ALON & DAVE | SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOGRAPHER | SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL WEDDING

willy johnson May 18, 2023

Alon & Dave’s beautiful love came together at a wedding in San Francisco’s majestic city hall. They even brought probably one of the coolest dogs ever in their chihuahua named Henry. In the middle of the ceremony some bureaucrat interrupted them and their County Clerk commissioner because they had their dog, that individual even called the sheriffs to intervene. It was pretty wild, and we all had a pretty good laugh about it. At any rate, the vibes were upbeat and we went out to Point Lobos and Sutro Baths for some portrait fun after the deed was done. Had an absolute blast with these dudes (and dog). Check out our adventure and the awesome photos we made together below.

HEAVYBIT DEVGUILD | DOGPATCH STUDIOS | SAN FRANCISCO EVENT

willy johnson May 8, 2023

Heavybit DevGuild and experts in the open source community doing there thing at an all-day event in San Francisco’s Dogpatch Studios.

ERIC + KATIE | SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOGRAPHER | SAUSALITO COUPLES SHOOT

willy johnson April 14, 2023

Eric and Katie reached out to help commemorate an elopement during their visit to Sausalito. This couple was so easy going and fun to be around and never flinched whenever I gave them silly things to do as we adventured from the Golden Gate Market, down Bridgeway through downtown and ending in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor. Loved the range of romantic, silly and fun photos that we were able to capture together. A total blast was had. Enjoy!

KONG SUMMIT 2022 | PALACE HOTEL | SAN FRANCISCO EVENT

willy johnson March 27, 2023

Kong Summit 2022 in San Francisco’s Palace Hotel was a dynamic affair filled with lots of energetic presentations, fun, food and music. Kong are definitely pros at throwing events and everything just clicks with the trains all running on time. Always a pleasure working with these folks. Check out some awesome event photography below.

AGS LA | MARINA DEL REY MARRIOTT | LOS ANGELES EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

willy johnson March 8, 2023

AGS Los Angeles took place down in Venice Beach at the Marina Del Rey Marriott during one of this year’s most epic storms in California history. It snowed in the Los Angeles foothills and mountains and all the speakers and attendees got 360 degree views of the city and were able to watch as cascading storms brought rain, hail and beautiful light. The most glorious aspect of the day was being witness to a multitude of rainbows and one that lasted for almost an hour. Good spirits abounded and lots of good networking

HEAVYBIT PORTAITS I | SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOGRAPHER | SAN FRANCISCO PORTRAITS

willy johnson February 24, 2023

Heavybit has always been a treat to work with, but germane to this post is that they care about aesthetic and have great taste. That goes along with them wanting awesome portrait work for their speakers of the numerous events that they throw. I pride myself with making people feel comfortable and special when I have them in front of my camera. Here’s a series of portraits I’ve taken for them over the years highlighting that.

CTAD 2022 | HILTON UNION SQUARE | SAN FRANCISCO CONFERENCE

willy johnson February 3, 2023

The Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease conference (CTAD) brings together international expertise on the latest techniques in fighting against Alzheimer’s. My Granny was afflicted, so it felt right to help contribute my talents in event photography to the cause in my small way. The 2022 CTAD conference took place in San Francisco’s Hilton Union Square and hosted hundreds of speakers and attendees. Lots of great presentations on the latest therapeutic trials were revealed and an attentive and friendly crowd was there to soak it all in. On one of the days they hosted a party with dim sum and jazz quartet for everybody to enjoy and relax to. Check it out.

JENNIE & JOSH | ALAMEDA COUNTY CLERK-RECORDERS OFFICE | OAKLAND WEDDING

willy johnson January 19, 2023

Jennie & Josh eloped in Oakland city hall. They lucked out with a solid officiant that had a wonderful presence and dropped some nice wisdom about relationships. Who doesn’t need that!? The two mom’s flew out to take part in their special day as well and were giddy with how they had both lucked out. After the ceremony we went on a little adventure for portraits around Lake Merritt, Grand Lake Theatre and ending up things Sequoia Bayview Trail in Joaquin Miller Park. I got to see the couple’s awesome dance moves, eagerness to have fun and their burgeoning love.

ALEX & JOEY | CLIFT HOTEL | SAN FRANCISCO WEDDING

willy johnson November 15, 2022

Alex and Joey got married The Clift Royale Senestra Hotel in San Francisco. It was a sweet natured affair with lots of fun. It is always beautiful to be surrounded by that loving energy. Their ceremony took place on the top floor. Awesome portraits were had out on the balcony overlooking a vast expanse of San Francisco, with a little fog coming in from the west. My wife was a champ in being there to pick us up after the ceremony, so we didn’t have to mess around with an uber/lyft, in going for a quick and efficient portrait session at Huntington Park, atop Nob Hill. Later the reception was back at the hotel. A touching reel of the couple as kids played for the party, and I’m not going to lie to you - I shed a tear. Their deejay was spinning vinyl and had impeccable taste and kept the grooves and the people going. It was really a treat to get to document their special day.

