gothic regency meets ethereal fairytale romance


in the heart of san francisco


a story of love unfolds in one of California's most iconic venues: San Francisco City Hall.


Karina and Gabriel dreamt of eloping at City Hall, mesmerized by it's classical & romantic architecture, the perfect setting for their photographic visions. Being photographers themselves, they had vivid ideas for what they wanted their elopement to look like; gothic regency romance meets ethereal fantasy, a moody film mixed with high fashion editorial.


Guests arrived clad in black, a stunning contrast to white marble, greeted with the sound of cello & violin. Gabriel sported a deep green tux, Karina veiled in antique-inspired lace & pearls. They exchanged personalized vows in journals, which they shared with me that they will write in to one another every year that passes.


With their closest families as witness and plenty of tears shed, they became wife & husband--and I am endlessly grateful they chose me to document it all.

 

A handwritten love note with a wedding ring placed on the paper.
A diamond engagement ring and wedding band rest on a dark textured surface.
An elegant hallway with ornate architecture, tall windows, and rows of chairs.
Ornate classical ceiling with detailed carved moldings and decorative patterns.
Musicians perform in an elegant hall with arched ceilings and classical architecture.
A performance in a grand hall with ornate white vases and classical architecture.
A formal gathering near a decorative white urn in an elegant hall.
Two people embrace in formal attire against an elegant architectural backdrop.
A person in a dark suit stands emotionally near an ornate white pillar.
Wedding party walking through an elegant hallway with arched ceilings and hanging pendant lights.
Bridal party members walking down a bright white corridor with classical architectural details.
A bride in a flowing veil walks through an ornate hallway with classical architectural elements.
Wedding party members walking through a grand corridor with decorative moldings and arches.
Intimate wedding moment captured in a classical hallway with arched windows and ornate details.
Wedding party members gathering in an elegant hallway with architectural details.
Wedding party members holding floral bouquets in an elegant hallway setting.
Wedding ceremony preparations in a dimly lit classical hallway with pendant lighting.
Wedding party members gathered in an ornate hallway with classical architectural features.
Wedding ceremony setup in a grand hallway with classical architecture and chiavari chairs.
A wedding ceremony in a grand ornate hall with white chairs and architectural details.
Hands holding a book or ceremony program against a light background.
An elegant wedding ceremony setup in a domed room with classical architecture.
Guests seated in white Chiavari chairs during a formal ceremony.
A wedding ceremony moment captured in black and white photography.
A panoramic view of an elegant wedding ceremony in a historic domed venue.
Wedding guests seated in an ornate hall with classical statues and architectural details.

I am a lover of all things moody, so you can imagine my excitement when these two reached out a few months prior to their special day. I'm deeply inspired by mythology, fantasy stories & art throughout the ages, so City Hall has always called to me. I love using the sculptures as a mirror of my couples and playing with the shadows of the windows to create dramatic scenes. There is a true elegance to the venue, from the elevators to the grand staircase, no bad corner (aside from maybe the welcome desk). Though a busy destination, it is well worth the wait and the extra time spent in post deleting all the strangers from the image.

Grand staircase and interior architecture of a historic building with elegant lighting.
Ornate architectural details of a classical building interior with curved staircase.

As a photographer, it is incredibly important to me that my work reflects the love of my couples; I want to tell your stories, embody your energies. I want to create galleries you can look back on and remember the feeling of that moment, of that stage of life, of that particular day. We aren't just recreating Pinterest boards or something you saw on Instagram--we are immortalizing moments & feelings; we are transforming you into living, breathing art. I want to capture the tears that fall at seeing the person you love most walk down the aisle, or the stolen glances full of heart when they're distracted. I want each and every couple to look at their gallery and see themselves, authentically.

Dramatic view of an ornate staircase with decorative railings in a historic building.
A romantic wedding moment with a couple sharing a kiss in an elegant hallway with natural window light.
An intimate black and white portrait of newlyweds embracing in formal wedding attire.
A moody silhouette of a bride and groom standing by a decorative window.
A dramatic black and white photo of newlyweds standing by a geometric window.
A tender moment between newlyweds sharing an embrace by a patterned window.
An intimate black and white wedding portrait showing tender affection between newlyweds.
A dramatic close-up portrait of a bride wearing pearls in moody lighting.
A silhouetted profile of newlyweds in an intimate black and white portrait.
A shadowy intimate portrait of newlyweds sharing a tender moment.
A bride and groom walking through an elegant hallway with ornate ceilings and vintage lighting.
A romantic black and white sequence showing a couple in wedding attire dancing in an elegant hallway.
Silhouettes of a bride and groom sharing an intimate moment against a geometric window pattern.
A series of silhouetted wedding photos showing tender moments between newlyweds.
Artistic black and white wedding photos captured against ornate windows in sequence.
Close-up details of a wedding dress and couple's intimate poses in black and white.
Dramatic silhouettes of newlyweds against a bright window in a stone corridor.
Elegant black and white detail shots of a bride's wedding dress and pearls.
Atmospheric wedding photos showing the couple in dramatic lighting and shadows.
Black and white sequence of a wedding couple in a grand architectural space.
Wedding couple poses in an elegant arched hallway with dramatic natural lighting.
A bride in a flowing white dress and veil stands in an ornate hallway as light streams through tall windows.
A tender moment between newlyweds in formal attire against a wood-paneled wall.
An intimate wedding portrait showing a couple sharing a loving moment in a dimly lit setting.
A romantic black and white photo of newlyweds sharing an intimate moment.
A moody wedding portrait of a couple framed within an elegant doorway.
A dramatic silhouette of newlyweds against a geometric window in a historic building.
Wedding shoes and formal attire captured in dramatic lighting on a marble floor.
A wedding couple poses elegantly at the entrance of City Hall.
A groom in a black tuxedo adjusts his tie in an ornate marble hallway.
A silhouette stands between classical statues in a grand domed hall.
A groom in a classic black tuxedo and bow tie poses in an elegant architectural setting.
A formal portrait session in a grand marble hallway with ornate architectural details.
Moody black and white portrait series featuring formal attire against stone walls.
Dramatic architectural wedding photography in a historic building with stone columns.
Grand marble staircase in an ornate historic building with decorative railings and architectural details.
Bride in flowing white gown poses in dramatic window light creating ethereal shadows.
Elegant bridal portraits on historic stone steps with ornate architectural details.
Artistic black and white bridal photography with dramatic lighting and shadows.
Ethereal bridal portraits against large windows in a historic building interior.
Dark and moody wedding ceremony scene with ornate architectural details and decorative urns.

A thank you to the vendors,


Coordinator: Beth Covey-Snedegar  of Sassy Diva Designs.

Officiant: Maria Cid of Vows & Forever.

Musicians: Amore Strings

Venue: San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, California

Photographer: Kylie Nizza Kai Shoots Photography (duh)


A side note, I am so grateful to Beth & her assistant, Pinkie, who supported not just the couple but myself as we navigated the busy venue & helped pose so I could achieve gorgeous wide shots