Sepia tone is one way to enhance an image to make it look just a bit different than all the other photos. We always provide our SF City Hall clients with a few sepia tone examples just to see if they like them and even possibly want more. Often times we use sepia tone in a wedding image that has a background that looks antique. For example, after a San Francisco City Hall wedding we might take our couple to capture a cable car photo. Placing the bride and groom in front of a cable car and then printing it in sepia tone gives the whole photo a different look. It takes you back 100 years and makes you think about what San Francisco must have been like back then. In the photo above however, we decided to just convert a close up portrait in order to see it in sepia tone. I have to say I like the result. We never overdo this effect because any special effect can be tiresome if you see it over and over again.
Sometimes it works well to use sepia tone to enhance the architecture of this historic building. Yes, this could also be done in color but something about a monotone image tends to accentuate the distinct lines present in San Francisco City Hall architecture. This Beaux Arts architecture features repeating lines and symmetry. In many places throughout the building you will see the symmetry by looking down hallways or at some of the arches. In these designs, the left side is a mirror image of the right side. So we like to place our bride and groom or same-sex couple right in the middle of these patterns. Then by using sepia tone or black and white it really tends to bring out the beauty of this style of architecture. Colors can actually be a distraction when trying to appreciate the beauty of these designs.
As mentioned elsewhere on this website, we also provide are newlyweds with a large number of black and white images as well when they receive their proofs. Rest assured that every photo we create will also be given to you in color, but for an added bonus you get some special effect photos like we talked about above. Please note that most of our galleries on the website will display a few Black and White images as well as Sepia. Some clients have told me that they don't like sepia tone. I tell them no problem, we won't give you any sepia tone examples or we can delete them afterwards if you prefer. Some of you reading this may wonder what exactly is sepia tone? As you might be able to see from the photo above, sepia is basically a brown and white photo as opposed to black and white. So there really is no color in the photo except for the Brown tones. If you have more questions about this example or just want more information please feel free to ask us. We are here to help and always happy to provide free advice to our clients.