The Best Wedding Photography Locations in San Francisco Part One

While we are well-known for our work at San Francisco City Hall we want share some of best locations in San Francisco to take wedding photos. This is Part One of an ongoing guide.

The Palace of Fine Arts.

The Palace of Fine Arts and a surprise cameo on the bottom-left by a Swan.

I would venture this is the most-photographed public location in San Francisco for couples, families, and any possible occasion in-between. Everyone stops here to look at the lovely lake, marvel at the Swans and Ducks, and take some beautiful photos underneath the dome. You can make a circuit around the entire place in 15-minutes, stopping along the journey to take all different kinds of photos. While weekends tend to be the busiest, we also shoot here during the week when there are fewer crowds and we get a better chance at getting the perfect shot.

Fort Point

The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Fort Point.

Less than ten minutes away by car we have Fort Point. Tucked away beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on the San Francisco side this location offers a million-dollar view of the Bridge and the Marina. On weekends the Fort is open to the public and you can photograph along the corridors and even the roof. Amazing light at all times of the day but it can get really windy. Also there is no elevator to the top so be prepared to walk up all those stairs to the top and back down again.

Maiden Lane

Maiden Lane near Union Square is a great place for a quick shoot.

Located in the heart of Union Square, Maiden Lane is an approximately two-block long street tucked away in between the hustle and bustle of the City. On afternoons there are outdoor tables where you can relax and have a coffee while doing some great people-watching. While the street is short, it is great as a backdrop for portraits. Timing is hit or miss here as they don't always have the place cleaned up and there can be cars, but we are good at working around that.

Until next time, stay tuned for Part Two!