SAMANTHA AND LUKE’S SF CITY HALL WEDDING BLOG…

When Sam and Luke reached out to me to shoot their city hall ceremony, I was so excited! Luke, being another talented photographer in the bay area, has been a friend of mine for quite sometime and when another photographer reaches out to me to shoot their wedding, I get excited and nervous at the same time! However, when I FaceTimed with the couple prior to their wedding, that nervous feeling went away and I was filled with excited to shoot Sam and Luke’s wedding. They were just my type- chill, out-going, but more importantly, they trust me and my craft. On the day of the ceremony, they both looked absolutely stunning! I was greeted with not with just their close friends and family, but their German Shepard…If you don’t know me, I love dogs! Shooting Sam and Luke was a blast. We went all around city hall and the lighting was perfect. Something new this time for me was shooting the ceremony on the balcony by the window. This was great because I did not have to use flash this time under the usual ceremony spot at the top of the staircase. At the end of day, I am so happy with how everything turned out! Sam and Luke were amazing to work with, they did exactly what I ask and expect- take me direction into their own hands and be in the moment. Congrats to the newlyweds, Sam and Luke!

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Gill & Jared: A Transcontinental Love Story at San Francisco City Hall

In the heart of San Francisco, where the iconic City Hall stands as a symbol of love and unity, Gill and Jared embarked on a journey that transcended borders. As a San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer, capturing their special day was not just about documenting moments but also about immersing myself in their unique love story.

Love Across Borders: Gill from Canada, Jared from San Diego

Gill, hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Canada, and Jared, a sun-kissed Californian from San Diego, found themselves in the vibrant tapestry of San Francisco. Their love story unfolded against the backdrop of this eclectic city, a meeting point of diverse backgrounds and shared dreams.

San Francisco City Hall: A Timeless Union

San Francisco City Hall, with its grand architecture and timeless elegance, served as the perfect setting for Gill and Jared’s union. The majestic beauty of the building mirrored the grandeur of their love, a love that blossomed in the midst of the city’s iconic landmarks.

Immersed in Their Story: A Photographer’s Joy

As a San Francisco City Hall wedding photographer, I find immense joy in not just capturing images but in listening to and understanding the love stories that unfold before my lens. Gill and Jared’s story, a tale of two souls finding each other in the City by the Bay, resonated deeply with me.

Families United: Canada, Florida, and San Diego Meet in San Francisco

What made Gill and Jared’s day even more special was the union of their families, representing different corners of North America. Gill’s family traveled from Canada and Florida, bringing with them a touch of international warmth. Jared’s family made the journey up from San Diego, adding the sun-soaked vibes of Southern California to the celebration.

A Transcontinental Celebration of Love

The marriage of Gill and Jared was more than a ceremony; it was a celebration of love that spanned continents. San Francisco City Hall, with its historic charm, witnessed not only the union of two individuals but also the merging of diverse cultures and traditions.

San Francisco City Hall Marriage: A Love Letter to Diversity

For couples seeking a San Francisco City Hall marriage, Gill and Jared’s story is a testament to the city’s ability to embrace love in all its forms. The iconic City Hall serves as a canvas for love stories that unfold against the backdrop of San Francisco’s rich history.

Contact Your San Francisco City Hall Wedding Photographer

If you’re planning a San Francisco City Hall marriage and want your love story to be captured with a blend of artistry and passion, I would be honored to be your photographer. Contact me to embark on a journey of creating timeless memories against the stunning backdrop of San Francisco City Hall.

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Who Knew That Virtual Weddings Could be so Intimate?!

Check out some of the photos from Viv and Fern’s San Francisco Virtual City Hall Marriage! During the height of the pandemic, San Francisco’s City Hall stayed closed. No one but city officials were allowed inside, but more importantly, this meant that no one was able to get married inside the famous San Francisco landmark. However, to make things work, they started doing virtual weddings! YES, like through Zoom…I was so excited to see how this would go!

When I arrived at Viv and Fern’s place, it was like they were ready to get married inside City Hall; they were dressed for it and even had the florals (Diosa Blooms) down. The space they created was also so intimate, I was in for a beautiful moment. The overall process was very smooth! They got online with a judge and the ceremony immediately started. “I didn’t think I’d get this emotional”, is what both Viv and Fern said when the judge started going into the “I do’s”. We all thought that because this was a virtual marriage, it would be fast and easy, but to our surprise it was just as intimate than an in person ceremony! After they had made it official, we had a beautiful time walking around San Francisco and shooting some bridal portraits! We first walked near City Hall and then drove to the China Town gate. Here are highlights from Viv and Fern’s San Francisco Virtual City Hall Marriage. At the end of the day, I was so grateful to have experience and capture this beautiful marriage between two amazing people! Congrats Viv and Fern!! Side note- Look out for part 2, Viv and Fern’s Luminary Farm Wedding!!!

