San Francisco has some of the most unique architecture in all of the United States of America. If you're looking for the largest collection of Victorian houses, you don't have to go as far afield as London, England. Head to the other side of the world and look up the famous Painted Ladies or Alamo Square in San Francisco. And even apart from those, the city has plenty of Victorian architecture to spare.
Looking for something along the lines of the Haas Lilienthal House to film at because you need to feature some of that coveted Victorian architecture in your film or music video? The answer lies with Giggster's vast collection of Victorian houses. Whether you want a colorful and classic manor with vintage furniture and decor, or a chic vintage-style club lounge with a beautiful bar and private party room, Giggster can find you venues in all sorts of styles and price ranges.
Visit the easy-to-use Giggster site and find the top Victorian houses and Queen Anne-style homes in San Francisco. Well-suited for all your filming purposes, these venues will surely impress your cast and crew.
From the posh Pacific Heights neighborhood to the central district with all its historic landmarks, Victorian houses are a dime a dozen in San Francisco. Look through the Giggster site and find the features like wide bay windows and high ceilings that you need before you pick a venue to start filming at.
An 1885 Queen Anne-style house located in the San Francisco Bay area has minimalist decor within and a stunning backyard with plenty of trees and plants.
If ornate details and vintage flourishes are what you're looking for, a gorgeous Victorian hotel and event space with chandeliers and paintings in gilded frames might be perfect.
A San Francisco gallery and ballroom in the heart of the Mission District features a one-of-a-kind speakeasy with burlesque and circus vibes downstairs.
If you want open grounds and gardens outside the city of San Francisco proper, a historic 1800s manor with lush green gardens and an elegant gazebo provides a tranquil oasis.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Looking for a historic residence in the city of San Francisco or a Queen Anne-style house surrounded by palm trees for your filming? Giggster can certainly provide you with options. Find unique properties starting at just $50/hour.
Hassle-Free Booking: Search the Giggster site to find the ideal venue from among 23 options in San Francisco. Giggster provides information like contact details of the property owners or venue sizes, so you know what you're paying for.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Our cancellation policy allows for free cancellations within 24 hours of confirmation. Our only caveat is that you must have booked the place at least 48 hours before filming starts.
Platform Protections: Finally, Giggster provides optional protection packages against damages and liabilities so you can book Art Deco / Mod / Old Hollywood Event Venue in a stress-free manner.
If you're a fan of the historic, famous houses in San Francisco, like the Sarah Mish House and the Abner Phelps House, then Giggster can certainly help you find a similar (or even better) venue for your next shoot. Choose from among 23 historic houses that were built during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Films/TV Shows – Capture the Victorian Era. Shooting a period film or TV show? There's something about shooting on location, surrounded by that ornate decor, that cannot compare to a studio. So find the right neighborhood and grab some shots from the street before you even venture indoors.
Bridal Shoots – Grand and Elegant Backdrops. Head to a mansion outside the limits of San Francisco city proper for your big bridal or engagement photoshoot, and don't worry about parking difficulties! Lush green gardens and that stately Victorian architecture in the backdrop ensure that these photos grab eyes.
Cooking Videos – A Touch of History. With all the cooking channels now available on the internet, using the kitchen of a historic Victorian house in downtown San Francisco to shoot would surely set you apart. Most visitors to your channel would be attracted just as much by the surroundings as by your content.
Music Videos – Vibrant and Majestic. From a domed and sprawling theater near Mansion Row to a colorful manor with a nice corner office and deck with brilliant bay and city views, these San Francisco locales certainly make for scenic backdrops when it comes to shooting a music video.
Magazine Photoshoots – Living Museums. One of the signature Stick Eastlake-style manors and cottages in California looks somewhat like a museum, with its vintage furniture and decor. What better place to set an atmospheric fashion shoot or magazine article on a celeb?
A fan of the famous Painted Ladies on Postcard Row? You'll definitely want to shoot at a Victorian-style house while in San Francisco. Let's look at some essential features these spaces should have.
What amenities does the space have? Is there a dressing area where the actors can get ready, and does it have enough windows and natural light for daylight photography? What about a place to park on the street?
Is it centrally located? San Francisco isn't exactly huge, and sometimes you might need to head outside the city to find the best locales. But if the venue is in a nice central setting, you could easily get there via public transport.
How much space does it have? Will it fit your whole cast and crew, or will you be pressed for space? If the latter, then the venue isn't worth it.
Even with urban development, Victorian architecture and houses are pretty common in San Francisco or even in neighboring San Jose. However, before booking one, let's look at the pros and cons.
Advantages
These venues certainly have a lot of atmosphere and ambiance, so shooting inside one will give your film or video much more character than simply shooting in a studio.
San Francisco is full of such beautiful buildings and architecture that film buffs can walk around and explore places like Mrs. Doubtfire's house on Steiner Street in their free time.
These venues are large and can fit a sizeable film crew within, so you don't have to worry about a space crunch.
Disadvantages
As the city grew, these venues became more and more uncommon. This means you need to begin searching and booking way ahead of the actual shoot.
They won't have a lot of parking space on the street, which might be a big problem for big film crews with their vans and tons of gear.
This particular city in California is known for fog and damp weather conditions, which have led to some deterioration of infrastructure.
Planning to shoot the most important project of your life? You'll want to do so in style while not getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of things you need to achieve.
Break Down the Script – This is the first step. Without a script or at least a concept, there's no story, and there's no shoot either! Doing this will give you an idea of what kind of locations you need, what actors you should hire, and how long the project will turn out to be.
Scout the Locations – Whether you're shooting everything in one location or you'd rather use multiple spaces, finding the ideal filming destinations in San Francisco would be a big help.
Communicate with Actors – Gathered your cast or models in one room? Excellent. Your actors should know not only what you expect from them but also what you expect from the finished product as well.
Put Together the Gear – From making use of natural light to save money to the most expensive cameras and microphones, the proper gear is essential for a shoot. Test everything before you leave for the venue!
Finding shooting destinations starting at $50/hour in San Francisco is a big step, but there's more to saving money than renting out an affordable Victorian venue. Here are some easy ways to cut costs while filming at such locations.
Can you tour the venue beforehand?
If you could scout out the venue and decide on your filming schedule and the kind of shots you'll need beforehand, you'll waste much less time and therefore money on the day of the shoot.
Think of the dates.
While choosing a site to film at, you could consider shooting on a Sunday morning as opposed to a busy weekday. The fact that it's usually a holiday might give you an edge.
Shoot in one location.
Instead of zipping around all of San Francisco with all your gear and crew, try finishing your photoshoot or filming in a single destination. That way, you won't have to rent out dozens of spaces or waste time and effort moving between them.
Find eye-catching Victorian homes built anytime in the late nineteenth century throughout the city of San Francisco with the help of Giggster. You can discover all kinds of hidden gems, like speakeasies hidden within galleries and gorgeous mansions with 12-foot high ceilings on our site.
