SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL PORTRAITS
| Session | Length | What's Included | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just Married | 90 min | City Hall interior — the Grand Staircase, the balconies, the rotunda light. All retouched images, print release. | $850 |
| The Grand Tour | 2 hr | Inside and out, plus the doors and Civic Center Plaza. All retouched images, print release. | $1,150 |
| The Long Way | 3 hr | City Hall plus one more San Francisco spot, the Palace of Fine Arts or Baker Beach. All retouched images, print release. | $1,595 |
I photograph portraits at San Francisco City Hall, wedding attire, flowers, the two of you against one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The session is portrait-first, and if you'd like me there for your ceremony too, I can add that on. Some couples book portraits for the same day they marry, ceremony included or right after it. Others come back on a completely separate day, sometimes weeks apart from the actual paperwork, just for the photos. Either way works, and I'll build the session around whichever is true for you.
Where and what’s included?
City Hall's interior is genuinely one of the best backdrops in San Francisco, marble, soft filtered light, and architecture that does most of the work for us. A typical session moves through the Grand Staircase, the upper balconies, and the rotunda for that soft window light, then outside to the doors and Civic Center Plaza if we have time.
Three ways to book it:
| Package | Portraits only | + Ceremony ($300) |
|---|---|---|
| Just Married | $850 | $1,150 |
| The Grand Tour | $1,150 | $1,450 |
| The Long Way | $1,595 | $1,895 |
Most couples book the Grand Tour, it covers the building properly without needing the whole afternoon.
Want me there for your ceremony too? Add ceremony coverage to any package for a flat $300. That covers arriving early, checking in with you, and being in position when your name is called, on top of your portrait time.
Add-on pricing, for reference:
Bookings within one week require full payment upfront.
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Yes, as an add-on. My sessions are portrait-first, but I can add ceremony coverage to any package for a flat $300, arriving early enough to be in position when your name is called. If you'd rather keep it portraits-only, that's the default and works just as well.
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Not if you're booking portraits only. Some couples book portraits for right after their ceremony, the same day. Others come back on a completely separate day, sometimes weeks later, purely for the photos. If you're adding ceremony coverage, that one has to happen on your actual ceremony day, for obvious reasons.
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Portrait-only sessions work whether you're marrying that day, already married, or just want City Hall as your backdrop.
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No, that's between you and San Francisco City Hall directly.
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It gets busy, especially on popular ceremony days. I know the building well and will guide us to quieter corners so the crowds stay out of your photos.
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As soon as you have a date in mind. City Hall sessions fill weekday slots quickly since they're some of the only sessions that work well midweek.
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Let me know as soon as you can and we'll find another date. Bookings within a week of the session require full payment upfront, so reach out early if your plans are still firming up.
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Depending on the session and location, some spots require a permit. Just like with my other sessions, any permit cost is the client's responsibility. I'll always let you know ahead of time if your session needs one.
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Yes, I'm happy to travel to other Bay Area city halls on request.
FAQ
Let’s Plan Your Session
Send me a quick note with who I'm photographing and roughly when. I'll come back with pricing, open dates, and a few location ideas. That's it to start.
Contact Me
I reply within a day. No pressure, no catch.
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