San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco City Hall is one of the city’s most extraordinary wedding venues. Beneath the Rotunda, the grand staircase, marble galleries and soaring architecture create a setting that is unmistakably San Francisco.

I’ve photographed celebrations here at nearly every scale—from intimate elopements to full City Hall buyouts with more than 400 guests. Each requires a very different approach, but the building never stops being spectacular.

I know this building exceptionally well—every level, the changing light, and the tucked-away locations that can give us a beautiful portrait even when the obvious spots aren’t available.

The fourth floor has some of my favorite portrait light in San Francisco, but City Hall can also be deceptively challenging to photograph. Light changes dramatically from floor to floor, public access can affect where we shoot, and during a full buyout, ceremony and reception installations begin taking over key spaces.

That’s where experience matters. I work closely with the planner to build portrait time around the production schedule so we can take advantage of the best locations before they disappear behind ceremony chairs, tables, florals and staging.

I know this building exceptionally well—every level, the changing light, and the tucked-away locations that can give us a beautiful portrait even when the obvious spots aren’t available.

The fourth floor has some of my favorite portrait light in San Francisco, but City Hall can also be deceptively challenging to photograph. Light changes dramatically from floor to floor, public access can affect where we shoot, and during a full buyout, ceremony and reception installations begin taking over key spaces.

That’s where experience matters. I work closely with the planner to build portrait time around the production schedule so we can take advantage of the best locations before they disappear behind ceremony chairs, tables, florals and staging.

Venue: San Francisco City Hall
Planning: Mandy Scott Events
Photo & Cinema: Arrowood Photography
Catering: Global Gourmet Catering
Florals: Rare Sparrow
Rentals: Standard Event Rentals