bay area documentary wedding photographer – Page 2

couple kissing on tank hill in San Francisco for an engagement session

24 Hour Engagement Session San Francisco

So, you are probably curious… What on earth is a 24 hour engagement session? and we will get there… I promise. Stick around for a bit, spend some time with the images, I think you will start to understand and understand again…

It was after noon on a Tuesday in the early spring of 2024, I found myself in a meeting with a couple (Olivia & Stu) whose wedding I was scheduled to photograph in the Fall. The purpose of our call was to explore options for our scheduled engagement session. I was probably drinking a lemon seltzer. I do that on most occasions.

I felt a funny feeling, and then I said…”So, we have two options: Option A is a normal engagement session. We meet somewhere meaningful, or beautiful, or both about 90 minutes before sunset, and we make photographs in 1 or 2 locations. Option B is the 24 hour engagement session.”

Now, to be honest, I wasn’t completely clear on what a “24 hour engagement session” was at the time, but I knew it sounded fun to me.

Olivia & Stu showed immediate and universal excitement about the idea, even though they weren’t exactly sure what it was either. I think I said, “Are you sure?” multiple times.

We began by saying yes with wild eyes, and then, through a series of discussions, we formulated a plan.

In my head it always started and ended with the wisps of steam from a coffee cup. There was always a diner, there was always a convertible, there was always ice cream, there was always the beach, but there was so much more to fill in. So many more beautiful places to explore in the San Francisco Bay Area…

After the gallery below there is a list of locations and a bit more on my inspiration.

This project, in the end, is about time, about how it speeds up and slows down, about habituation, and dishabituation, the glorious surprise, days that never end, days that begin and begin again. And what it is to be young and head over heels in love in the Bay Area, one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the world.

Enjoy! We certainly enjoyed the process of making this project.

Loop Date Itinerary:

Oceanview Diner
Shorebird Park
Berkeley Marina
Indian Rock
Live Oak Park
UC Berkeley Campus
Elmwood
Ferry Building
Palace of Fine Arts
Lollyland Mini golf
Crissy Field
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Legion of Honor
Seacliff
Haight Ashbury
Amoeba Records
Escape from New York
Seward Street Slides
Tank Hill
Toy Boat Ice Cream
Green Apple Books
Nopa
City View Metreon
SOMA
North Beach
Vesuvio
Ina Coolbrith
Bob’s Donuts
The Castro
Orphan Andy’s
Grandview
The Tiled Steps
China Beach
Oceanview Diner

Thank you for inspiration to Christian Marclay for his video piece, ” The clock” and to Danny Rubin & Harold Ramis for the movie, “Groundhog Day.” Thank you to Olivia & Stu for all your planning, your stalwart affability, and for staying strong all 24 hours.

ceremony at university club of sf wedding

How to Get Married at the University Club of San Francisco

How to Plan and Capture a Stunning University Club of San Francisco Wedding: An Extended Guide

Planning a wedding at the University Club of San Francisco is an opportunity to create an event that’s as rich in history and culture as it is in beauty. This enhanced guide aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the University Club of San Francisco as a wedding venue, highlighting not just its beauty but also the practical steps to ensure your wedding day is as picturesque and memorable as possible.

Step 1: Dive into the Venue’s Rich History

The University Club’s Heritage: Originally a meeting place for alumni from prestigious universities, the University Club has become a celebrated spot for social and intellectual gatherings. The building’s Italianate architecture, designed by Walter Bliss & William Faville and completed in 1909, echoes the grandeur of the Gilded Age. Its location on Nob Hill offers sweeping views, making it a prized landmark in San Francisco.

Step 2: Plan Your Wedding Day

Starting the Day: Choose between getting ready at the Club itself or at nearby luxury hotels like the Fairmont, Stanford, or Mark Hopkins. Consider the ambiance and photo opportunities each location offers to start your day perfectly.

Step 3: Capture the First Look and Pre-Ceremony Moments

Iconic Photo Opportunities: Utilize the University Club’s staircase and balcony for breathtaking first look photos. Nearby hotels like the Mark Hopkins provide unique backdrops, such as the Top of the Mark’s panoramic views or the Fairmont’s pristine gardens.

Cityscape Portraits: Embrace the urban charm of San Francisco for your portraits. Capture moments on the street trolley, with the Bay Bridge or the Trans America building in the background, or near the majestic Grace Cathedral. Some of my favorite moments are simply the in-between moments when we are moving from spot A to B. Something about hearing a chorus of “Congratulations!” from strangers as you move throughout the city is really an exciting and energizing way to kick off the wedding day.

