Editorial work

It’s not a ground breaking statement that Covid-19 has turned our plans inside out. Lot of weddings i had booked for the summer got either cancelled, postponed or are up in the air.

San Francisco City Hall is quiet these days with no brides rushing through the security check point to get to room 168. No numerous photographers waiting in line to take a must have Grand Stairwell photo. No quinceanera girls dressed up as some princess from Disney movie with her makeup/hair artist, photographer and a few assistants taking over some area in the City Hall.

I miss that craziness but it’s also good to use the break and time to work on other aspects of photography that i like.

I enjoy shooting weddings for many reasons. I get to meet couples with their families and friends on one of their most memorable days. I get to share it with them, capture these moments. And while there’s a lot of pressure to get it right the 1st time (there are no redos here), I enjoy that adrenaline rush and excitement. So it’s natural that I miss it, but it also opened up an opportunity for me to spend more time shooting something else. I enjoy working in the studio or on location focusing more on editorial kind of work. While there’s plenty of spontaneity it also gives more time to think through some of the shots, create concepts and gives more room to play during the session. There’s more time to think and something new to try that i wouldn’t normally do during the wedding.

A few samples from 2 of my most recent sessions.

Boris PolisskyJuly 3, 2020san francisco city hall, san francisco fashion photography, san francisco editorial photography, sffashion, sfeditorial, sfcityhallweddingphotography, sfweddingphotographer, sfwedding, sf, bayareaeditorialphotography, bayareafashion, sanfranciscobayarea, sfbayarea, sfbayareafashionComment

Maria & Jacob

How much can a photographer do when most of San Francisco City Hall is locked for in preparation for an events - the Rotunda is closed off to a point that the ceremonies are done in the private room, the Grand Stairwell is off limits, the 2nd floor is completely blocked off, the lights are being setup on the 3rd floor. In addition to that both North and South side of the 4th floor are reserved for private ceremonies. You get a little creative

Luckily Maria, Jacob and their family were so flexible, fun and easy to work. They completed trusted me and followed along with whatever we did. We spent about an hour plus to get all the shots we needed and we could under the circumstances. But i couldn’t have been happier. We did break a few rules but without causing any issues or endangering anyone in the process.

Maria and Jacob brought so much energy and emotions to every shot that I honestly could’ve gone the whole day with them if they didn’t have a dinner waiting for them.

Robyn & Mason

While i love shooting at San Francisco City Hall i often wish i had more time with my couples. Robyn’s mom booked me last minute and wanted to do some more photos at the Fairmont hotel. Unfortunately i was already booked. So we just had 1 hour session at the City Hall right before Christmas.

Robyn and Mason had tons of personality, emotions and passion. Being around couples like that energizes me and reminds me why i I do this.

Kaonta & Terry

Remember that old movie with Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock - Forces of Nature, where they are both trying to make it home no matter what natural disasters stand on their way.

The difference with Kaonta and Terry is that they were heading to San Francisco from Houston when Hurricane Imelda threatened their plans. They were lucky to leave Houston area. George Bush Houston airport got shot down when they had their flight. So they drove to Austin to leave from there and that wasn’t a direct flight. So they arrived late night or more like 2 AM to their hotel room, barely got any sleep and started to prepare for the wedding at San Francisco City Hall. They were lucky to at least have made it to San Francisco. One of their guests got stuck in Houston and couldn’t leave. Kaonta’s family were lucky to make it from Houston and arrive on time to San Francisco. Return back home wasn’t without misfortunes either with emergency rooms and car flooding.

But for the evening of September 20 it wasn’t important. What mattered is 2 people got married in San Francisco City Hall in the presence of their close family. The officiant was local SF judge who happens to be Kaonta’s cousin. A small reception that followed in The Chambers (5 minute walk from the City Hall) was intimate, person and very tasty. I was treated as part of the family and dined with them.

Even though it was a long and tiring day for the bride and the groom, they held it together very well. At the end these are the images that will tell the story for them. All the disasters pass and life continuyes

city hall video, city hall wedding, sf weddingsBoris PolisskyOctober 5, 2019san francisco city hall, sanfranciscocityhallweddingphotography, sanfranciscoweddingphotography, sanfranciscocityhall, sanfrancisco, sfcityhallweddingphotography, sfcityhall, sfcityhallphotographer, sfcityhallphotography, sfcityhallwedding, cityhallsf, cityhallwedding, sanfranciscowedding, sanfranciscoweddingphotographerComment

Megan & Alex

When I talk to others about their job and what kind of work they do, i realize that i can’t even consider what i do as work. Of course there are some intense days, there are days when you emotionally and physically tired, but at the end I realize that I’m around happy people who are enjoying a very special day and my job is really to capture that day for them. I’m their guest with a camera. I’m their friend who knows how to take photos. And yes I really enjoy smaller wedding like this one where it was close family and closest friends, while Lucy stood for the groom’s best man.

As a result this San Francisco City Hall wedding was filled with intimate moments during and after the ceremony. How often do you get to photograph a cute dog inside the City Hall? Not very often.. so i took full advantage of that. Lucy played her part perfectly - posing, giving high fives and barking her congratulations to the newly wed

city hall wedding, sf weddings, sfcityhallvendors, guideBoris PolisskySeptember 16, 2019SF City Hall Photosanfranciscocityhallweddingphotography, san francisco city hall, sanfranciscocityhall, sfcityhallphotography, sfcityhallphoto, sfcityhallphotographer, cityhallsf, cityhallweddingComment

Phykun and Jonathan by SF City Hall Photo

Not everything goes according to plan. And no… everyone who comes to get married to the City Hall gets married. Phykun and Jonathan had some issues during the check in, but we worked out through them together. At the end we found our own officiant who was on fire and did the ceremony better than any officiant could. I laughed while taking photos.

