Zoe Larkin Photography

04/05/2026

Non-traditional wedding ideas that may actually work

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 day. That doesn’t necessarily mean throwing everything out....

Non-traditional wedding ideas that actually work: practical ways to plan a more relaxed, personal wedding without stress or gimmicks

03/25/2026

Terrace Room Wedding Guide

Ah, The Terrace Room in Oakland - one of our favorite wedding venues in the East Bay. We’ve had the pleasure of photographing there multiple times and enjoy a great working relationship with the event staff, who helped us create this blog post. In this guide, you’ll find information you won’t find anywhere else. I’ll cover it all, from the type of wedding that it suits, through to photography considerations to bear in mind, sample timelines, food and drink, handling logistics, and addressing every frequently asked question....

Thinking about a Terrace Room wedding in Oakland? Our detailed guide covers the venue layout, pricing, food, logistics, and real planning insights

02/15/2026

Our minimum photography coverage for SF City Hall ceremonies – and why

At Zoe Larkin Photography, we begin all San Francisco City Hall coverage at a two-hour minimum. No exceptions. This is not arbitrary. It reflects how City Hall actually functions on a wedding day. The two-hour minimum is the result of years of refining what actually works at City Hall. It reflects the structure we know protects the experience, not an arbitrary time block....

At Zoe Larkin Photography, we begin all San Francisco City Hall coverage at a two-hour minimum. No exceptions. This is not arbitrary. It reflects how City Hall actually functions on a wedding day. The two-hour minimum is the result of years of refining what actually works at City Hall. It reflects t...

01/08/2026

Why sending photo inspiration to your wedding photographer isn’t necessary

Couples often ask whether they should send photo inspiration (Instagram posts, Pinterest pins, mood boards etc) to their wedding photographer ahead of the day. Sometimes the question comes framed as etiquette: is it rude? Sometimes it’s practical: is it expected? Other times it’s driven by anxiety, a desire to feel prepared, or a fear of disappointment. It’s a reasonable question. Weddings are expensive, emotional, and often the first time people have ever hired a professional photographer for something this personal....

Wedding photographer explains why sending inspiration photos isn’t helpful. Trust, planning, and experience lead to better results

12/30/2025

If you want candid photos, be candid

This is an idea I’ve seen floating around social media more and more lately. Namely, ‘if you want candid photos, be candid’. I’ve been breaking down what this means to me and how I can distill it into something that actually helps couples, without it sounding snarky or defensive. Candid wedding photography has become one of the most requested styles among couples, especially those planning intimate celebrations or San Francisco City Hall weddings....

A wedding photographer explains why candid photos come from being present, relaxed, and unselfconscious on your wedding day - be candid!

12/24/2025

If you feel awkward in front of the camera, you need more direction, not less

Nearly every couple who reaches out to me says the exact same thing: “We’re awkward in front of the camera.” It doesn’t matter how beautiful, confident, successful, outgoing, or photogenic they are in daily life — almost everyone believes this about themselves. Out of hundreds of couples, I can count on one hand the people who were naturally at ease in front of a camera (and the one that stands out were both professional actors)....

Awkward in front of the camera? Wedding photos improve with more direction, not less. Here’s how photographers guide couples naturally

12/05/2025

Why wedding timelines actually run late – and the simple fix brides miss

Every wedding day has one moment where everything either holds together beautifully… or starts slipping away without anyone noticing. And despite what people assume, it’s never the ceremony. It’s not even traffic, per se. It’s not the family member who runs late, or the guest who somehow can’t figure out where the venue is. And no, it also isn’t because you didn’t do a first look…!...

A wedding photographer explains the biggest and most easily avoided wedding timeline mistake that derails timelines and how to prevent it

10/07/2025

San Francisco City Hall is one of the most breathtaking wedding venues in the Bay Area — and in the entire country. For most couples, it’s known for quick weekday civil ceremonies or private 1-hour and 2-hour ceremonies. But there’s another option few people know about: a full evening buyout of the building. What is an evening wedding at San Francisco City Hall?...

09/17/2025

At this point, it’s become common knowledge that 8am is ‘the time’ to enter San Francisco City Hall. 8am is when the doors open, and being so early in the morning, naturally, there are fewer people who want to go through the hassle of getting ready at the crack of dawn. Truly, it IS undoubtedly a lot more effort preparing for photos at 8am than any other time of day....

Everything you need to know about starting wedding photography at 8am at SF City Hall - essential info about HMU, traffic, timing & more!

09/11/2025

Old Mill Park is one of those Bay Area ceremony venues that keeps coming up time and time again when searching for beautiful but inexpensive locations to tie the knot! Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of shooting a few ceremonies at Old Mill Park, and would be honored to shoot more! In this blog post, I’d love to share with you some essential information as well as photo inspiration to help you figure out if this venue would work for your wedding....

Discover Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, a Bay Area redwood wedding venue. Learn how to book this outdoor space for your ceremony or elopement

09/08/2025

This is one of the most common questions I get from couples planning their City Hall wedding: can you book me before your ceremony slot is officially reserved with City Hall? With slots opening just 90 days out for civil ceremonies, the prospect of booking everything wedding-related in just 3 months is daunting for some. The short answer is yes — but with some important caveats....

Should you book your wedding photographer before securing your ceremony time at San Francisco City Hall? Risks, what-ifs and best practices!