Most people have heard of the First Look, but we want you to know EVERYTHING you need to know in order to make the best choices for YOUR wedding! This is something we are very passionate about because we LOVE the First Look…so I apologize in advance if this post is long!! If you are doing a First Look, it is one of the most amazing parts of your wedding day…and because of this, we want you to plan ahead so that you get incredible images from it! Here are a few ways to plan ahead:

1. Choose a LOCATION that is away from everything else! We happily take responsibility to choose your First Look location, but IF you prefer to choose, it is best to be secluded somewhere away from everyone. This eliminates distractions and allows you to both feel free to express yourselves openly! The First Look often induces tears and long embraces and you want to feel alone together. The more you feel like it is just the two of you, the more genuine your emotions and reactions will be…and that SHOWS in your images! (Another reason we LOVE the First Look…it allows the bride and groom to truly express how they feel and to focus on ONLY each other for as long as they want!)
2. Again, pay attention to the LIGHT. When we are selecting a First Look location, the lighting is super important! If you choose your location, make sure there is shade of some kind! The best kind of shade is soft, open shade…this means something that DIFFUSES the direct light more than BLOCKS it, and is open through the back so we can see light coming from behind you! Trees work great for this because they create more gentle shadows than structures do and they are open so that we can get light in the image behind you…if there is no light coming from behind you it can look like you are in front of a black hole! Bridges and arches can work, as long as there is light coming through from the other side. If you want to be indoors, try to ensure there are plenty of large windows so we get as much natural light as possible!
3. Forget we are there. The First Look is for YOU. We will have time for the portraits, the poses, and the laughs at the camera later…right now, you two need to focus on each other and only each other! We will be less instructive and will stay as discreet as possible so you can forget we are even there. Don’t think about what you look like in your images…remember, you have planned ahead for that. Now it’s time to forget all of it and just be in love with each other!! 🙂

There are so many reasons to do a First Look. We’ve discovered that this is actually something many brides are not well-educated on, and so we have made it a point to give our couples all the info you’ll need to determine whether a First Look is best for you! Often the First Look gets rejected because some couples feel it is “un-traditional” or that it might spoil the surprise at the ceremony…but before you write it off, let us explain some of the BENEFITS of doing one!

First, we understand that the bride wants a REACTION…every bride wants to see their groom just light up with surprise and joy and wants him to be so overwhelmed that he cries! This is every girl’s dream and we know it! You may love traditions, but what you REALLY want when it comes to your groom seeing you for the first time is a reaction. Those that are not interested in a First Look usually think that by seeing each other before the ceremony they will lose part of that reaction. They also assume that it will not be as emotional or as intimate as it would be if they were coming down the aisle. The irony is that it is quite the opposite!

As soon as the groom steps into the ceremony area he is met by 50-300 people staring directly at him, watching. his every move. All of these people are watching to see his first reaction and all of them have expectations! This is neither private nor intimate and although it is still powerful and wonderful, it is hard for a groom to fully appreciate and grasp seeing his bride for the first time while all of this is going on!

It’s just a matter of fact that most grooms will get nervous right before seeing their bride, and instead of arranging to have that moment in front of hundreds of people, why not do it in a private place where you BOTH feel more comfortable and free to express the emotions that are overwhelming you? You can cry, embrace, kiss and enjoy the moment for as long as you want to…you can show off your dress and his nerves will calm down so that he’s ready to be BEAMING when you do walk down the aisle!

Not only will this create time and space for you to be natural and open with each other, it also creates the most amazing images in your whole wedding album! Natural interaction creates the best photos and one of the reasons we love and encourage the First Look is because of the extra “portrait” time it creates for you and your groom. Portrait time that is different from the time-governed and more “posed” portraits you’ll get after the ceremony. These will be natural, FULL of emotion, and relaxed! And THEN, when we do your portraits after the ceremony, we need less time and you are able to get more quickly to the reception! (Like, do we need MORE reasons?!)

We do want to make very clear, however, that we do NOT require our couples to choose to do a First Look nor do we pressure them to make that choice. We simply believe it is so beneficial and want to make sure that you KNOW that before making your decision! For our own wedding, we actually did NOT do a First Look and looking back, we wish we had! 

So, whatever you choose, make sure you take some time to think about and discuss the First Look…do you want more portraits of you and your groom during your wedding day? Do you want time ALONE with your groom on the big day? Do you want to have more freedom to express yourself and more time to do so when you first see each other? 

We hope this has been super helpful to you and that it blesses you now, in your planning, and on your wedding day!