Step 4: The Library Session

A Literary Backdrop: The University Club’s library, with its rare books collection, offers a unique and intellectual setting for photography. The shelves of historic volumes and the quiet ambiance of the library add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your wedding photos.

Step 5: The Ceremony

A Fourth Floor Affair: The fourth-floor space, with its elegant chandeliers and floral decorations, provides a romantic setting for your vows.

Step 6: Enjoying the Cocktail Hour and Reception

Exploring the Club: Transition to the cocktail hour on the fourth floor’s balcony, followed by dinner on the third floor. Cocktail hour can flow into the pool room as well, where I’ve seen the pool table transformed into a dining table, complete with a champagne tower. These locations offer an intimate speakeasy vibe and stunning city views, perfect for memorable photos.

The Vibe: Picture high ceilings, big windows, walls hung salon style with taxidermy, old prints of San Francisco, and Audubon imagery. The interior is fairly dark with dark leather and dark green stained glass windows representing different universities, but the big picture windows bring the city life and light in both during the day and night.

Step 7: Mastering the Venue for Photography

Photography Challenges: Be prepared to work with the mixed lighting of the Club. Understanding how to use different lighting techniques is key to capturing the mood and ambiance of the venue. The interior light fixtures are often on during weddings and provide a warm ambience to the space.

Step 8: Evening Celebrations

Dinner and Dancing: The spacious layout of the University Club facilitates smooth transitions between different parts of the event, from dinner to dancing, allowing for a seamless photographic narrative. Throughout the night we capture numerous spaces as they come alive with different wedding-goers moving through them.

Step 9: Coordinating Your Day

The Role of the Coordinator: Rely on the expertise of Yvonne, the in-house coordinator, to streamline your wedding day flow, ensuring a stress-free experience.

Final Recommendations

Why Choose the University Club: With its blend of historical charm, architectural beauty, and modern urban energy, the University Club of San Francisco stands out as an ideal wedding venue. The variety of backdrops, from the rare books in the library to the panoramic city views, ensures a wedding day filled with unique and stunning photographs.

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Inner Richmond and China Beach Engagement Photos

Christine and Craig met and fell in love while they were living on opposite ends of country. But after getting together, moves ensued and they nurtured a life together in San Francisco.

Their engagement session started in their Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco. We stopped for a stiff drink at their favorite bar and then visited their favorite bookstore – Green Apple Books. We wandered the aisles and I captured candid images of them existing in their regular spots and making each other smile and laugh like they regularly do.

We eventually made it out to China Beach where we took advantage of golden hour. Christine’s glowing red dress contrasting beautifully with the sand and rock. Craig with a sly outfit change into something more casual for beach time.

The images captured pieces of their connection and the ease of their relationship.

Check out their beautiful Carneros Resort wedding here.

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Carneros Resort and Spa Wedding

On our initial conversation, I immediately fell for Christine and Craig’s love story. They were friends from college that reconnected during COVID when a group of friends escaped to a big house in Rhode Island to ride out the lockdown. Here they fell in love.

Their wedding at Carneros was a true testament to their relationship and style. Not all couples that self-describe as “laid back but stylish” are truly both, but to their credit, Christine and Craig embody those traits fully and every detail made that evident throughout their wedding day.

During their engagement session in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco, we visited their favorite bar and bookstore before wandering out to China beach. The images captured pieces of their connection and the ease of their relationship. Click here for more.

Fast forward to their wedding day, we find ourselves in the heart of Napa Valley. It was my second time at Carneros Resort. The first time I visited, the ceremony unfolded at the arbor, and the reception took place in a banquet hall. For Christine and Craig, everything was set at the top of the hill, offering breathtaking views of sprawling vineyards amongst rolling hills washed in tender golden light.

The florals that made up Christine & Craig’s wedding altar exhibited a whimsical, almost creature-like quality. The vibrant arrangements added a touch of playfulness to the natural surroundings. Green Petal Designs knew exactly what they were doing!

Upon arrival, wedding guests were greeted with a refreshing drink, setting the tone for the festivities.

Parasols were provided for sun protection during the ceremony, adding not only practicality but also a visual element to frame the wedding altar.

Dinner was hosted in a courtyard with an outdoor fireplace, seated between a pair of buildings with the glow of bistro lights illuminating the scene from above. This lent a cozy feeling to the affair, dare I say hygge.

Christine & Craig wrote short notes to each of their guests as place cards, and their tables were named after meaningful places from their lives, complete with illustrations and photographs from each locale.

