Photographing A NYC City Hall Elopement
Last Updated on August 1, 2024 by
What can you expect when photographing an NYC City Hall elopement? The experience can vary greatly depending on your clients. Sometimes it’s a quick affair, like the last City Hall elopement I shot, which only involved capturing the ceremony. Other times, it can be a full day of photography, as it was with these particular clients. After their ceremony, we continued with wedding portraits at Brooklyn Bridge Park and then moved on to their reception dinner in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
I don’t consider myself a wedding photographer per se, and wedding photography is a niche of its own. It’s not something I necessarily want to be known for, but I do take on a handful of weddings each year, along with many other events like photographing proposals. My wedding and elopement clients usually come through word-of-mouth referrals, and it’s always an honor to be chosen to capture the memories of a couple’s special day. While photographing weddings can be stressful, I enjoy elopements because they’re typically more relaxed
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Camera Gear
I’ve previously written about my camera gear, but here are the essentials I bring for elopements. I aim to keep things light due to the amount of traveling involved. A main camera body and lens are must-haves, along with a second camera as backup. Some wedding photographers use two cameras with different lenses and have a third as backup, but since wedding photography isn’t my primary focus, I find that excessive.
Wearing a camera harness is incredibly helpful, allowing you to drop the camera to your side instead of holding it constantly. During long days like this, you quickly appreciate the importance of good ergonomics. I got my harness from Etsy and only use it for weddings and helicopter rides.
Lighting gear is also crucial to keep in your bag. I always carry a hotshoe flash and an Aputure RGB Panel Light, as events often take place in dark or indoor settings. I also use a MagMod Flash Diffuser to enhance my strobe lighting.
City Hall Ceremony
The day began in the afternoon at the Manhattan City Clerk’s office, where we queued for our turn. Despite being called ‘City Hall,’ this isn’t where the marriage bureau is located. The actual New York City Hall is for government duties, while the City Clerk’s Office is a 10-minute walk away, near the New York County Supreme Court.
It’s worth noting that couples aren’t limited to the Manhattan office; other boroughs offer the service too. However, most choose Manhattan for its iconic status. Fridays are particularly busy, with excited couples lining the waiting area for their ceremonies. As the couple’s photographer, you can’t pass security until your clients with the reservation arrive. At the time of writing, couples are only allowed to bring up to 4 guests, including the photographer. After passing through TSA-like security, the couple receives their queue ticket, and then it’s a waiting game.
The waiting areas feature distinctly New York City Hall’s ugly green chairs. Once in the ceremony room, the official proceedings are remarkably brief—about 2 minutes! While I bring both a strobe and panel light, I haven’t used them inside the room. I’m unsure if it’s allowed, but I also haven’t felt the need. As a Sony user, I benefit from excellent low-light capabilities. There’s usually enough light to only require bumping the ISO to about 1000.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Portraits
After the rush of the ceremony, my newly wedded couple and I headed to Brooklyn Bridge Park for portraits. We didn’t have a chance to do engagement photos as they’re not based in New York City, but many couples skip this step anyway. The DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge area provide a beautiful city backdrop and are conveniently close to City Hall, making them ideal for wedding portraits. While I prefer to shoot in documentary mode for most of the day to capture candid moments, there are situations where I step in to provide direction. After all, we all know how awkward it can feel in front of the camera!
For these portraits, we shot at Pier 1 and Jane’s Carousel. It was mid-day in July, hot and humid. I was drenched, and I could only imagine how the groom felt in his three-piece suit. Despite the challenging conditions, we needed to get their pictures, and they were both troopers. At Jane’s Carousel, I used a CPL (polarizer) filter to reduce glare from the glass. Due to the bright midday sun, I also added a VND filter to incorporate the carousel’s motion into the shots.
Sunset Park Reception
After finishing the portraits, we moved to Sunset Park for the final event of the night: the dinner reception where the majority of their guests had gathered. This part is purely event photography, and since it’s indoors, using a flash with a MagMod modifier really enhances the quality of the photos.
Despite the hectic nature of the day, my clients are always thoughtful enough to include me in the meal. This consideration is much appreciated after a long day of shooting.
And that’s the essence of a full day photographing a City Hall elopement – from the brief ceremony to portraits and finally the celebratory dinner.
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