonia has filmed events since that first wedding, and for many years she edited the studio's videos herself. She sets the video style and reviews every film and highlight before delivery. Read Sonia's profile (opens in a new tab).

Melanie Rocha, Founding Director and Director of Creative and Social

Melanie leads the creative side: the edit, the color, the album design and how the studio shows its work online. Read Melanie's profile (opens in a new tab).

• One team for photo and video. The photographer and the videographer who cover your event come from the same studio, plan the timeline together and edit in the same style.
• Spanish and English on the day. Both sides of the family are directed in their own language during the group photos and the family moments.
• The founders set the standard. They train every team member, define the shot lists and the editing, and review every delivery before it goes out. They do not promise to be behind the camera at every event, and they do promise that every event is covered to their standard.

Years ago a bride received an album that was well designed and technically right, and still missing something: the expressions she recognized in her husband. The photographer had chosen the frames he found most flattering. She knew which smile was really his. The album was remade with her choices, and the lesson stayed: the people in the photos know them better than we do. That is why you choose your photos from your full online gallery. A photo can be technically excellent and still not be the one that shows a person to the people who love them.

The second lesson came from a client who took about three months to choose and then expected her album the next week. Production cannot start until the selection is in, and nobody had explained that clearly. So now the contract gives you 4 weeks after the event to choose, delivery times are counted from your selection, and if no selection arrives in time we make it for you so your album is not delayed for months. Choose early and your delivery clock starts early.