San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photos

Can You Take Photos At San Francisco City Hall

Yes, you can take photos at San Francisco City Hall. You should be mindful of the rules set by the county clerk and other local government agencies. For example, you’re not allowed to take professional photos with a permit. There are also rules regarding lighting equipment. As a result, most couples hire a professional San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer who is familiar with the building and its rules.

Discover why couples across the Pacific Northwest trust us to capture their wedding memories with gorgeous photos and videos. You’ll be so glad you chose us as your wedding photographer or videographer.

Timing Matters Less For A San Francisco City Hall Wedding Than In The Outdoors

You dont need to overthink the timing of your ceremony, except to make sure it matches your plan later in the day for your reception. Fridays are generally busier at the Civic Center.

So I would recommend earlier in the week to avoid the crowds and to get some incredible photos in places like the grand staircase .

If you opt for this part of the building, I would consider having your marriage ceremony early in the morning or mid-afternoon.

The San Francisco City Hall Wedding Commissioners

Who are these mysterious people? Wedding commissioners are the officials you see in the photographs, wearing black judges robes. Every day, several different people fulfill these duties, and although the ceremony involves some standard text and procedures, all of the commissioners have different personalities and different styles of conducting it. Not all of them are trained public speakers, but certainly they all delight in the responsibility and hope that come with officially uniting a couple in marriage. Most commissioners have been performing ceremonies for many years, yet I find that they all approach each new wedding with diligence and excitement.You can check out this conversation on my podcast with Cynthia Gregory, who is both a deputy marriage commissioner at City Hall, as well as a private wedding officiant. Shes a fascinating woman, and this podcast will give you insight into the woman behind the black robe.

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Faq For San Francisco City Hall Weddings

When is the best time for an empty staircase photo?

Id recommend booking the first available time slot or the latest . With the latter, there is a small chance that City Hall will be rented out for a private event and decor will already be in place. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the least busy days.

Where do I park?

There is an underground parking lot one block away from City Hall in addition to metered parking around the building. Street parking is medium difficult. Pay attention to 3PM towing / street cleaning signs they will tow!

Where can we take photos?

There are 4 levels to photograph in San Francisco City Hall, but we will focus on the 3 main ones to give you the best images. Time permitting we can explore the interior and exterior. Getting the grand staircase is a given, but I cannot guarantee an empty staircase photo since it is the most popular area in the building.

Where do you recommend for the reception?

Fortunately, SF City Hall is centrally located and you have a ton of options to go to after your ceremony. If you want the most popular location, Absinthe is an few blocks away and has a full bar. If you want a more extensive list of venues a short distance away, take a look at my Top Places to Eat Around San Francisco City Hall.

San Francisco City Hall wedding cost?

How To Choose Your City Hall Wedding Photographer

When it comes to choosing a photographer for your City Hall wedding, one phrase is worth repeating thousand times: its a lifetime investment – not an expense. If you agree with this concept, finding a right wedding photographer will transform a mere shopping experience into investing into your future. After-all, this is a beginning of your life together as a husband and wife. These beautiful memories deserve to be captured and preserved for years to come.

If you’ve been looking for a photographer, it is likely that you are overwhelmed by a variety of portfolios. After all, San Francisco City Hall hosts thousands of weddings each year. This means that countless similar looking photos are posted online.

Pricing can be confusing too. Photography services can be as low as $100 or as high as $3000 for just few hours of photography this vast difference in pricing can be overwhelming. However, if you approach your search carefully, you can find a creative and affordable photographer for your City Hall wedding.

Naturally, photographers value the simplicity of City Hall weddings and offer lower prices for these events. And this brings me to the main point: a savvy bride can find a top-notch photographer at a fraction of the cost as a price difference between a mid-range and high-end photographer shrinks from thousands of dollars towards hundreds, while the quality of the work remains the same.

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The Ultimate San Francisco City Hall Weddings Planning Guide

San Francisco City Hall Weddings are one of the most common ceremonies each week, so I made this guide to help in your planning and make it easy! With over 200 weddings photographed there, I created this ultimate planning guide to help answer the most common questions to San Francisco City Hall Weddings.

Dont forget to BOOKMARK this page to reference it throughout your planning process!

Make A Reservation To Get Your Marriage License

Even for same-day marriage licenses, you have to make a reservation at least 90-days in advance. You can do this online using the City and County of San Francisco Online Reservation Form or by visiting the City Hall in person, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If you plan to pick up your marriage license the same day of your ceremony, you will want to make your reservation for your marriage license at least 45-minutes prior to the reservation for your civil ceremony. Your ceremony will not take place without a legal marriage license issued at least 30-minutes beforehand.

Make Sure Both Parties Are There

The two of you must be physically present to file and obtain your official marriage license.

