Let’s agree on one thing: The wedding photographer is the modern ninja. As soon as I arrive to document a wedding at San Francisco City Hall, I’m racing the clock. Park the car? Check! Feed the meter? Check. Get through security with my huge bag of photo equipment? Check! (It helps that the security personnel know me…I’m hoping that one day they’ll just wave me through). Then we’ve got limited time to document the ceremony and traipse all around City Hall taking creative portraits. Often, I’m coordinating large groups of guests, or working around events that are taking place inside the building. Often, too, I’m racing the clock (especially in the late fall and winter) as daylight starts to fade. Gotta get to the Golden Gate bridge before the sun sets! San Francisco City Hall and the city in general offer so many possibilities, and yet time is never on my side! Well, there’s one very crucial component to the recipe that makes my shoots a success: The couples I work with. Take for example Tony and Gilma (and their guests). Despite all of the challenges listed above, Tony and Gilma exuded boundless energy throughout the day. No matter how many stairs we climbed or how many transitions we made, their spirits never faded, and the incredible connection between them was the secret ingredient I ultimately needed to do my job well. So, Tony and Gilma, thank you for everything. Congratulations on a beautiful wedding day! And now, I’ll let your words and the images we created together do the talking.
Posts Tagged ‘san francisco city hall wedding photos’
San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Gilma + Tony
January 12, 2012Marina + Pablo | San Francisco City Hall Wedding
November 8, 2011When I met Marina and Pablo at San Francisco City Hall on this particular autumn afternoon, we were working with the following set of ingredients: No sleep, no food, no parking. Add a scoop of ‘running behind schedule’ and a dash of ‘forgot the rings in the car’, and we had the perfect City Hall wedding recipe. That the day turned out fabulously is a testament to the love that flows between them, and the incredible positive energy that flows from them. Marina, Pablo, you are both simply fabulous. I still cannot believe that we were able to accomplish so much in such a short afternoon, and I sincerely apologize for making you climb on windowsills, wade through traffic, dodge cable cars and levitate using conventional balloons. Your sense of style and your ability to run down long staircases in high heels are enviable qualities. You might consider teaching a workshop! Anyway, I’ll stop rambling now and let you and the world enjoy the results of my love for photography and your love for one another.
Anthony and Magaly booked me months in advance for their City Hall wedding and adventure in San Francisco. They currently reside in London, and because of the ample lead time, I was able to help them plan their wedding day here in SF. Their whole families arrived to be with them on their day, and they wanted to make sure that everything went according to plan. For such a large group, they reserved the Mayor’s Balcony, which allowed them to have an hour of uninterrupted time to hug, toast and be together after the ceremony. Several weeks before the wedding day, I had already sent my proposed itinerary for a Cable Car ride around the City. The Cable Car picked us up at City Hall, and we drove to the Golden Gate bridge and Fort Point, by way of the Presidio. After that, we made a stop at the Legion of Honor for some elegant photos amidst the columns. Finally, wrapped in blankets (in true SF summer fashion) Anthony, Magaly and their families headed to the Cliff House for a delicious and well-deserved lunch. It’s never easy to have long travel- and photo-sessions with large groups, but (a) their families were just awesome and full of energy and (b) everyone was excited and invigorated by the sights and the chilly weather. Anthony and Magaly – you guys pulled it off!! Hopefully you’re on a beach somewhere right now and getting over the SF climate in true honeymoon style!
San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Nicholas + Angie
July 18, 2011When I met Nicholas, Angie, and their girls, Oceana and Kieran, I couldn’t believe my eyes. This beautiful family was dressed to the nines, everyone perfectly buttoned up and color-coordinated. Black, white, silver, and then the striking red lipstick worn by Angie made it a very elegant affair, and a joy to photograph. It’s such a pleasure for me to document weddings at San Francisco City Hall, especially because just like Nicholas and Angie, the brides and grooms I work with put so much care and effort into the details. The other thing that completely blew me away was how patient and well-behaved the girls were, and how much energy they had as we walked around the building taking pictures. The unique style and amazing connection of this beautiful family definitely made this an incredible San Francisco City Hall wedding. Congrats, Nicholas, Angie and girls! All the best to your new family.
SF City Hall Wedding | Kelly + Mark
July 15, 2011Kelly and Mark came all the way from Kansas to have their wedding at SF City Hall, and they were not disappointed. They were excited about being here, excited about finding one another, and excited to have found me to document it all for them. The day started with some beautiful photography around City Hall, and then, the ceremony. Readers of this blog may recall Gabor’s early kiss attempt. Well, Mark and Kelly’s ceremony experienced a similar moment, when joy and nerves overcame convention, and Mark slipped the ring on the wrong hand! Since we were in the privacy of the fourth floor, only the commissioner, the couple and I witnessed it. What I’ve learned from the many weddings I’ve documented, is how rare it is for everything to go according to plan. I’ve also learned that if two people are head over heels in love, it doesn’t really matter. Congrats, Kelly and Mark!
San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Kelly + Gabor
June 21, 2011The story of Kelly and Gabor’s wedding at SF City Hall is one of family, intimate moments and meaningful glances. It’s the story of a mistimed kiss. Ultimately, it’s the story of how two people who share a deep and obvious affection for one another wed at City Hall, circumscribed by the love and embraces of those closest to them. Gabor’s mother came all the way from Hungary to be there for her son’s wedding, and it was amazing to see her literally glowing with happiness for him. Perhaps the photo I snapped of her passing out Tic Tacs at the County Clerk’s office was a bit of foreshadowing. During the ceremony, Gabor went in for the kiss too soon. As I caught the moment, and the abashed moments after it, I thought to myself, “Sometimes, when you love someone that much, conventional boundaries and social cues just shouldn’t apply or matter.” I hope to have a long and prolific career documenting people’s nuptials, and I hope to see many, many more grooms like Gabor – who have such passion for their wife-to-be, that they can barely hold themselves back. Of course, there’s one more part to that day’s story, which is how much fun we all had during the photoshoot, especially Gabor. He must have seen on this very blog that sometime ago I intercepted a janitor on the 4th Floor of City Hall and borrowed some of his supplies for a photograph. As luck would have it, the very same janitor appeared during our shoot, and Gabor was ready to borrow anything he could get his hands on! And, when that was over, before I knew it, he was hamming it up on the balcony railing! Thank you, Kelly, Gabor and your families, for inviting me to share and document your day.
