Grand openings only happen once. There's no re-shoot, no second take, the ribbon gets cut, the doors open, and the energy of that first day is either captured or it's gone. That's what I love most about event photography, and it's exactly why I was thrilled when Big Air brought me in as their Phoenix event photographer for the grand opening of their brand-new Glendale location.
Big Air Glendale is a 31,000-square-foot indoor trampoline and adventure park at 5665 W Bell Rd, near 57th Avenue and Bell Road, the newest family entertainment destination in Arizona's West Valley. When the doors opened on June 27, the community showed up in force, and my job was to document all of it.
Photographing the moments that matter
Event photography is about anticipation. The ribbon cutting lasts seconds, the oversized scissors, the applause, the owner's smile as the ribbon falls, and you have to be in position before it happens. From there, the day moved fast: crowds streaming through the entrance, families lining up at the front counter beneath the glowing Big Air sign, kids catching air on the trampoline courts, and staff welcoming the West Valley's first guests. These are the images a business uses for years, in press releases, on social media, and on their website, to tell the story of the day it all began.
Grand opening photography also means capturing the people behind the launch. Team photos of the full Big Air Glendale crew on the trampoline courts, candid moments with the franchise owner, and guests celebrating on opening day all become part of the brand's story.
One event, full commercial coverage
What made this shoot special was its scope. Beyond the event coverage itself, Big Air needed a complete visual library, so we built the day around multiple types of commercial photography:
Interior photography of the park's bold orange-and-black spaces, the entrance, the courts, the attractions like Arena X and the toddler zones, showing off the energy of the design. Exterior and architectural photography of the building against a bright Arizona sky, the kind of clean storefront image every business needs for Google Business Profile and directories. Food photography at Big Eats, their in-park snack bar, including pepperoni pizza shots styled to make you hungry. And action photography of jumpers mid-flight, frozen at the peak of a bounce, which takes fast glass, careful timing, and a lot of patience.
That's the advantage of hiring one photographer who covers events, interiors, exteriors, and food: a consistent look across every image, delivered from a single shoot day.
Planning a grand opening in the Valley?
I'm Timothy Fox, an event and commercial photographer serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Mesa, and the entire Valley. Whether you're launching a new location, hosting a corporate event, or planning a ribbon cutting, I'll make sure the moments that only happen once are captured beautifully.
And if you're in the West Valley with kids who love to bounce, go check out Big Air Glendale.