We spent some time around the City Hall covering all 4 floors, happily coming outside for some fresh air and last few photos.

Boris PolisskyJune 19, 2019SF City Hall Photosan francisco city hall, san francisco, city hall, sf city hall photo, sfcityhallphoto, sanfranciscocityhallweddingphotographer, san francisco city hall wedding photographer, san francisco city hall wedding photography, san francisco city hall wedding, san francisco wedding, weddingguide, weddingphotography, wedding photographyComment

Pufan & Jessica by SF City Hall Photo

I am very grateful to my clients that have complete trust in me and go along with whatever ideas I have. In this case i really wanted to play around with more contrast and color as it seemed to be very fitting to Pufan & Jessica. Of course I always, always want to make sure I get more classic, traditional photos. Then I get different canvas and try something new. Pufan & Jessica simply went along with whatever i suggested and within an hour or so we had a great variety of photos.

sf weddingsBoris PolisskyJune 19, 2019SF City Hall Photosan francisco city hall, san francisco city hall wedding, sanfranciscocityhallweddingphotography, sfchphoto sf SF San Francisco weddingguide wedding photographer wedding photography weddings marriage photography professional photography photographer photojournalism city hall sf city hall san francisco city hall, sf city hall photo, sfchwedding, sfwedding, sfcityhall, sfcityhallphotoComment

Carleigh & Adam by SF City Hall Photo

Who says you can’t have a small wedding ceremony in the City Hall without your bridesmaids and groomsmen? Carleigh and Adam definitely didn’t think so.

Yes, it was small.. yes it was intimate.. and it was perfect! We got great emotional ceremony photos, lots of group photo variations and of course a good variety of photos with just the couple. Couldn’t help it but take extra photos of just the lovely bride by herself.

sf weddings, city hall weddingBoris PolisskyMay 21, 2019SF City Hall Photosf city hall photo, san francisco, san francisco city hall, wedding photographer, weddingguide, weddingphotography, photographer, photo, photography, photojournalism, photoalbum, professional photography, City HallComment

Xinwei & Minmeng - Valentine's day by SF City Hall Photo

Valentine’s day is a special kind of day at the San Francisco City Hall. It’s also one of the busiest day a year when it comes to weddings. On days like that we are always prepared to take advantage of the open areas as soon as we see them.

Now Xinwei & Minmeng got very lucky on that day in so many ways. They got one of my favorite City Hall officiant, their ceremony was moved up to the 4th floor. In addition to that we timed it right so they could get a clean shot of the Grand Stairwell. For those who have come to the City Hall on regular days, they would know that people are constantly going up and down the stairwell and standing on the 2nd floor. So the grand stairwell shots .. clean grand stairwell shots.. are not always possible. However it all was doable on February 14th for this awesome couple.

This is just a small sample of variety of photos the couple received . Both natural and flash light used.

Boris PolisskyFebruary 19, 2019sf city hall photo, sfweddingphotography, sfcityhallphoto, sf, san francisco city hall, san francisco, weddingguide, wedding photographer, weddingpgotogaphy, weddingphotography, weddingphoto, Weddings, weddingtipsComment

Kristine & John by SF City Hall Photo

Our first wedding on 2019 was Kristine and John tying the knot in beautiful San Francisco City Hall. It was pretty quiet after the holiday rush. Kristine and John brought their 7 months old son Al and it was just the 4 of us wandering around the City Hall.

The wedding session turned more into a family session and I wanted to make sure I leave them with a great collection of photos with the 3 of them. The more i do this, the more I realized it’s not the fancy, artistic shots that matter to a lot of couples. It’s these true moments where the family is captured our this special day. I feel we accomplished it quiet well.

sf weddings, guideBoris PolisskyJanuary 9, 2019sf city hall photo, weddingpgotogaphy, wedding, sfcityhall, san francisco city hall, city hall, weddings tips, san francisco wedding photographer, wedding photography, wedding photographerComment

Badhia & Zack by SF City Hall Photo

People meet in different places, under different circumstances. They come from different countries, cities, cultures. And then one day a few months later, few or even 10 years later they feel that getting married is the next logical or emotional step. And if one lives in San Francisco why look for another place to get married. People come from all over the world to tie the knot in beautiful San Francisco City Hall.

Badhia and Zack like many of us get shy in front of the camera and were not sure how the whole experience will go. But 15 minutes into our session they felt at ease and even started chatting about life while I was posing them. We spent some time in the City Hall and then headed to Crissy Fields and Palace of Fine arts to complete our photo collection. At the end we got a great fun, serious, silly series of images that they felt represent them.

Boris PolisskyAugust 16, 2018weddings tips, weddingguide, weddingpgotogaphy, wedding, weddings, photo album, photoshoot, photojournalism, photography, sf city hall, sfcityhallphoto, sfweddingphotographer, sfwedding, sanfranciscoweddingphotography, san francisco city hallComment

Kayla and Chris

Parents from both sides, bride's grand parents and bride and groom came together on a Friday afternoon. Kayla and Chris have been together for a few years but this is the 1st time their parents meet. One side is coming from Boston while another from San Diego for a wedding that brings the family together. The grand parents served as witness.