
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 […]
The Stable Café in San Francisco’s Mission District is one of those venues that both couples and photographers love. It never goes out of style, has a relaxed, urban-chic-meets-manicured-garden aesthetic and an affordable price tag given the central location. It has a special place in the hearts of many! I’m going to introduce to you one […]

January 9, 2023

Thinking of getting married at Vine Hill House? You’ve made a fabulous choice – you can stop searching for a Sonoma wedding venue! When I was there for Rachelle & Simon’s wedding in late fall 2022, absolutely everyone from the vendor team (plus many guests) commented on how impressive this venue is. Everywhere you look, […]
January 4, 2023
Presidio Yacht Club at Travis Marina is SUCH a stunning, unique wedding venue under the Golden Gate Bridge nestled in Fort Baker, Sausalito CA. It has even been described as a hidden gem (though not for long as demand is apparently high!) It’s an institution for the people so prices are kept affordable, and the […]

January 1, 2023

Blanco Urban Venue is an absolutely stunning modern wedding venue located centrally in downtown San Jose, right off San Pedro Square. Despite being pretty new (it opened in late 2020), it is popping! It’s already become a firm favorite San Jose wedding venue. It hosts many other events too. Blanco Urban Venue combines the historic […]
December 24, 2022
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 […]

December 7, 2022

Getting married at San Francisco City Hall doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice personality or skip the special touches that make a wedding memorable. Whether you’re having an intimate civil ceremony or a grand private event, there are countless ways to transform your City Hall wedding from a simple ceremony into an unforgettable celebration. As […]
April 18, 2022
Get the best wedding photos on your big day! Posing you is your photographer’s job, but there are also many things you can do that will help us get the best possible photos. Also, understanding a little about the principles behind what you’ll be asked to do for your wedding photography poses, can help demystify […]

March 22, 2022

You probably already know that the 4th Floor Galleries are available for private rental for wedding ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall. You are perhaps thinking of booking one of the 4th Floor balconies and want to get a little bit of info before doing do. First of all, welcome! I’m Zoe, one of the most […]
February 15, 2022
If you’re looking for up-to-date information regarding wedding ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall, you’re in the right place! I’m a wedding photographer that shoots a large number of weddings in this iconic public building. I have a lot of updates, news and info to share with you, based on my knowledge and experience working […]

January 21, 2022

The term ‘sneak peek’ gets thrown around a lot by wedding photographers, but few take the time to explain what it means and why you’d want one! In this guide, I’m going to share what a sneak peek actually is and try to break down some of the mystery. What is a sneak peek? How […]
January 19, 2022
Did you know you can get married at Pellegrini-Olivet Lane winery in Santa Rosa, CA? You may know it as a stunning yet affordable place to spend some time away from the busier parts of the Bay Area on a slow Saturday. It’s a fabulous wedding venue in the heart of Sonoma County in the […]

December 17, 2021

What do you do when you want two different events covered on your wedding day? Basically, when there’s a big gap in proceedings – morning ceremony and evening reception, for example? Every now and then, I get this question: We’re having an early wedding ceremony, then a gap in our day before our reception / […]
December 2, 2021
I’m Zoe and I’m a San Francisco elopement photographer! It’s truly a pleasure to meet you, I’m so glad you found me! By the end of this informative article, we will make sure we’re on the same page here and you’ll know whether I’m a photographer you want to reach out to for your upcoming […]

November 21, 2021

Let me level with you guys – as a wedding photographer I have a few pet peeves. One of them is this: You’re standing at the altar or the arch – the most sacred spot, gathered together with your nearest and dearest community. You’re a giddy mess of joy, nerves, excitement, a little sweat, happiness, […]
November 16, 2021
San Francisco is a great city in which to get married, whether you’re doing a simple City Hall ceremony, eloping on the beach or something more elaborate at one of San Francisco’s gorgeous wedding venues. San Francisco doesn’t have many go-to indoor or covered spots for rainy days, which can make things tricky for weddings. […]

November 15, 2021

And now for something completely different! Who’s heard of a Holga camera? This is my Holga, a medium format 120 film camera from Hong Kong. The Holga is known as a toy camera. It has an incredibly low-cost construction with a plastic meniscus lens (two spherical curved surfaces, convex on one side and concave on […]
September 5, 2021
Hey, awesome Bay Area togs! Let me introduce myself if we haven’t already met. I’m Zoe and you’ve landed on my little business’ website! I’m looking for associate wedding photographers based in the San Francisco Bay Area. An associate photographer is a professional photographer that shoots weddings instead of the business owner. Not to be […]

June 25, 2021

The wedding day goes by in such a blur – so follow these 5 practical tips to allow you to take it all in! Practice the art of ‘letting go’ and you’ll be rewarded with SO much that goes beyond that you may expect. Letting go – of everything – basically allows you to enjoy […]
May 24, 2021
Are you looking for a photographer for your San Francisco Bay Area micro wedding? You’re in the right place! My name is Zoe Larkin, and I’ve been specializing in micro weddings and intimate weddings since 2016. In this article, I want to answer some questions you may have about the micro wedding trend,. I’ll share […]

May 6, 2021

Why should you consider a first look? There’s something powerful about seeing the person you’re about to marry for the first time on your wedding day. Whether that moment happens at the altar or during a first look, it’s emotional every single time. A first look is a private, pre-ceremony moment where you see each […]
April 19, 2021
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.
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