Video: Wedding photographer attacked during attempted robbery at SF’s Palace of Fine Arts

SAN FRANCISCO — A violent assault and tried armed theft of a marriage photographer was caught on digicam on the Palace of Positive Arts in San Francisco earlier this week.

It occurred on Wednesday round 4:40 p.m. in entrance of a whole lot of witnesses.

A cellular phone video exhibits two gunmen attempting to take a marriage photographer’s digicam and the gear in his digicam bag.

The sufferer refused to conform. The attackers repeatedly threatened the sufferer with their weapons. One of many weapons appeared to have an prolonged clip. The suspects hit him and pistol-whipped him.

“Simply watching form of just like the wrestle and every part. I simply felt for him. I felt for the couple as a result of I do know that they felt helpless,” stated San Francisco-based marriage ceremony photographer Monica Lam.

The groom might be seen within the video elevating each fingers within the air. The bride gave the impression to be in tears. There have been dozens of individuals standing round, fearful to become involved and probably get shot.

The photographer relies in Dallas, Texas, whereas the couple he was photographing is from the Bay Space. KPIX realized that they had gotten their marriage certificates at metropolis corridor earlier than the photograph shoot on the Palace of Positive Arts.

After a couple of minute of struggling, the 2 gunmen run off.  The sufferer was capable of maintain his bag.

“I believe he was extraordinarily, extraordinarily courageous to have carried out that. But it surely’s not price risking your life over doubtlessly cuz they did have weapons,” stated Lam.

Lam was alerted to the assault and watched the video proper earlier than her shoot on the identical location on Saturday.

“I used to be simply scared. Yeah, I used to be scared. I used to be very nervous coming right here right now, I did not know what to make of it,” stated Lam.

The Palace of Positive Arts is a scorching spot for automobile break-ins. That is why there are warning indicators posted throughout it, telling individuals to not depart something of their automobiles.

However one of these brazen assault is forcing some photographers to remain away.

“It does change issues for me for positive. I believe risk subsequent yr, I will not have that many shoots in SF anymore,” stated Lam.

However marriage ceremony photographer Annie Zou with A Story Forward Images stated that is not an choice.  Her livelihood is determined by these areas.

“All my {couples} are travelling from out of state, they need essentially the most signature areas, so it is actually exhausting for me,” stated Zou.

Again in July of 2017, photographer Edward French was shot and killed on Twin Peaks over his digicam.

These violent robberies have gotten extra frequent at common photograph shoot areas within the metropolis. Zou stated she’ll simply must be extra cautious.

“As an Asian feminine photographer, normally on my own, so I am like a simple goal for them,” stated Zou. “[I feel] very susceptible.”

The sufferer stated he had a bloodied head from the pistol whips. He stated the explanation he refused to let go of his cameras was he wished to avoid wasting the images for his purchasers.

We reached out to San Francisco police for extra data on the case.  Since it is a vacation weekend, they stated they’re going to get again to us on Monday.

Prior to now, the police have suggested anybody approached by armed robbers to surrender their possessions since it isn’t well worth the threat.