Have Valid Photo Identification

Each of you must also have a valid photo ID, like a drivers license, passport, resident alien card, military I.D., etc., that includes a photograph, full legal name, date of birth, date of issue, and date of expiration.

Any foreign documents that are written in language other than English must be translated by a Court certified translator or an American Translators Association certified translator who must be presented along with the translation.

The Marriage License Fee

Of course, you must also be ready to pay the $103 licensing fee. If you make the reservation in person, the fee is payable via cash, money order or debit card. If you make your reservation using the online form, you may use a Visa or MasterCard.

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City Hall Ceremony Gallery

Start the Conversation

âYou donât always get professionalism with talent, especially with wedding vendors. Mike and Nat, however, not only possess a keen eye and skill but they also are communicative, reliable, patient, and calm. We couldnât be happier with the results.â

Kate B., SF City Hall Wedding

Start the Conversation

San Francisco Courthouse Wedding Information

To be legally married in the city and county of San Francisco you’ll need to register for your license ahead of time, prior to your civil commitment ceremony. A valid marriage license can be obtained at the County Clerk’s office, in City Hall room 168. You’ll need your photo identification to have your marriage license issued.

The good news is that you’ll be able to obtain your marriage license on the day of your license appointment. This is different than the marriage certificate which will be ready two weeks after your actual ceremony. You can learn more details about your weekday San Francisco courthouse wedding at the information desk.

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San Francisco City Hall Wedding Options

There are three ways to take advantage of the grandeur of City Hall for your wedding.

• Standard civil ceremony This is the cheapest and most efficient option. You will have to schedule an appointment to obtain your marriage license, pay an administrative fee, and set up a second appointment for the actual civil ceremony. The matter is conducted by a city hall wedding commissioner, and the whole thing takes about 5 minutes. You may only book your civil ceremony appointment no earlier than 90 days in advance, and a 6-guest limit is officially imposed at least according to the City Hall regulations.

• Reserving the Entire City Hall on a Weekend This is an option if you want to make City Hall your wedding venue for the evening. Renting City Hall is an expensive proposition, but it also means that all the grandeur becomes yours for one magnificent evening. If you go this route, you can make the reservation many months in advance, just as you would with any other wedding venue. Keep in mind that because City Hall is a government building, many legal requirements are imposed on your wedding vendors especially proof of liability insurance.

San Francisco Area Elopement + City Hall Photographer

However long you want me there for on your wedding day, I will be sure to take pictures of your special day where you can keep the memories of your wedding in San Francisco F O R E V E R.

Fully refundable and reschedule-able deposit

Location expertise and guide

Vendor referrals and coordination for booking

Upon request, fun items like celebratory drink, veil, faux bouquet are also available

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Lgbtq Friendly Wedding Photographers

We have photographed over 150 LGBTQ weddings over the past few years and have enjoyed every minute. We were one of the first San Francisco city hall wedding photography teams to extensively become involved in helping with Same-sex marriages. We would love to photograph your wedding and take you on a tour of the city with pictures. Please check out ourLGBTQ+ portfolio to see many examples of our first-rate wedding images. We love this building for gay marriage photos and you will too! Recently there has been an increase in LGBTQ weddings and we have found ourselves booking more and more of them and we very happy that so many gay couples have chosen our service.

Wedding: San Francisco City Hall In San Francisco California

Their San Francisco City Hall wedding started in the early morning on a October day. We took some photos at the Palace of Fine Arts at sunrise. We were not sure if we would catch sunrise as Karl, the perennial fog, always makes an appearance. We were extremely lucky as the sun came directly in through the columns. By 8am we moved toward the San Francisco City Hall right as it opened. They decided to say their vows at the top of the staircase, share a few tears, and take photos inside the beautiful city hall.

We grabbed lunch soon after and made our way toward Big Sur to catch sunset.

Aesthetics.

a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art. the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic taste.

Yes.

I dont consider myselfan artist *whips a scarf around the neck* lolol

But- having a mutual appreciation for similar aesthetics is always, always, always appreciated

When Stella brought up the idea of photographing at the San Francisco City Hall for her wedding, we also decided to take photos at the Palace of Fine Arts and Big Sur. I was already in no need to try and convince me any further.

PS: I actually didnt know the Palace existed. I think I was always enamored and distracted by the Golden Gate Bridge. Thank you, childhood ignorance. At least I didnt mimic the Full House Intro yet..

PPS: Miss you two < 3 Hope you two are doing great and not feeling stressed at work

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A San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer Guide

Before we get to the photos, let me explain where you can have your San Francisco City Hall wedding. And most importantly, how to make the best out of it.