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Michel and Maya first contacted me because they saw my ad on craigslist. Let us go back in time a little bit and off tangent. So, on my journey into becoming a wedding photographer, I had to start somewhere. Though it may seem sketch, I was desperate to work with others. Craigslist was a very reliable option for me at the time. Not only was I able to meet amazing people, but I was able to get SO MUCH experience in. Another plus was that my rates were very reasonable, so no one really had nothing to lose. When I started really focusing on what I wanted to do (wedding photography) I then stopped posting on Craigslist. To be specific, once I finished Michel and Maya’s wedding gallery, I knew that it was time to build a new brand dedicated on a target audience!

Being that it was my first wedding ever, I was somewhat nervous, a good nervous though- excited and confident! Since it was Christmas time, City Halls interior and exterior were both beautifully decorated with holiday decorations. After going through the security entrance located on the side of the building, I entered the main atrium where a young school orchestra was playing holiday music. As I was waiting for Michel and Maya, listening to the orchestra brought me back to the time when I was in middle school and had holiday tours to various schools and locations in the city, including *drum roll* City Hall! It was a humbling moment and calmed my nerves down.

A few minutes later, I met the beautiful couple, Michel and Maya. Michel was dressed in his decorated, navy blue Coast Guard suit and Maya in her beautifully detailed wedding dress, they were both perfect. Alongside was Michel’s family who just flew in from Florida the night before. Maya’s family was back in Japan awaiting to have another ceremony over there following the city hall marriage. Before the actual ceremony there was some waiting to get a few documents signed as well as waiting for a judge. During this time, I was able to get to know Michel, his family, and Maya more. This was very calming for both me and them. After this moment I realized exactly how important it was to have consultations!

After finishing up the documents, Michel and Maya were officially in line waiting to get married in front of the beautifully lit Christmas tree at the top of the grand staircase. While waiting, it was a beautiful moment that I experienced. Michel was having a man-to-man talk with his dad while Maya was weeping tears of joy with Michel’s mom and younger sister. All of this was happening so slow, yet so fast. So many positive emotions were flowing.

As Michel and Maya were welcomed by the judge to come up, I was getting my camera ready. At the time I only had one camera body, so I had to use a versatile lens. The lens I used was a 24-105, perfect for both wide and semi-close ups. I had a flash on there just to be safe. The first few shots of the ceremony I used a flash. These shots came out cool, they had a very documentary feel to them with the hard flash lighting both Michel and Maya. The second half of the mini ceremony, I took the flash off.  The shots without the flash are seen in the blog below. Though I really like how the flash pictures came out, the ones without flash had more of an editorial outcome and matched more of the post-ceremony photos. Once they were pronounced man and wife, they kissed in front of the beautifully lit Christmas tree. It felt surreal shooting this moment. I felt like I was shooting the happy ending to a movie.

Following the ceremony, we sought for a good spot with window light. Though City Hall is FILLED with photographers and their couples, there are fortunately SO many beautiful spots. We found a good spot with window light. First, I had the newlyweds in front of the window. I was able to be creative with this when editing. If I darkened it in post-production, they were simply a silhouette. I then had the window light Michel and Maya. When I pose my couples, I simply tell them to be themselves and ignore me. The shots below show exactly that. Occasionally I asked them to do specific poses, but the key was for them to ignore me. This was easy for them, they felt so comfortable with each other. These are the moments I enjoy experiencing as a photographer. The window light was so nice and soft, I really like how the skin colors came out! We then walked around to find a balcony view showing the elegant atrium. I took a few shots of the newlyweds. Though there were a good amount of people walking in the back, I was able to photoshop of them out, making it look somewhat empty. Right before we ended the post-ceremony shoot, I found a PERFECT spot. The sun was shining though the window and hitting one of the marble columns. It felt like I was in Rome, it was a hidden treasure. With this spot, the sun created a spotlight effect. I was able to pose Maya and Michel in unique ways using that harsh, artsy light.

To end our session, we finished off with photos at the front of the building at the main entrance. This was a beautiful spot because of the even, shaded light. Because we were outside during this time, Michel put on his coast guard dress cap. The architecture style of City Hall’s façade with Michel’s full suit and cap made the photos unique. They had a very classy, 1920’s feel to it! Being that this was my first wedding ever, I could not have been happier with how everything turned out! The vibes were so relaxed yet so joyful.

Congrats Michel and Maya, I am very happy for you two, thank you for allowing me to be apart of your special day and thank you for being apart of a special day in my life as well.

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