What is a first look?
It’s when a couple decides to see each other before the wedding, have a few special and private moments together and then take their portraits before the ceremony
How is a first look done?
We usually set up one of you in a private (and beautiful) location with your back turned. Then the other person walks up and gently taps the other person so they turn and you both see each other for the first time. As photographers, we help you get in position but then step back and capture this moment so you have time to just be together. We photograph all the hugs, kiss and tears… Our couples always say that this is the best decision they make!
Why do a first look?
We LOVE first looks. For lots of reasons and they aren’t all just photography related. A lot of them have to do with how you get to experience the day:
-You get to go to cocktail hour. It’s really true what they say about the day going SO FAST. Especially from the ceremony on. You’ll have such a limited time to experience your own party and be with your guests so I love scheduling things so you can take advantage of as much of that time as possible.
– If your ceremony is closer to sunset time and you don’t have a full hour of daylight after the ceremony, you should definitely consider a first look since it will get dark. You booked this venue for a reason, you want to make sure you have all the beautiful scenery in your photos.
-The posed pictures are really important but if we can do them before the ceremony so that you can just seamlessly be a part of your event from the ceremony on, we think the flow is more natural and fun for you. Otherwise we have to pull you away from your guests to do photos during cocktail hour.
– We tend to see much more genuine reactions at first looks than we do during ceremonies from grooms (and brides) because they aren’t “on stage” during the first look. And you’re actually able to have a conversation! When you walk down the aisle, the ceremony begins immediately and you really can’t even say anything to each other. So we love that you can hug and kiss each other and you can show him your dress and you guys can have a really intimate moment mainly just the two of you.
-A lot of people say they are way less nervous once they see each other.
-That moment when you walk down the aisle is still an incredible moment. There’s music playing. All of the people you love are there looking at you and BEAMING happiness and hope and love your way! You can see it in their faces. It’s a ceremony that has been taking place for thousands of years that you are now doing, too. We really don’t think there’s ANYTHING that can take away from that moment. Our personal feelings are that the WOW feeling in that moment is more about all of those things happening and seeing you walk up in that moment is just a really powerful thing. We don’t think having seen you earlier in the day could possibly away from that.
We don’t know any one who has regretted a first look. Though, I know it’s a super personal decision. I do know people who wish they had done one who didn’t. But I also imagine there’s a group of people who didn’t do a first look and wouldn’t have wanted to do it a differently in retrospect. While This last paragraph is probably not terribly helpful, I hope the things I pointed out above help you in some way. If they don’t convince you that you want to do a first look, at least that’s a strong sign that you feel really strongly about NOT doing one even knowing those things, which is important! Please know that there is no pressure from us either way. We truly just want you to have an amazing experience, whatever that looks like for you.
