If you're thinking about tying the knot at San Francisco City Hall or just want to capture some magical moments there, I'm here to help make it happen!
I've gathered some of the most common questions I get during the booking process, and I'm here to share my approach to shooting at this iconic spot.
I'm Daria, a San Francisco based photographer and content creator specializing in SF City Hall weddings, engagements, and elopements.
If you’re looking for a photographer who can bring your vision to life,
check out my City Hall page and reach out to discuss your ideas. I’m excited to capture your special moments and make them truly unforgettable!
1. What's the difference between your packages?
I currently offer three packages for the City Hall ceremony coverages:
- Package 1 includes up to an hour of coverage. I’ll meet you inside City Hall 5-10 minutes before the ceremony to capture the event itself, along with some couple portraits and family group shots afterward. You'll receive about 35-40 edited photos. This is a budget-friendly option for anyone looking to capture beautiful moments from their special day without needing specific shots or a full photoshoot.
- If you’re looking for more flexibility, Package 2 may be a better option (and it’s the most popular one:). It’s perfect if you’d like to do a photoshoot around City Hall or have a moodboard in mind. Occasionally, certain areas may be closed for private ceremonies, so the extra time can help us work around that. It covers 1 to 2 hours and includes up to 100 edited photos, plus all the unedited ones! There’s no rush - we’ll take our time to capture all the beautiful moments.
- Package 3 includes everything from Package 2, plus we’ll head to one more location of your choice (Legion of Honor, Battery Spencer, Palace of Fine Arts—it's up to you!).
2. Do the packages include family and guest photos?
Absolutely! All packages come with a mix of couple photos, individual shots, and group photos with your family and friends. We want to make sure everyone important to you is included in your special day.
3. How do you usually schedule the timeline?
While every day at City Hall can be a little different, here's a general idea of how things flow: I'll meet you about 5-10 minutes before your ceremony time. We'll capture the main event and then take some couple shots, individual portraits, and those all-important family and group photos.
4. How does the booking process work?
Once we've confirmed your date and time, I'll send over a contract for you to review and sign. To lock in your date, I'll need a 25% retainer. As for payment, I try to make it as easy as possible – you can pay via credit card (3.3% service fee), or choose from Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or CashApp. Whatever works best for you!
5. Do you take last-minute bookings?
Yes, I do! Sometimes the stars align, and I have availability on short notice:) So just reach out, even if your big day is coming up soon!
6. Can you be our witness?
It would be my honor! Just give me a heads up in advance, and we'll make it happen. I love being part of such a special moment!
7. Can we see more of your work?
Yes! I'd be happy to share more of my City Hall galleries with you. Just send me a message, and I'll send over links to some recent shoots.
8. Do you offer video services?
While I don't provide full video coverage, I can create mobile video content that's perfect for sharing on social media. I also offer editing services, so if your family and friends capture videos during the ceremony, you can send me the footage, and I'll put together a 15-40 second highlight video for an additional fee.
9. Will you remove unwanted people from the background? Do you retouch photos?
Yes, basic retouching is included in all my packages. That covers things like light skin retouching, color correction, and general cleanup. If we're shooting on those gorgeous main stairs and there are a few people in the background, I can remove them in post-processing. However, if the area is extremely crowded, it might not be possible to remove everyone.
For any extra retouching requests (like skin softening, under-eye bag removal, teeth whitening, fabric adjustments, removing wrinkles, fixing hair, etc.), I offer those services for an additional fee, usually $4-5 per photo.
10. We'd prefer our photos not be posted online. Is there a fee for that?
I totally understand wanting to keep things private. There's a $100 fee for exclusive rights, which I'll specify in our contract. This ensures your privacy and gives you full control over your images.
11. What happens after the shoot? When will we get our photos?
After the shoot, I'll upload all the images to an online gallery, and you can either pick your favorites, or if you'd prefer, I can make the selection for you. Once we've finalized the picks, I'll start editing and have your finished gallery ready within 5-10 days.
12. We're already married but didn't get photos. Can we still take them at City Hall?
Totally! City Hall is a public space, so we can definitely make that happen. It's open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday are generally less crowded days.
Pro tip: If you want the place almost to ourselves, get there right when they open at 8 am.
