The First Look

The first look is a modern trend in wedding photography today. It’s the question that always comes up with my couples when planning their wedding timeline. Of course, as a photographer, my preference is that my couple’s do the first look, but it is in no way a “deal breaker!”

There are three main reasons I hear from my brides why they hesitate doing a first look.

1. Momma won’t approve.
2. The bride wants that touching look from her groom to be when she is coming down the isle.
3. It’s non-traditional.

I get all of these reasons…TRULY I DO! 

Here’s my take on all of the first look frenzy.

1. I know you love your momma, but if it’s something you want to do…go for it!
2. I totally understand wanting him to be in awe when you walk down that aisle. Trust me, he will be! In all the first looks I’ve experienced, the groom still has an emotional reaction to his bride walking down that aisle to become his wife! That moment is so beautiful, and it doesn’t lose that significant reaction if you see each other beforehand.
3. YES!!! It is a very non-traditional approach. But it’s WONDERFUL for so many reasons.

And here’s the part where I tell you all the reasons why I love them!

1. You get to connect with each other in a private and intimate location. It’s an emotional moment that the two of you will share together, in private. It’s sooo romantic.  I find the groom to be more open with his emotions when it’s done in private. Let’s face it! When you walk down that isle all eyes go to you and him.
2. It helps calm the nerves…really it does! This is huge for the groom. Most of my grooms have said that having the first look helped alleviate the anxiety of the wedding day jitters and enabled them to relax and enjoy the actual ceremony.
3. Your guests will not have to wait around for an hour or more for you to arrive at your reception. When a bride and groom wait to do all of their portraits after the ceremony (family, bridal party, husband and wife, and then travel to the reception) it takes up to an hour and a half. This can lead to rushed portraits and is impossible to get as many of the two of you.
4. By doing the first look, we are know able do couple portraits, bridal party portraits, and immediate family portraits before the ceremony. Boom…done!
5. You will have more portraits. The couple that chooses to do the first look generally end up with about 40% more portraits.
6. Lastly, the first look is the answer to a crunched wedding day timeline. It creates plenty of portrait time, and the bride and groom can more freely enjoy the reception.
7. Attention all late fall, winter, and early spring brides! You will most likely run out of natural light for portraits after the ceremony unless you schedule your wedding early in the day (ceremony start by 2:00 pm). The first look is an excellent solution to this problem.
8. You can plan your wedding near sunset. So many couples want a sunset wedding, but natural light is vital for the best quality portraits. If you take care of most of the portraits before the ceremony, you have the flexibility of having a sunset wedding. For best portrait results, there needs to be at least 2 hours of daylight after the ceremony.

While I love the first look, I will never pressure my couples into doing one. It’s your day! But, as your photographer, it is my job to educate and deliver what you want and deserve. I never want anyone to be disappointed because they didn’t understand all that goes into creating those amazing wedding images! But, photography aside, I always have the best interest of my lovely couples in mind. I hope I’ve shed a little light on the first look and helped you decide whether the option is right for you!

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Planning Your Wedding Day Timeline