I received an Instagram DM one Spring afternoon asking about coverage for an elopement at San Francisco City Hall. This couple, Courtney and Aman, were coming to San Francisco on their own to sign their marriage license. I was just getting back into wedding photography at this point of my career and was stoked that this couple trusted me enough to capture their special day.
At the time, my gear included my Sony A7ii, a Sony 50mm 1.8f, and a Tamron 28-75mm 2.8f. I recently upgraded my flash to a Godox, though I had not yet purchased my Modcloud diffuser. I unfortunately don’t remember what I used to diffuse the light for my on camera flash. I still travel lightly when it comes to my gear as I believe a simple set-up is enough to capture impactful images.
It was a peaceful weekday morning. After saying their vows, exchanging rings, and signing their license, the beautiful couple was officially wed. We traversed the City Hall, couple hand-in-hand, finding the least populated areas. Despite AI not being a thing back in the day (not like I use that feature now), it was easy to Photoshop other couples out of main stairwell and background areas.
I wanted to replicate the film look with my digital photos and I believe I achieved just that. The rich colors and warmth these images emit still take my breath away. This elopement made me realize that I love shooting weddings of this style – just me and the couple exploring beautiful architecture together. I’m hoping I can shoot at SF City Hall or other elopements in the future.
Below are my favorite photos from the day:
