
Wedding traditions exist for a reason. Many of them work well, and for couples who value them, they can add structure and meaning to the day. But as a wedding photographer in San Francisco, I’ve seen a wide range of couples explore non-traditional wedding ideas that better reflect how they actually want to spend their […]

Planning a wedding? Here are the 20 most common regrets couples have about their big day – and how to avoid them. I compiled this list myself from years of stalking Reddit, wedding planning podcasts, Instagram, TikTok, and other online research, as well as learning directly from the 500+ weddings I’ve photographed. Don’t make these […]

San Francisco City Hall is a breathtaking architectural marvel that has become one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the Bay Area. Every year, thousands of couples choose to get married within its stunning marble halls, grand staircases, and ornate rotunda. But not all City Hall weddings are created equal! While civil ceremonies are […]

In this blog post and accompanying video, I hope to share with you everything you need to know about civil ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall. I’m a wedding photographer who’s photographed around 400 ceremonies, specifically within this building, so I’ve seen a thing or two about how it all works. If you prefer to […]

Here’s the thing about weddings: everyone’s got advice. Your mom insists you need a receiving line. Your best friend swears by their wedding planner. And don’t even get me started on what Pinterest thinks you should do. But after photographing hundreds of weddings, I’ve noticed something interesting. The most beautiful, memorable celebrations often ignore the […]

What’s our FAVORITE reception venue for a meal after your San Francisco City Hall ceremony? There’s nowhere better than the Wayfare Tavern! This cozy, old-world restaurant has long been a San Francisco staple, chosen by countless couples for their post-City Hall celebration meal. Think Barbary Coast-speakeasy-meets-British-pub. History rubs shoulders with modernism here, giving it a […]

I’m delighted to introduce to you my favorite hotels in San Francisco that are fit for your the night before (and after) your San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony! These primarily 4- and 5-star hotels are ideal in terms of their location, amenities offered and high standard of excellence. Whether you live in the Bay […]

We’re diving into 61 of the best San Francisco wedding venues here on the Zoe Larkin Photography blog. Oh Lord, there are just SO many amazing wedding venues! In a city known for being dynamic, fun and innovative, is it any wonder that the places to get married in San Francisco are so varied and […]

Hey friends! Phew, I’ve been blogging like crazy for a minute, and I thought it would be fun (and a good idea) to create one centralized resource page with all of my favorite FREE blog posts for couples who are planning their weddings. Organization, yay! I’ve been blogging about wedding planning and wedding photography for […]

Planning your San Francisco City Hall ceremony and need a guiding hand? In this article, I’m going to guide you through how to create the perfect SF City Hall timeline for your wedding. Because seamless, stress-free wedding days don’t just happen, they’re planned! There are numerous benefits to creating your timeline, no matter how casual […]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I also commend you on your excellent taste – you won’t regret choosing San Francisco City Hall as your wedding venue. This iconic building, with its exquisite Beaux-Arts architecture and remarkable history, serves as a breathtaking and photogenic backdrop for your special day. This article will introduce you give you […]

Wondering where to have your reception after your San Francisco City Hall wedding ceremony in 2026? In this article, I’ll guide you through my favorite restaurants in San Francisco that are perfect for hosting a wedding day meal of any size. The 37 awesome restaurants on my list all serve excellent food and will take […]

In this post I’m sharing the 36 best engagement photography locations in San Francisco. The places on this list are San Francisco spots that are amazing for wedding or engagement photos. What makes spots for couples photos any different from general cool photo spots? Well, for one thing, they each have a wide variety of […]

What are family formals on your wedding day? These are the posed photos in which everyone looks at the camera and smiles! Some other names are formal group portraits, posed groupings, or group photos or portraits. I tend to call them ‘formal groupings’, since the groupings that matter depend on your relationships and may not […]
Where do I even start with the cuteness of this bookstore wedding? Everything about this sweet and unique wedding is a wonderful story in and of itself, but for the sake of not writing a novel I’ll keep it brief. It all started when Lauren chanced upon Owl & Company Bookstore on Piedmont Ave, Oakland. […]

March 19, 2019

This was a really special Bay Area proposal that took place in the Lake Merritt Amphitheatre right in the heart of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area. It required a fair bit of planning on the part of Scott (the groom-to-be) along with myself the photographer and the amazing Nikolai from Mastermind Treasure Hunts. […]
February 26, 2019
This San Gregorio beach engagement shoot was a sweet and special one! I love the opportunity to travel a little further from the Bay Area and hitting some off-the-beaten-path beachy locations. It’s easy to end up shooting in the same locations close to home. Visiting San Gregorio was a real eye-opener. I got to spend […]

February 19, 2019

Hello and thank you for considering Zoe Larkin Photography as your wedding photographer for your Bay Area wedding! I love to get to know my couples and explain hopefully in person a little about what the process of working together involves. However, there is more info than you can possibly take in – and I […]
February 4, 2019
This romantic proposal story will melt your heart. When I photographed this Oakland engagement shoot, I had no idea of truly incredible story of how they got engaged. I had been working with Falisha and Jorge to arrange the session and they loved the results. Soon afterward, I thought about getting their engagement photos published […]

January 21, 2019

This was a very special love shoot in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park with this amazing couple, Latisha and Cena. The San Diego pair came all the way to San Francisco for a well-deserved vacation and for this shoot to celebrate their newlywed status. They’d recently tied that knot at a courthouse down in SoCal. […]
January 13, 2019
Kristine and Joseph opted for the stunning winery Kuleto Estate as the location for their winery engagement photoshoot. The stunning vineyard property is located on the eastern edge of the Napa Valley overlooking Lake Hennessey and the town of Rutherford, and holds a dear place in the couple’s hearts! Hopefully this gives you plenty of […]

January 6, 2019

Sandhya and Sean decided to get married the simple way – in the redwood forest of the East Bay, California! These two thoroughly down-to-earth humans chose to celebrate their recent City Hall ceremony with an outdoor reception. The spot they chose for their Roberts Redwood Regional Park wedding was the Huckleberry site. Outdoor redwood reception ideas […]
January 5, 2019
This sweet, family-centered City Hall wedding ceremony! So much joy and kid-friendly fun! Darcie and Robert decided to celebrate their tenth anniversary by getting married at City Hall, San Francisco with their cute kids in tow! This was just a few months after their move up from San Diego where they’d previously lived for 5 […]

December 17, 2018

This is it – the big day is finally here and you’re getting married at San Francisco City Hall. I’ve put together a little list of some lifesaving last-minute tips that can mean the difference between stressed and unsure vs. relaxed and confident 😎 My aim is to ensure that your San Francisco City Hall […]
December 6, 2018
Jessica and Jericho (or as they are now and forever known, #jessicho), chose the serenity of Muir Woods and Muir Beach for their engagement shoot. The couple have been together for 7 years and counting! Jericho popped the question, on top of a cliff at Pacifica at sunrise, no less, last December. The time just […]

November 27, 2018

Candid city hall photos are my absolute favorite. I couldn’t have been happier to capture Rosie and Alex’s very emotional ceremony at SF City Hall. The story 6 years to the day after Rosie & Alex met, they got married at San Francisco City Hall. They said hi to each other while attending a college […]
September 18, 2018
This redwood forest engagement was so special! It was a real blast getting to know this couple, Rosa Isela and Josh. The stunning redwood forest of the East Bay was the setting for this engagement shoot and it did not disappoint. The Redwood Regional Reserve in Oakland was the canvas for the art of love. […]

September 12, 2018

This SF City Hall Christmas wedding was an absolute joy! There is such great ambiance in the building at this time of year. So many couples enjoying the festive mood and the beautiful Tree of Hope. Afterward, we took a limo and traveled for a scenic drive around a few SF spots that worked great […]
June 26, 2018
These two beautiful people flew up especially from Orange County, CA to celebrate their San Francisco City Hall destination wedding. They brought with them a small handful of close family including Steph’s father, Minh’s mother, plus siblings and cousins. Stephanie and Minh had been together for a year and a half before tying the knot. […]

May 15, 2018

How does this whole engagement photography thing work? Knowing how to prepare for your engagement session is vital in getting the most out of your engagement photography experience. There are going to be so many questions you have as this is no doubt your first time being photographed professionally as a couple. You may now […]
April 11, 2018
This downtown Oakland engagement photoshoot was one of my absolute faves. I couldn’t have been luckier to work with Falisha & Jorge. Their unique story has now, as I edit this content now in late 2019, been heard by hundreds of people. It has been featured on Catalyst Wed Co and reposted dozens of times […]

February 9, 2018

This OMCA wedding gives me all the feels! It was a real honor to work with such a cool couple! They both have such wicked style and wanted their wedding to be anything but cookie-cutter. The big day felt like a true representation of who they are, and honored their journey. Outdoor ceremony at OMCA […]
February 2, 2018
I am so lucky to live in San Francisco, a part of the world that loves to do good and give back. Why would your wedding be anything but an opportunity to serve others, and at the very least to minimize waste? Be part of the solution, not the problem, with these ethical wedding ideas. […]

November 9, 2017

Looking for a unique East Bay location for your wedding or engagement shoot? If you’re an Oakland local, there is a chance you may not have heard of this hidden gem! Sometimes off the beaten path is just fine. I find myself in weird and wonderful places often enough. One of these places is Port […]
October 10, 2017
I'm Zoe and I lead a team of Bay Area wedding photographers. I still personally help you plan your wedding timeline so you can relax and savor your wedding day.
We blend an unobtrusive approach to capturing images with a directive way of capturing the posed shots of you and your guests.
With over 500 weddings personally photographed by Zoe, hundreds of reviews on Yelp and Google, and over
MOMENT CATCHERS, LIGHT CHASERS, photojournalists
As a seasoned professional and true artist, I transform wedding moments into timeless memories, captured photojournalistically.
In short, our images make memories last forever.
Looking for a wedding photographer that will honor your unique, beautiful story?
470,000 words of inspiration and and advice on the blog, we're the leading wedding photographers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Since 2016, I've poured my heart into Bay Area weddings, specializing in San Francisco City Hall ceremonies and shooting all love. Our goal is to create personal images with an intimate feel - images that evoke emotion and transport you back to the moment.
about us