FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
City Hall Wedding Photography
Q: How many photos will I receive ?
A: In the chart below, I give a rough idea of the # of photos that you will receive based on the package selected. Although it seems obvious to compare packages and photographers by the number of photos delivered, by far the most important measure is the quality of the photos. Some of my shoots with the least number of photos had multiple award-winning images in the same shoot! I always deliver similarly edited photos for the whole shoot, so you don't have to imagine what the rest would look like if they were edited properly.
Q. When is the best light at City Hall?
The best light at City Hall is during the Winter when the light is not too strong and is very photographic, when it enters into the building on the 4th floor and even touches down to the 1st and 2nd floors at times. In general, trying to optimize your ceremony for best lighting, is only possible for one or two locations max. This is because City Hall is way darker than it appears. Besides the 4th Floor, the ambient light is usually quite dark, and requires the photographer to use off camera flash to get beautiful professional photos throughout the building. The use of off camera flash is more important than the time of day in getting the best photos at City Hall.
No matter what photographer you pick, make sure that they are skilled at the use of off camera lighting. So that your whole shoot will have the same level of quality as the few places (for example, the 4th Floor) with good sunlight.
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 With Off Camera Flash |
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Q. How would you describe your typical clients.
A: Our clients are visually sophisticated. What I mean by this, is that our clients really care about lighting, expression and artistry. Many of our clients are avid, amateur photographers and even other pro photographers or others who work in various cinematic arts. We also get many tech types from Silicon Valley, such as Googlers and Apple employees or those working in startups. The commonality is they have an artistic side and love photography. Finally, I get, many very family oriented couples who are excited to share their photos to other family members around the world.
Q. What kind of camera equipment do you use?
A: I am a firm believer that is mostly about the photographer, and that equipment can only get one so far. Having said this, I shoot with Professional Sony gear. All my lenses are carefully selected for the highest performance and character. I often use classic Zeiss and Leica lenses that I have adapted to modern sensors. Finally, I use only the best lighting, by Profoto. Top photographers, the world over, use Profoto due to their reliability and amazing reliability of light quality.
Q. Do you offer video services?
A: Yes, we can capture your ceremony plus vignettes of your City Hall/Tour photo session with pro level audio and a wireless mic.
Q. What are the best dresses for a City Hall Wedding?
A: Read Choosing a City Hall Wedding Dress. I put together this list of tips to help Brides select a wedding dress.
What to Expect
Q. When and where do we meet?
Rotunda weddings: I typically I meet the couple 15 minutes before their Ceremony time at the bottom of the Grand Staircase on the 1st floor. After meeting the couple, I go up to the Rotunda and get my camera and flash equipment ready for the Ceremony. Photographers are no longer allowed to photograph the registration process before the Ceremony. Only if the photographer is a witness (I am happy to be your witness.) are photographers allowed in the Clerk's Office, but even then cannot photograph the process.
This video describes the booking process as well as how we meet before your rotunda wedding.
4th Floor and Mayor's Balcony Weddings:
I will meet the couple approximately 15 minutes before the Ceremony and set up lighting.
If there is a "First Look" option, we will go into detail over the phone how to arrange entry into the building without seeing each other and plan for enough time before the Ceremony.
Q: What about posing? I don't want overly posed photos.
A: My style is to give suggestions to the couple, but then, let them interact naturally. And Capture that interaction. In my portfolio, even when you see a photo of the Bride or Groom alone, their partner is usually behind me and their smile and demeanor are authentic. The photos you see in my portfolio are mostly just a matter of helping the chemistry of the couple come out naturally.
Q. How are photos delivered.
A:We deliver full resolution images on our online proofing and sharing site for a minimum of three years (no extra cost).
Q. Do you use AI in your photography workflow or editing process?
A: As photographers who also work in AI technology through our company OCAI (Oregon Coast AI), we have a unique perspective on AI's role in photography. While we believe the artistry, emotion, and human connection in wedding photography can never be replaced by AI, we do selectively use AI tools for certain workflow optimizations like initial photo sorting and basic corrections. However, all creative decisions, artistic editing, and final selections are always done by human expertise. Our technical background in AI actually helps us better understand which tools enhance our craft versus those that might compromise the authentic, emotional storytelling that makes wedding photography special. If you're curious about how AI can help your business (photography or otherwise), visit oregoncoastai.com.
Why this combination works perfectly:
Natural Authority: Establishes you as experts in both photography AND AI/tech
Dual Relevance: Appeals to photography clients while attracting potential SEO clients
Authentic Connection: Shows the natural evolution from creative work to tech services
SEO Benefits:
Q. Do you offer any business consulting or technical services outside of photography?
A: After 15 years in wedding photography, our founders returned to their tech roots and now help small businesses improve their online presence through OCAI (Oregon Coast AI). They specialize in technical SEO, schema markup, and structured data implementation that helps local businesses like photographers, wedding vendors, and other service providers rank better in search results. If you're a fellow photographer or small business owner looking to improve your website's search visibility, we'd be happy to help! Learn more about our SEO services at oregoncoastai.com.
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Hire your own private officiant for your San Francisco City Hall Wedding