The San Francisco City Hall is a stunning building that reminds me of the ones I used to see everywhere in Paris. In the middle of the city, it is encircled by the Opera and the Public Library. But its a location in the city is nothing compared to the beauty inside.

I will go through the pros and cons of each location within City Hall so you will have all the options.

Probably the biggest advantage is that no matter where you choose, the lighting inside City Hall is stunning almost anywhere you go. It is a huge advantage to having gorgeous wedding photos here in California. Enjoy!

Zoe Larkin Photography Pricing

San Francisco City Hall ceremonies

Up to 2 hours of coverage.Extra hours $450 / hour.

Starting at $2,200

PRICES VALID FOR MONDAY – FRIDAY WEDDINGS, EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS. ALL PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES INCLUDE EDITED HIGH-RESOLUTION FILES.

SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL CEREMONIES

Starting at $1,600

Up to 2 hours of coverage.Extra hours $350 / hour.

With Associate Photographer

we offer optional add-ons

Choose your own adventure – à la carte pricing

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY, A SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER, WEEK-OF SNEAK PEEK, FINE-ART ALBUMS, SELF-SELECT PRINTS & WALL ART AS A LA CARTE ADD-ONS.

WE OFFER AS STANDARD FOR ALL COUPLES:

-Your own customized Photography Planning Document- recommendations from our extensive vendor network- At least 65 hand-edited high resolution images per hour of photography – Full gallery delivered within 6 weeks- online gallery for viewing, sharing, downloading & purchasing prints- Print release for all your images

Contact us about your City Hall ceremony!

We take on a limited number of bookings. we book strictly no more than 12 months out and no less than 3 weeks out.I’d love to respond to every inquiry, but I’m only able to respond to inquiries that would be a good fit. Please view full pricing infobefore inquiring. until you have a booking with sf City Hall, I’m unable to help you.With love & gratitude, Zoe

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Should You Expect Your Photographs To Remain Private

Photographers are artists, who have to constantly demonstrate new work. If they are unable to do so, it may ultimately affect their business and lower website traffic, which will result in a decreased income. It is reasonable to expect that photographers will upload photos of their clients to their websites. Of course, more established photographers with solid portfolios don’t need to update their websites on a weekly basis. Others may need each wedding to be posted. However, all professional photographers understand that certain clients can’t have their wedding photos online. For instance, be high school or special education teachers, law enforcement agents, certain career officers, and public figures need their wedding photos to remain private. All experienced photographers will honor your request to keep your photos private, but some will charge a small fee. If you would like your photos to stay offline, you and your photographer should have a discussion in advance.

Posed Photos And Group Shots

When used correctly, artificial lighting creates studio quality group shots which would be impossible to achieve without the use of strobes. The images will have a very consistent look from one wedding to another no matter how dark or bright the City Hall is on that particular day. You are very likely to be able to zoom into the photo and see the pores of your skin. Not everyone will like it, but pixel-pickers certainly will.

A natural light photographer, on another hand, will be limited to well-lit spots, which are not always available, may have to increase ISO settings which, as a result, increases the noise in the photos, shoot at a slower shutter speed. Consequently, the photos may be less sharp.

Now as you probably guessed, the images taken with the help of artificial lighting, are by far more time-consuming than natural light photos. Are they worth that extra time?

From an aesthetic point of view, it is really your preference. There is no right and wrong way to photograph at City Hall, but a photographer with a lighting setup will require more of your time on a wedding day. Additionally, unlike someone with a lighter load, a photographer, who needs to carry his gear around, may not be able to focus on candid moments.

To conclude, when choosing a photographer, you need to understand what is happening behind the scenes, what are the advantages and disadvantages of certain styles and approaches.

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How Long Is A Photo Session

We have two base city hall wedding photography packages: a 90-minute package, and a two-hour package. If you need more time, we are available for an additional hourly rate. Additional time is typically requested for a second photo location or a wedding reception, which we are happy to photograph for you.

Locations For Photos At San Francisco City Hall

One of the best things about having your wedding at City Hall is that you can take advantage of the many formal photo locations available. The grand staircase on the 4th floor or the mayor’s balcony offer perfect backdrops for formal posed shots. And if you’re looking for something more casual, there are plenty of great spots around the building where you can take some fantastic group photos.And of course, City Hall is also a great location for your civil ceremony in the intimate Rotunda. Plus, since City Hall is such a popular tourist destination, your guests will love being able to explore this iconic building after your ceremony.Soif you’re looking for an unforgettable wedding location, consider San Francisco City Hall. With its stunning architecture and wonderful photo opportunities, it’s sure to provide memories that will last a lifetime. We are known for our unforgettable stress-free, wedding photography and engagement photoshoots serving both local and destination wedding clients from all over the world.

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