Apr 2025

City Hall and Courthouse Wedding Photography Tips

18 min read

While city halls and courthouses might not be the first thing you think of when considering beautiful wedding venues, they can still be beautifully photographed. Just like any wedding destination, a little prep can go a long way in ensuring that you capture the best photos possible for your clients at their chosen site. In this article, we’ll share city hall and courthouse wedding photography tips and inspirational photos that prove you can capture extraordinary wedding imagery in what might otherwise be considered ordinary places.

All of the images in this article are provided by the photographers at Wedding Maps and used with their permission.

What Is a City Hall or Courthouse Wedding?

Photo by Gus Trujillo at the Miami Dade Courthouse in Miami, Florida, USA

As the name suggests, city hall and courthouse weddings take place in city hall and courthouse buildings. Simple enough. People often opt to get married at these venues because they’re typically easier to plan, more affordable, and to-the-point, especially in terms of the actual ceremony. The bride and groom might invite a guest or two to witness the ceremony before joining a larger group of family and friends for a celebratory meal. The specifics can vary widely depending on what the couple wants to do.

For photographers looking to get into wedding photography or expand their current services, city hall and courthouse wedding photography offers a great opportunity. While it’s a niche market, many couples hire photographers to capture their special day at these less conventional venues. At the end of the day, it can prove profitable for those who specialize and market their services accordingly.

That said, let’s jump into the following city hall and courthouse wedding photography tips.

Tip: Pick the Best Venue

If a client hasn’t already chosen a courthouse, make a suggestion that they research different options. Or, you can suggest a specific building if you’re already familiar with the different options. The reason for this is that not all courthouses or city hall buildings look the same.

Photo by Courtland Photography at San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, USA

Some buildings, like the city hall in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, or Santa Ana offer incredible architectural details that make for great epic environmental portraits. Others might work better for medium or close-up shots.

Build a Beautiful Business.

Again, we’re talking about ideal options. Actually booking particular venues will depend on your location and the availability and cost of the venue. For example, a wedding ceremony and marriage certificate at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana costs under $100. Getting married at the San Francisco City Hall, on the other hand, can run between $100-$30,000, depending on whether it’s a civil or private ceremony, on a weekday vs. the weekend, and so on.

Tip: Go When the Time Is Right

City hall and courthouse weddings typically happen indoors, but portrait sessions will most likely move outdoors. Whenever possible, suggest that your clients book a ceremony time closer to golden hour so that you can plan to wrap the ceremony and get outside with an hour or two of sunlight to spare. Early morning weddings can also work, but try to avoid shooting the portrait session midday, if possible.

Photo by Danni Lea Photography at the Nueces County Court House in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

In the event that you find yourself shooting outdoors at midday, look for shady areas or direct your couple into more action poses, such as walking, doing dips for kisses, and looking at one another rather than the camera.

Tip: Know the House Rules

Photo by Jessie and Dallin at the Utah State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

When working in city hall and courthouse wedding photography, it is imperative that you understand the rules of the city hall or courthouse building. You should be able to answer the following questions and more:

Are there gear limitations (specifically relating to lighting, tripods, etc.)?
Can you stay after the ceremony to capture photos of the couple and possibly friends and family in the ceremony site? If so, how long?
Which spots around the building are available for photography? Which areas are off limits?

You can usually find this information on the venue’s website. Another resource is to call the venue in advance. Finally, when it comes to knowing where you can shoot, search online for other photo sessions captured at that same venue to help give you an idea.

Tip: Scout the Location

Photo by Fits and Stops Photography at the San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, USA

Use this very simple advice for every on-location portrait session: Scout the location. This is one of those rules you should follow no matter the venue. Again, understand the rules and know which spots are available or off-limits, and then make the most of the spots you can use. Sometimes, a quick walkthrough of the venue is enough to pick out a few great backdrops. If you give yourself more time, however, you might find great spots that you could easily miss amidst the hustle and bustle of the “day of” activities. This might require that you visit the venue hours, days, or weeks before the ceremony. Whatever it takes, make sure to scout the location in advance.

Tip: Communicate and Plan Accordingly

Communicate with your clients in advance to know what to expect in terms of activities. This includes everything from exchanging rings and personal vows to a first kiss or anything else they might have planned. The fewer surprises, the more you can anticipate the moments that matter most.