When dinner had drawn to a close, Christine & Craig slipped away for an outfit change. Christine’s day-to-night flipped from modern white wedding gown, to red sequined cocktail dress, Craig’s from white tuxedo jacket, to navy blue velour tux adding an exciting dimension to the celebration.

They rejoined the party just in time for a Chinese Lion Dance, complete with a jungle gym apparatus for the dancers to climb and jump around. By the end of the performance Craig and Christine were out there with the lions who were glowing red and blue.

Nieces and nephews added verve and joie de vivre throughout the evening, thoroughly enjoying the festivities.

DJ Justin skillfully curated the soundtrack, ensuring the dance floor was pulsing from start to finish.

As it grew late, the atmosphere remained enchanting. The mini ice cream cone late-night snack delighted guests, especially me.

Planning & Design: Something Blue Productions

Photography: Hazel Photo Weddings

Videography: @strehlowphotoandfilm.co

Venue: Carneros Resort and Spa

Floral: Green Petal Designs

DJ: @justintertainment

Lion Dancers: Lion Dance Me

Rentals: Encore Event Rentals

Beauty: Grace Lin Makeup

Signage: Olympic Place Prints

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Wayfare Tavern Wedding Reception

If you want to start at the beginning of Ruth and Tom’s wedding day you can read about their San Francisco City Hall Mayor’s Balcony wedding here.

Their Wayfare Tavern wedding reception followed a wedding ceremony at the Mayor’s Balcony at San Francisco City Hall, an Inner Sunset apartment mini-reception, Golden Gate park dog walk, and a MUNI ride.

Wayfare Tavern makes for an excellent intimate wedding reception venue – it has an industrial vintage feeling with dark wood paneling, exposed brick, and painted wood floors. Ruth and Tom’s guests dined in the Bartlett Room which is adjacent to the wine cellar. There’s an old-school, speakeasy club feel to the space that is balanced with the airy, glass-enclosed wine cellar and industrial retrofitting. Located in the Financial District it feels upscale and classy but urban and gritty at the same time.

Ruth and Tom utilized one of my all time favorite wedding traditions and included hand-written letters to each guest as their place settings. As a continuation of the handmade theme, origami paper cranes adorned the wedding cake – baked by Ruth herself!

What a wonderful day it was galavanting through San Francisco, and celebrating the marriage of two of the loveliest people you might hope to meet.

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Wedding Ceremony Venue: Mayor’s Balcony San Francisco City Hall

Wedding Reception Venue : Wayfare Tavern

Wedding attire: BHLDN

Hair and Makeup: Kristina Curtis @bykristinacurtis

Cake: by Bride!

Transportation : MUNI

Catering: Wayfare Tavern

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Triple S Ranch Wedding

I met Cate and Evan while shooting a wedding in the redwoods of Mendocino in 2019. They were engaged but had to postpone their original 2020 wedding date due to the pandemic. Finally, June 2022 rolled around and I was able to document their wedding at the stunning Triple S Ranch – and boy was it worth the wait.

Located in Calistoga, Triple S Ranch is a charming, shabby chic wonderland. This historic property has numerous structures with interesting architectural details and rustic ambiance – including a restored “Grand Victorian” farmhouse and 2,200-square foot barn. Accommodations include glamping tents and treehouses, making it easy for guests to stay on site for an extended period of celebration. The grounds included recreational space with pools, around which I was fortunate to capture lots of hanging out before the ceremony.

One of the most touching moments of the day was Cate and Evan’s first look. They decided to make this intimate moment even more special by including their closest friends. Their friends led them to each other back to back, until they touched, and then they turned around to see each other surrounded by their loved ones. It was a beautiful and exciting reveal and a unique experience to photograph.

The intimate wedding ceremony took place under a stunning 175-year-old walnut tree. Four friends made up a band for a musical performance during the ceremony. Cate looked radiant in her minimalist slip dress adorned with a delicate lace cape. Cocktail hour followed and I got to photograph the many eclectic and colorful guests striking poses. Among the looks were bolo ties and cowboy hats and head to toe pink fits that popped in front of the weathered “New York Store” facade. The reception was held in the huge barn with antique exposed beams and DJ Lucero started a serious dance party. The vibe was high energy and antics ensued. It was a testament to the couple’s love for fun and celebration.

It was a joy to capture the sincere emotions, friendship, and beauty of their special day. I will always look forward to returning to Triple S Ranch to capture more memories in these iconic settings. This celebration was made possible by the immaculate planning of Sachi and Maja.