SF City Hall Photography Locations
The Rotunda | Main Ceremony location
The Rotunda is the very heart of San Francisco City Hall located just above the main staircase. It is where the majority of public wedding ceremonies take place. Photo opportunities here are amazing!
Rotunda’s coolest perks? It is filled with soft light plus there are beautiful crystal chandeliers. It is standing right opposite from the Mayor’s Balcony which means that great photo backdrops are guaranteed.
Mayor's Balcony
Mayor’s Balcony is a fantastic vantage point from where you can capture the most beautiful snaps of San Francisco City Hall. That’s exactly why wedding photographers love it so much! Book a ceremony here and you will get gorgeous views of the ornate marble walls, the grand staircase and the Rotunda.
Without a doubt, it offers the most elegant backdrops for the bride and groom shots. Its unique feature is the iconic golden railing which can really stand out in your wedding photos.
The 4th Floor
The 4th Floor Galleries are visually intriguing! The color palette is comprised of soft, natural shades of ivory, white, and grey. To make it even more picture-perfect, you can add some vibrant colors! Vivid bouquets, floral arrangements and bridesmaid dresses will create wonderful contrasts.
Here, you can easily seat 60 guests and the chairs are forming a natural aisle for your big entrance. Additionally, there is also ample space for live musicians, small table for cupcakes, champagne, weddings gifts, etc.,.
The Grand Staircase
The impressive marble staircase is the centerpiece of San Francisco City Hall and its most photographed feature. Its extraordinary beauty will strike you as soon as you walk into the building. Exuding regal elegance and timeless style, this architectural masterpiece is often compared to the iconic staircase at the Opera de Paris.
And even if there are other people in the background, a skilled photographer can still make a few amazing shots.
The 3rd Floor
The 3rd floor is probably the most peaceful area in the building an excellent place to escape the crowds and busy areas and to get awesome portraits by the famous window.
The Main Door
Trained in Paris at the famed Ecole de Beaux-Arts, Arthur Brown Jr has designed San Francisco City Hall meticulously and with incredible attention to detail. One of the most striking features is the main entrance itself.
Bedecked with intricate ornaments in gilded bronze, the iconic "City Hall" signage makes one of the most recognizable photo backdrops.
The County Clerk's Office
You are allowed to take your wedding photographer inside the County Clerk Office. This means getting a few extra photo opportunities.
The photographer can then take a photo of you signing or holding your marriage certificate. Or capture the moment when you are talking to the judge who is about to marry you.
This space may seem un-photogenic to an inexperienced wedding photographer. However, a professional who has photographed hundreds of weddings at San Francisco City Hall will know exactly which moments to capture.
The Old School Elevators
City Hall elevators are exuding luxury and romance of bygone eras. Even the marble hallway with gleaming silver elevator doors looks gorgeous!
But the best photos can be made while the doors are open and the bride and groom are standing inside. We always try getting a shot inside these beautiful time capsules assuming we are alone.
Natural Light Photography
A unique example of Beaux-Arts architecture, San Francisco City Hall comprises acres of pearly white marble and elegant gilded bronze. Beauty is everywhere you look and natural light is filling the entire building.
Most of it is coming from numerous skylights. Stemming from the ceilings, the sun rays are spreading around and filling even the long hallways. On a sunny day, every corner is drenched in sunlight.
And when it is cloudy or foggy outside, crisp white surfaces are still bright. Ornate walls are constantly contrasted with bold shadows. This juxtaposition always creates awe-inspiring backdrops for your wedding photography.
SF City Hall Wedding Photography Packages
MINI PACKAGES - PORTRAITS ONLY (CEREMONY IS NOT INCLUDED)
Mini Package 1 - $195 - This package is intended for couples who need few formal portraits on the Grand staircase. 5 photos included.
Mini Package 2 - $295 - This package is similar to the 1 location option but includes additional spot and 10 total formal/posed photos.
Mini Package 3 - $395 - This package includes three locations inside the City Hall and 15 total high-resolution formal photographs. Fusion video can be added at $225.
FULL PACKAGES - (BOTH THE THE CEREMONY AND PORTRAITS ARE INCLUDED)
Ceremony Package 4 - $495 - Full Ceremony coverage Five additional portraits. Additional portraits $50 ea.
Package 5 - $795 - One Hour of coverage. All photos included. Add $300 for 1.5 hours of coverage. Short film can be added to this package.
Package 6 - $1,395 - 2 Hours of coverage. All photos included. Optional 2nd location included. Short film can be added to this package.
Package 7 - $2,395 - 4 Hours of coverage. All photos included. Multiple locations included. Short film can be added to this package.
Package 8 - $2,790 - 2 Hours of photo and video coverage. All photos included. Highlight video included as well. Can be upgraded to 8-mm real film or to 4K UHD quality recording. Full package details available here.
WHICH CITY HALL PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Our packages divided into two main groups: mini packages which include only portraits and full packages that include Ceremony coverage. The mini packages designed for those who don’t need ceremony coverage or prefer a friend to take care of that portion.
Those clients who require the Ceremony to be photographed, usually pick either one or two hours package. The first hour is dedicated to candid photography before the ceremony, the coverage of the actual wedding ceremony, the group and formal photos afterward and to a few posed/semi-posed images of the couple around the building. The result is a documentation of the essential part of the wedding day.
While we can do a lot in the first hour, the 2nd hour results in an increased number of candid (or posed) photos. With longer packages we are able to visit more spots, better use the natural light, visit previously unavailable locations and overall have more flexibility. To put it simply: the more time we spend, the better the image variety will be. A lot of creative light shots in our portfolio were taken within the 2 hours package. However, anything beyond 2 hours would be too much for just the City Hall coverage. We recommend 4 hours package (we can customize 3 hours as well) for those couples who would like to capture the bridal preparations portion, considering visiting an additional location or plan to have a reception captured. We also offer full day weekday elopement coverage for $3450. Contact us for details.
And finally, we offer a combined photography and videography package that includes a separate person who will be filming alongside the photographer. This will result in a short highlight video on top of the high resolution files included in the photography package.