AGS MASTERMINDS | ROSE ROOM | VENICE BEACH EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

willy johnson November 10, 2022

Did research to get the best breakfast burrito in Venice Beach where the AGS Masterminds Los Angeles event was taking place. $28 later it turns out AGS in the Rose Room had three types of breakfast burritos to choose from. Oy! My luck improved from there though and I ended up getting some great shots telling the story, and having a fun time while I was at it. Capturing all the people, places and things in this event photography. Once everything wrapped up, my man, Koren, the videographer and I hit up the boardwalk for 15 minutes or so to document that interesting scene. Stay to the end for those. Enjoy!

DAVID & STEPHANIE | SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF FLOWERS | ENGAGEMENT

willy johnson June 1, 2022

David reached out to me wanting to get an engagement proposal documented live. High stress material for all involved. Many props to David and his cojones for going for it. He shot and he hit nothing but net. Stephanie was joyous. Once I was unveiled to both parties we kept it pretty mellow, sweet and romantic as we explored the Conservatory of Flowers and then a mini adventure in the surrounding area of the Golden Gate Park. Got lots of lovely shots of these two cuties and a few solid shots of the viridescent plant life in the conservatory.

MIRAMONTE HIGH SCHOOL PROM | CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | SAN FRANCISCO PROM

willy johnson May 15, 2022

Photographing the Miramonte High School prom was an absolute joy. It was filled with nostalgia from my perspective, witnessing all of the rituals, the awkward moments, the jubilation, the horsing around and of course, some burgeoning romances. My proms and homecomings were typically in our High School gym and these youngsters were balling out at the California Academy of Science museum - incredible. I found them way more mature and cooler than what I remember from my youth and these kids knew how to party and cut a rug. It was a blast. Check it out.

GMID 2022 | SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOGRAPHER | THE WESTIN ST. FRANCIS HOTEL

willy johnson April 20, 2022

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) 2022 went down at San Francisco’s Westin St Francis hotel bringing together parties from all over the event industry. There was awesome music, top-notch chefs bringing epic breakfast foods, photo booth fun and of course networking. I captured some fun moments and a few solid portraits of vendors and attendees. Check it out.

SEENA & TRACEY | SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL WEDDING

willy johnson April 1, 2022

Seena and Tracey got married at San Francisco City Hall. Beforehand Seena got ready at their place in the Marina district; while Tracey set up shop at the Ritz Carlton. Everything was easy going, fun, with love emanating. Friends and family all came together later at city hall for super sweet wedding officiated by a good friend. They did their reception that evening at the hip Monroe SF. DJ Primo Pitino manned the turntables; bringing the crowd to the dance floor with his beautiful ear for music and fog machine. A lovely day.

AGS LOS ANGELES | MARINA DEL REY HOTEL | LOS ANGELES EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

willy johnson March 20, 2022

AGS crew bringing the sunshine at their summit of marketing experts at the Marina Del Rey Hotel in Los Angeles. Lots of solid event and portrait photography to be had on this blog post. Please check it out.

TED & SHAHIRA | SONOMA PHOTOGRAPHER | FAIRMONT SONOMA MISSION INN WEDDING

willy johnson January 25, 2022

Ted and Shahira got married on a beautiful day at the Fairmont up in Sonoma. The vibes of their friends and family members was just amazing to be a part of. It’s obviously still hard work photographing big and intimate events, but when you really feel the love surrounding a couple on their special day, you just kind of float through the day with ease. Check out the awesome love of T & S.

KONG SUMMIT 2021 | SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOGRAPHER | EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

willy johnson September 30, 2021

Kong are absoute pros on throwing events. So even though Covid placed limits on how they normally function they still made their imprint felt with a unique conference with big production value that their community could take part in from home. They had their usual content of the latest developments in their industry and great fireside chats with many experts with a host of incredible interludes during the two days from acts from individuals like Golden State Warriors home deejay, DJ Sharp, to the San Francisco Mariachi band, a fitness instructor, hip-hop freestyle emcee, a painter and other artists. It was great.

NATALIE & BEN | PEDRO POINT HEADLANDS | PACIFICA COUPLES PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

willy johnson August 10, 2021

Photographed these two sweeties wedding a few years ago and they reached out wanting to take photos celebrating getting through the worst of the pandemic. They wanted to explore Pacifica’s Pedro Point and it was a joy documenting their relationship as it is filled with inquisitiveness to the world around them and a constant stream of intellectual and loving rapport. Check out our little adventure below.

LAUREN & LOREN | BODEGA BAY PHOTOGRAPHER | BODEGA HEAD ENGAGEMENT

willy johnson July 30, 2021

It was a foggy day up in Bodega Bay, but the special love of Lauren and Loren definitely shined through. They brought Gypsy their adorable chihuahua they adopted during the pandemic along as well. We adventured around the Bodega Head trail and just let their unique relationship do the talking. Enjoy these cute photos.

AMERICAN BIOMANUFACTURING SUMMIT | SAN FRANCISCO PHOTOGRAPHER | HYATT REGENCY SFO EVENT

willy johnson June 11, 2021

The American Biomanufacturing Summit took place in San Francisco’s Hyatt Regency, filled with experts within the biopharmaceutical industry highlighting new trends and discoveries. The crowd was positive and super friendly with knowledge and networking flowing freely between industry leaders and attendees. Check out this post for some top-notch conference and event photography.