Tip: Take the Show on the Road

Photo by Stefani Ciotti at the Tarrant County Courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Don’t limit the session to the courthouse. Definitely use the city hall or courthouse building in a selection of photos, but encourage the newlyweds to venture to other nearby scenic locations for couples portraits. Again, this goes back to scouting. Expand your scouting to look beyond the venue itself. If you’re not already familiar with the area, research surrounding locations for potential portrait sessions. Also, if your clients are willing to take the show on the road, look into any possible permit requirements at the new location so that your portrait session doesn’t unexpectedly get cut short.

Tip: Book Enough Time to Meet or Exceed Client Expectations

In general, courthouse weddings are smaller in size and they run shorter. Guest lists rarely exceed one or two people, and ceremonies typically stay under 15-20 minutes. That said, it’s important to book enough time to cover the wedding and a portrait session afterward. Offer two hours of service, minimum. Ideally, your clients will consider booking enough time to cover prep, the ceremony, formal portraits, and a reception or whatever gathering might take place after the wedding.

Photo by Lin & Jirsa Photography

Some clients might keep the wedding short and simple and then plan a more elaborate reception or celebration party on a different day. It’s worth preparing an option for your clients to hire you for the follow-up party as well. If they’re putting in the time and money to host a celebration, chances are they will want it documented.

Tip: Focus on Storytelling

Photo by Larsen Photo Co at the Byron White Courthouse in Denver, Colorado, USA

Storytelling is key in wedding photography, regardless of the venue. When documenting a city hall or courthouse wedding, cover the angles like you would for any other wedding. Set the scene, reveal the stars, and then capture their expressions and special moments. This is the same wide, medium, and tight sequence you find in most movies and television shows. It’s widely used because it’s effective.

Tip: Shooting Tips for City Hall and Courthouse Wedding Photography

Like any wedding, city hall and courthouse weddings provide plenty of opportunities for you to flex your photography skills. While city hall and courthouse weddings might not offer the scenic backdrops you’d expect to find at posh resorts or vineyards, they often provide unique scenery that can be put to good use if you know what to look for. Take the spots you picked when scouting the location and consider using the following creative and compositional tools to capture incredible wedding photos.

Framing

Photo by Taber Hespe at the Milwaukee City Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Symmetry

Photo by Gus Trujillo at the Miami Dade Courthouse in Miami, Florida, USA

Leading Lines

Photo by Bliss Photos at the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, MD, USA

Reflections

Photo by Bliss Photos at the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, MD, USA

Compression

Photo by Larsen Photo Co at the Byron White Courthouse in Denver, Colorado, USA

Unique Perspective

Photo by Sarah Goff Photography at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Golden, Colorado, USA

Lighting – Dramatic or Editorial

Photo by Luzye Photography at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, California, USA

Lighting – Bright and Airy

Photo by Danni Lea Photography at the Howard County Circuit Courthouse in Elliot City, Maryland, USA

Of course, whenever possible, try stacking compositional elements to create truly breathtaking imagery.

Photo by Courtland Photography at San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, USA

The image above features multiple compositional elements stacked into a single image, including framing, symmetry, reflection, contrast, patterns, and placing the subjects in the brightest part of the frame. This photo would make for a great large print, which brings us to our final tip.

Tip: Offer Photo Albums and Prints

Lastly, don’t forget to offer your clients photo albums and prints. This holds true no matter the size and scope of the wedding that you’re photographing. Early in the process, even as soon as you first speak with your clients, you should ask them about what they intend to do with the photos and how they visualize seeing them in print, whether up on the wall or in an album, or both. Then, you can use that information to capture the types of images they want and have them printed in a manner that suits them best. This is a great way to boost your revenue as well.

City Hall and Courthouse Wedding Photography Tips

City hall and courthouse weddings might be smaller in scale, but they’re just as meaningful and just as worthy of beautiful photography. With the right planning, communication, and creative vision, you can turn these simple settings into stunning backdrops that highlight your couple’s love story. Use the tips in this guide to make the most of every moment and deliver a gallery your clients will treasure for years to come.

Here are some more examples of city hall and courthouse wedding photography to inspire you.