— SHOULD YOU DO A FIRST LOOK? —
What to consider when deciding if a first look is right for you
When it comes to a wedding, the first look is a time set aside for the couple to see each other prior to the ceremony. When we first started photographing weddings 18 years ago, it was extremely rare for couples to do this. Today, the wedding industry strongly encourages couples to do a first look so the photographer can have more time taking portrait photographs, at more locations, with more complex set-ups.
More, more, more.
We believe that weddings aren’t about wedding photographs, and how you want to experience your day is far more important than using you like props on a photo set.
While it can influence the scope and sequence of the number of portraits you receive, whether or not you do a first look does not determine how good they will be.
Here are some reasons you may want to do a first look:
You are anxious and want to get some of the nerves out by sharing some time with your favorite person. Wedding days are filled with all sorts of emotions. A first look allows you to set aside time to center yourself and focus on each other.
You want to schedule your day so the portrait photographs are finished prior to the ceremony. If you want to attend the majority of your cocktail hour, this is a great way to give you more time to do so. Some couples have their ceremony right as the sun is going down and prefer to have their portrait and/or family photographs while there is still light (as opposed to using flash). Other couples want to get all the formalities out of the way up front so they can move freely about the rest of the day. If you do a first look, some or all of the portrait photographs (you two, your bridal party, and family) can be done after you see each other.
You would like to have photographs taken at a specific location that is out of the way from your ceremony and/or reception venue(s). Transit between locations takes time and generally speaking, there is more time to do this prior to the ceremony than trying to squeeze it in during the cocktail hour. If you want to spend more time taking formal photographs so that you have more locations and variety, a first look will give you more flexibility with the schedule.
There is one SIMPLE reason not to do a first look: you don’t want to.
Some people have dreamed for years of seeing their love walk down the aisle and prefer to have that be their “first look” moment. Your wedding day is your experience and we do not want to exchange your memories for “must- have shots” that diminish what you value and want to remember.
Whatever your decision, we support you and will work with you to make a schedule that reflects your priorities.
If you choose to do a first look, here are some things to keep in mind:
This time is for you two, and you two alone. On a wedding day, there are actually very few slices of time when it is just the two of you—safeguard them carefully. While Mom or your best friend or Uncle Larry may want to watch it all unfold, we encourage you to reserve this time for just the two of you. We will be there, quietly taking photos so that you can share the moments with them later.
Take as little or as much time as you need. This time is for you and not the photographs. So if you just need a minute, that’s okay. If you need 20 minutes to soak it all in and catch up on the time you were apart, that’s okay too.
A first look does not mean we have to do portraits afterwards. The first look is a special, separate time apart from portraits. They do not need to go hand-in-hand. You can simply see each other, have a few moments together, and do the rest of your photographs after the ceremony. Consider why it is you want to do a first look and we can help you arrange what photographs to do (or not to do) after that time.
If doing a first look feels right to you, we are 100% on board with helping you make that happen. However, if you feel pressured to do a first look because you think you have to, we encourage you to take a step back and decide what you really want.
