Desert Owl Photography: 10 Questions with Ezra Valenzuela

Photographer - Ezra Valenzuela

Business: Desert Owl Photography
Location: Sahuarita, Arizona AZ
Experience: 7 Years
Photography Types: Portraits, Senior Portraits, Business Headshots, Family Portraits, Engagements, Family, Weddings
Profile: Desert Owl Photography
Website: www.desertowlphoto.com

1. Introduction: What's your story?

Hey there,
I'm Ezra, I am a Tucson photographer specializing in wedding and portrait photography.

Before Desert Owl Photography I was a Chefs Assistant at a Sorority and a Fraternity at the University Of Arizona for about two years.
After working in a kitchen environment I decided to change course and enter the entertainment/ film industry, I found myself at Old Tucson Studios in 2020, starting out in the front selling entry tickets I then worked my way into the Photo Studio were I thrived!
After Covid shut Old Tucson down I took my passion for photography seriously and created Desert Owl Photography LLC.

Now, I am one of Tucson's budding professional photographers!
Over the years of freelancing and 2nd shooting, I have cultivated my photography skills to capture memories in just about any setting.

Desert Owl Photography LLC is founded on the core value that having printed photographs “ Allow us to preserve moments of time as tangible objects we can hold when their compositions are unholdable” All Packages at Desert Owl Photography are tailored with this core value in mind so that your wedding will have tangible memories for you to enjoy for many many years.

Hiring a photographer for your wedding is more than finding “someone to take pictures”, finding the right photographer means having a friend to guide you through one of the most important days of your life, Your photographer is going to be with you throughout the day to capture the moment and to be that gentle reminder to keep the timeline flowing.

Call me at 520-329-3987 to see if Desert Owl Photography LLC is a perfect fit for your perfect day.

2. How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?

I started out like most wedding photographers without knowing the ropes my first wedding was, 100% free 😅.
Over the past seven years I have been a freelancer shooting weddings here and there, most weddings I've shot as a second shooter (lead photographer's assistant).

Since starting Desert Owl Photography LLC in late 2021 I have photographed six weddings and I have more booked for 2022.

3. How would you describe your photography style?

My portrait/engagement style is very bold lighting, vivid colors and beautiful locations thought the Tucson area.
Most people get nervous when in front of a camera and told to pose, with me the poses are organic due to my style of guiding you through the session. I choose to guide instead of direct because it allows you to ease into a comfortable environment to be photographed.

For event coverage, I still have my signature style but done in a more photojournalistic way with an "artsy" flare here and there. 😁

4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding photographer?

I believe they [the Couple] should book the same photographer that has done their engagement photos because both parties would be comfortable working with each other and know what to expect from one another. As wedding photographers, we are with the couple for the entirety of the wedding session and therefore we are a huge part of the wedding day's flow.

My peak booking days in the Tucson area are after August through November & February through May.

Due to my package setup where the engagement session is included in the Wedding collections, I get booked for two different days causing me to book dates relatively quickly.

5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?

Cactus Blossom Package:
$2,000

Service Description:
60- Minute Engagement Session + One 8x10 Print of engagement session
Four Hours of Wedding Day Coverage
Four 8x10 Prints
Edited Images On A Custom Flash Drive + Presentation Box
Print Release Form
Password Protected Online Gallery (Sharing, Download Proofs, Purchase Wall Art Prints)

Organ Pipe Cactus Package:
$2,900

Service Description:
60-Minute Engagement Session + One 8x10 Print of engagement session
Six Hours of Wedding Day Coverage
Five 8x10 Prints
One 16x20 Print
Edited Images On A Customizable Flash Drive + Presentation Box
Print Release Form
Password Protected Online Gallery (Sharing, Download Proofs, Purchase Wall Art Prints)

Crested Saguaro Package:
$4,000

Service Description
90-Minute Engagement Session + Two 8x10 Prints of the engagement session
Eight-Hours of Wedding Day Coverage
2nd Photographer
Five 8x10 Prints
One 16x20 Canvas
Password Protected Online Gallery (Sharing, Download Proofs, Purchase Wall Art Prints)
Three Piece Presentation Box: 10x10 Photo Album Presentation Box (120 photo limit) + Edited Images On A Custom Flash Drive + Presentation Box
Print Release Form

Extra hour costs: $200 for each

All albums and USB drive boxes are customizable to have your name, date, and color.
USB boxes are leather wrapped and laser engraved
There are several albums to choose from.

6. Are you the wedding photographer who will be shooting on the wedding day? Who else is there in your team?

Yes, I will be your photographer for your wedding day.
If you choose the Crested Saguaro Package a second photographer will be present at the Wedding (not the engagement session).

A typical wedding will follow the timeline that we create either at the consultation or one that your wedding planner has provided, I typically am going to be in contact with your wedding planner to make sure we are both on the same page so your wedding flows smoothly.

7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?

Although I'm based in Tucson I love to travel to other settings nature has to offer. Contact us for a travel fee estimate for outside of Tucson sessions.

8. Are albums or prints included in your packages?

Yes! A customizable included with the Crested Saguaro Package as a three-piece set with a Flash drive and presentation box.

Albums can be purchased separately and added to any package.

Each package includes Fine Art Prints as we believe "By printing a digital image you create the physical embodiment of a composition that makes you feel a certain feeling that only photographs can create. In the age of Digital Screens, the impact of having a physical photograph is heightened by being able to hold onto the tangible memory of whom that composition represents".

Each Wedding Package also includes a Customizable Leather-wrapped USB presentation box + USB drive for the Married couple to house the high-quality digital files of their wedding day!

9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the images? How will they be delivered?

The average time to receive the Digital password-protected gallery is about six weeks as I edit/enhance each delivered photograph.
The customized albums & USB boxes can take several months (this time frame is out of my control).
Fortunately, while we wait for your custom goods to arrive, I will hand deliver your selected Fine Art Prints!
Once your goods have been delivered, I will get in contact to schedule a delivery time that fits your schedule.