I’m often asked if two hours is enough time to cover a marriage at San Francisco City Hall.
The short answer is yes. The majority of my couples fit within two hours. Some exceptions would be if you want to be photographed in multiple locations, if you want coverage of the bride’s preparation, or having your reception photographed.
How do I know this? Quite simply: from my experience.
Here are some of the situations that I’ve come across and have expertise in handling them.
Unexpected things happen in almost all weddings. However, I’ve had experience with the unexpected things at San Francisco’s City Hall many times over. I’ve got the rhythm of City Hall in me.
Here are some of the things that can get in the way for a photographer and how I’ve solved them.
Sometimes judges are running behind in their schedule. I’ve learned how to utilize that time efficiently knowing what time frame you have on your special day.
Thousands of hours of shooting and many thousands of images have given me something like an automatic knowing of how and when to photograph each person from their best angles. It doesn’t take extra time to try out different poses or know when to shoot a candid. It’s shooting from the gut.
I try to keep talking to a minimum. Of course, we’re going to talk and have a pleasant time, but I’m going to focus more on shooting. Talking is lost forever, but photographs last forever.
Although there are many places I’ve never seen, venues I know nothing about, I know every nook and cranny of San Francisco’s City Hall. No time is wasted wandering around to check out a venue I’ve never seen. I know this building inside and out. I can draw a map of it in my sleep. I know how to quickly get from one place to another.
There are times of the day when tourists crowd the building. I know when they come, how they behave, and how not to lose time when a tourist wants to have a photo with the bride. I know how to elegantly handle the situation.
For the family posed photos, I’ve learned a lot about how families behave during a wedding. I know how to get them posed in the right location, quickly, and how to arrange everyone for great shots. There’s no reason that shooting the family portraits should take 40 minutes.
For your locations outside of City Hall, I know the best and quickest routes around the city. This can be a real time saver. I’m not the taxi driver who may take the long route. I love this city and have explored every bit of it just for my pleasure, and my interest in finding interesting photo locations.
All of the possibilities of losing or wasting time, I’ve solved. After years of experience covering super huge Indian weddings with 800 guests, I’ve mastered covering San Francisco City Hall Weddings. It doesn’t mean I’m going to rush you on your wedding day. It’s just a quiet knowledge and efficiency that I bring to the day.
In two hours I can shoot the ceremony and group shots. I’ll also get the most astonishing portraits and some super emotional candid photos. I’ll get close-ups, wide angles, images with slow shutter speed to preserve motion. I’ll get images that incorporate the amazing architectural elements of City Hall and images that show action and reaction.
I’ll shoot it all spectacularly and all within two hours. And we’ll have fun too.
