Why You Should Consider Doing a ‘First Look’

If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding, then there’s a good chance you’re contemplating whether or not to do a first look. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, a first look is a couple-only photo session before the ceremony where they get to see each other gussied up for the first time. It generally involves a lot of embracing, laughing and heartfelt exchanges between the nearly newly-weds!

While some couples want to save seeing their soon-to-be-spouse for the aisle, the first look is gaining popularity—and for good reason! As an intimate wedding photographer, I believe that great wedding photos show you and your partner being your most authentic, genuine selves. For that reason, I am a huge advocate of the sincerity and romance of the first look. Great photo opportunity aside, there are plenty of other benefits you may not have considered, so let’s get into it.

It will help relax your nerves.

Let’s get one thing straight: being nervous on your wedding day is completely normal. That said, it’s pretty much the last thing you want to be occupying your mind on this important day. A first look is a perfect opportunity to have an intimate, private moment with your partner to shake off the inevitable jitters that come along with a big day. Whether you’re walking down the aisle in front of five people or fifty, it’s a great way to relieve some pressure before everything really gets rolling.

It can create space in the timeline.

Making time for a first look prior to the ceremony can also benefit your schedule and save you some stress. Rather than rushing off to get your couple and group photos after your i-dos, you’ll already have a chunk of those photos done, which means more time to spend making memories with your friends and family.

Privacy.

Having a little privacy on your wedding day is a must, and not something a lot of people consider when scheduling out a timeline. Whether you’re planning an elopement or a traditional wedding, setting aside time for a first look can be the perfect opportunity to get some alone time in. It’s an incredibly intimate and grounding start to the day, and will have you relishing in the final moments before you officially become a married couple!

Variety.

Of course, all your wedding photos will be special, but there’s something special about the raw emotion and intimacy of first look photos that really takes the cake. It gives your photographer the chance to shoot in a more candid way, which emphasizes the ever-important story of your wedding day through your genuine emotion. Moreover, choosing to include the extra photo session means you’ll get a wider variety of photos to fawn over, and who doesn’t want that?

And there you have it, a few reasons to consider including a first look on your wedding day!